New-York tribune., 1900-01-08

favorable rumors by others and admirable ac-
counts of last years business helped the list
generally, though few stocks slightly declined.
In the iron business extraordinary require
ments reported "in sight Philadelphia dis
patches say. and conditional acceptances exist
''for over $4,000 tons Of finished products before
May T." which would be not third OF one
weeks output for the country; but 1t is added
that large consumers awaiting develop
''ments in the belief that concessions may be ex
tended for summer deliveries" 1.-The Iron Age
reports some good sized orders for plates at
Philadelphia and "a heavy demand for bars
at concessions" with mot much tonnage being
placed" in any line at Pittsburg just now,
though there is better buying in bars at Chicago
and hopeful feeling everywhere. But editorial
ly it says that conservative men wish "a gradual
return to a more normal level Of prices" and
doubt the wisdom Of measures which aim at
holding values by main force" So far, in spite
of the advance in nails and in wire, the average
OF prices for iron products has declined 3.3 per
cent from their highest point on November l.
The yielding in tin and copper began earlier
and has gone further, with weakening in foreign
speculation. Coke holds strong, with advanced
prices quoted for small lots required at once.
Boot and shoe makers have advanced prices
considerably less than leather has advanced.
but find new buying much reduced by the belief
of dealers that prices cannot hold, and In some
lines of leather business has recently been
slow. while hides at Chicago have yielded two
thirds OF l per cent during the last month.
These are small signs which indicate willing
ness to stimulate increased demand by abate-
ment of prices, though it is entirely possible
that a new rush of buying such appeared
more than once last year may start prices up
again.
In he
pany advanced its prices from 33 to 40 per cent
last year, and its treasurer expects "a very
busy season" The business at the rate
Of So, ,000 600 a year for about seven months, at
the rate OF $4O,000000 in November and Decem-
ber, and is expected to reach $45,000OOO this
year-statements which indicate little to
profits. because wool has risen since May an
average of 3S per cent, though extreme quota
tions have not OF late been obtainable. Other
woollen goods have generally advanced less
than wool, but the outlook for the coming sea-
is not yet defined. Cotton goods continue In
large demand, and without any abatement of
prices reached a few weeks ago. though cotton
has been less strong But the takings by North
ern spinners have been smaller than last year
since December l. presumably on account of the
high prices. Cotton in sight reached 6OOO0ol
bales on Saturday against S,O01, ,916 to date last
year with exports L. T25 600 bales smaller than
last year Since nobody can tell how large
part of the stocks at small interior towns has
been actually sold to mills, while guesses at the
quantity yet to come into sight have been wider
apart than usual, the speculation has been hesi-
tating.
Wheat really has no price here, quotations be-
ing based on gambling options. which are half
cent lower for the week. though exports, flour
included, were only 2,509.662 bushels, against
$3.50 26S bushels last year, corn meanwhile
yielding only eighth, though exports were
slightly larger than last year.
The business of the year opened at the clear
ing houses % per cent larger than last year,
and 246 per cent larger than in 1892. The COM
plete figures for 1899 show remarkable in
crease in the proportion of business finally
settled at New-York, and, explained last
week the increase in sales OF stocks has been
largely neutralized by settlement through the
Stock Exchange clearing house. The banking
exchanges at all points were $93 39779 800. 1856 last
year. of which NETWORKS share Cal per
cent against 5S.S in 1892 while the share of the
thirteen largest outside cities was 2S9 per
cent against 32S in 1892, and the share
Of about seventy minor cities only
Ga per cent. against S4 in 1892. Boston
ranked next to New-York. with 10 per
cent Of the aggregate, against in 1892; Chicago
came next with {, against S.3 in 1892;
and st. Louis fourth. with Ii, against in 1892.
Close behind came Pittsburg, with a great gain
of 1913 per cent in years, that its share
of all the business was 1.6 per cent, against
12 in 1892 Baltimore. another iron manu-
featuring city, held its with an increase of
81 per cent in the seven years. and Cleveland.
also iron city, gained 10 per cent since 1892,
slightly increasing it's share of business. The
Southern cities and San Francisco relatively
lost, New-Orleans and Cincinnati actually re-
porting less business in 1899 than seven years
ago.