The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-20
INCREASE In PRODUCTION
STILL GOES on IN NEARLY ALL
LINES OF BUSINESS.
Position of the Iron Trade-MinOr
Metals Higher-The Cereal Situa-
tiOn-Clearings and Failures.

NEW YORK, Jan. 19.-R. G.. Dun's
weekly Review of Trade tomorrow will
say: Whether the new year will surpass
, or keep pace with the old is the question
which gives especial interest to every
weeks returns. Comparing now with busi-
ness by far the largest and most prosper
Gus ever known a year ago, more than
20 per cent. larger than in January, 1885,
which. in its turn, had shown heavier
business than In any year preceding, it
cannot be expected that such gain will
be repeated, but the decrease of SO per
cent In payments through clearing houses
Is wholly due to great speculative activity
ut New York last year. with sales of H.
G1.S $50 shares, against 6,51S,920 TO the same
date this year. for payments outside this
city have been 4.3 per cent. greater than
q year ago and greater than in the same
part of any other month.
This week one contract OF 10000 tons for
a Western road and two for bridges re-
Qulring 1000 tons are the only large
transactions reported in iron products, but
heavy business was secured by conces-
sions for plates at Pittsburg which are
going materially below 2.25, and for bars
at Philadelphia below go, the price of
the association. Sheets are also lower at
the East, but 81 higher at Pittsburg. Sales
OF foundry pig at reduced prices include
two for 10000 tons and No. 1 Lehigh is
quoted at s2f but bessemer and gray
forge at Pittsburg are held unchanged,
though without sales. The copperJ output
OF this country in 1899 was 262 200 tons
greater by 9l,O0o or 53is per cent than
$50 tons, gained I'm the four years only
800 tens. The prices OF copper and lead
are unchanged. with tin higher at 27iSc
Perhaps the most important industrial
event is the marketing of wooden goods
at prices averaging 1874 per cent. higher
than last year. many makes having been
promptly sold up and withdrawn, while
others sell SO well as to give great en-
enlargement. AS wool quotations average
Sz-9 per cent. higher than a year ago, the
rlse in goods is not excessive. But hopes
Ct wool spectators for further rise were
dashed by the fall of pei cent. in merinos
at the London sales, with cross brcds
weaker and considerable sales at conces-
eions OF Ia to cents followed here, one
OF $4,000 pounds OF Montana at 20c. with
numerous orders to sell consignments
hitherto held off the market. Sales i'm three
weeks. 500 pounds. have been small
er than in the corresponding weeks OF the
three previous years Business in cotton
goods begins to increase, though in staples
still moderate. Goods are now averaging
297 per cent. higher than year ago and
with the rise this week TO isle cotton is
IL per cent. higher. Shipments of shoes
from the East in execution OF old orders
continue larger than in any previous year,
2Sg.253 cases in three weeks. over 20 per
cent larger than last year and 3.S per
cent larger than In 1885. The market for
treadstuffs Is not active. nor have changes
I'm prices OF elevator wheat been of any
consequence. but the active May option
shows a sharp decline. Atlantic exports
continue far below former years: I'm three
weeks 6.093.525 bu. against 13,22f.0S2 last
year. and Pacific exports In the same weeks
were 2.291775 bu. against 1S53. S91 last year.
Western receipts were, in three weeks, only
86s2. 10 bu. against 13.0054S2 last year. Corn
receipts are smaller than last year by s.
oce.oo0 bu for the three weeks while ex-
ports have been 10.SSiS5 bu. against g.
b1of39 last year. and this active movement
caused spot quotations 10 advance.
Failures Tor the week have been 242 In