The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-27
BUSINESS DEPENDS

Upon tho Results Of the Election.
Dealers Do Not Care to Take
Chances-Steel and Iron Steadily
Improving-Wheat on the Tobog-
gan-Corn Weak-Wool Stationary.
NEW YORK, Oct. 26.-R. G. Dun &
Company's weekly Review Of Trade to-
morrow will say:
The election means a great deal to all
business interests, and although confi-
dence In the future is seen on every
hand, 1t Is but natural that men do not
care to take unnecessary chances. and
therefore delay new engagements, as
far as possible, until after the ballots
are counted. But contracts for steel
rails for the season thus far are with
in 10000, tons of last -year,s- heavy book
ings, and the confidence In an ultimate
marked improvement is so strong that
all raw materials are firm, and without
any speculative activity to stimulate
them. The agitation for an advance In
b!uets, though small one, Is an ind!-
cation OF what the iron and steel mar
kets expect in the next six months.
and in the great industries sellers OF
material could easily make heavy con-
tracts IL they cared to attach political
provisions to their agreements. How
ever unreasonable fears may be, 1t Is
likely to be better for business In the
long run that conservative ideas for the
present are entertained. The weather
over 4 great part Of the country has
been favorable for agricultural opera
tIons, which are progressing well, and
In the east the unreasonable temper
ature has retarded general trade conf
patatlvely little, as there has been no
great stimulus yet this season.
Improvement in Iron and Steel.
Conditions in the Iron and steel mar
ket steadily lmprove; orders gradually
swell In volume and buyers make less
efforts to secure concessions. In most
cases quotations are not altered, but
there Is on advance of $50 at Phlladel-
phia for bllets, owing to the better
business In rails. Pig iron moves free
ly, especially at Chicago. where man.
ufacturers have contracted freely for
Finished stuff In excess Of raw material
on hand. Cast iron pipe Is In urgent
demand, and new plans for ship-build-
ing will take plate. Bridge builders
are buying structural forms heavily.
Makers OF rails and other products OF
Iron have been accused Of quoting bet
ter terms to foreign than to domestic
buyers. II this Is done. It would seem
to be the manufacturers affair rather
than the newspapers Minor metals
are quiet, excep, for further weak
ness In tin. Silver has reached the
highest price In four years.
Cotton showed little rccuperative
power after last weeks decline. and
closed lower. The loss In price Is 81 so
a bale since October ., and exporters
ure stIll holding of.
Wheat Continued Down.
Wheat also continued its downward
course, owing to good news here and
abroad, but an encouraging nature was
the accelerated foreign buying MS quo
tat!ons declined. Atlantic exports Tor
the week were c,93SO2s bushels. against
2.253,s?5 bushels last year. Corn Is
slightly weaker. while pork products
have fallen sharply. Most all other
provisions are heavy. but l!nseed oil
rose sharply to IJc. The better tone
OF the boo, and shoe market was SUI
fleIent explanation OF the advance In
materials. New England shops are
buster than for many months before.
hu, thus far manufactured goods have
rot advanced with materials. Sales OF
wool at the thrce chic. eastern markets
continue to Increase. exceeding 100000
pounds last week Prices are not al
tered, and bids slightly below the mar
ket are refused. Cotton goods move
rather more freely as the prize comes
nearer parity with raw materials, but
wide shstunrs are du!i At the advance
tn &C.
Failures :o- the week were s6i IN the
United States. against 100 last year, and
= in Canada, AsSias; . last year,
Another Draw Game.