The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-06

ization being had of the features making
for strength in those products, notable
among which being the reduction in the
supply of hogs, which, like the similar
falling off in number of cattle, has gone
on for a Number of years past. That the
advance in hog products is beginning to
attract more attention seems evident
from the extent to which the advance
has had sympathetic reflection in the
prices of wheat and other cereals, which
really trace some of the strength which
has been shown this week to that quar-
ter. While stocks of wheat have fallen
Oft in Europe, and shipments there to
December were lightst recorded for many
years, still stocks have Increased in this
country to nearly as great an extent
Owing to the continued light movement
and the confidence with which holders
maintain prices cotton has advanced
slightly during the week. 1t is evident
that the new plan of warehousing cotton
is having a measurable influence upon the
movement in sight.
In iron and steel quiet strength has,
as for many weeks past, been the notable
feature. rather more aggressive feel
ing is noted at Chicago. where wire and
nails have been cons derably advanced,
and bar steel angles and channels have
also moved upward. With the country's
production sold ahead as heavily as it Is,
there is naturally little or no immediate
business offering. No sign of weakness
in the steel market is percepible, and
there has been, in fact, marking Up of
the nominal rates. The hardware trade
has completed a year remarkable in
many respects, and the report comes
from the west that number of sales
men did not leave the road at all during
the holidays, but kept steadily at work.
Light hardware of some sorts has been
marked up this week.
lumber is seasonably quiet, but al
ready preparations for an active spring
business are perceptible. point of
much interest to the lumber trade is the
placing of an immediate order for a
billion feet of yellow pine for the Pan
American exposition at Buffalo. Prices
show no weakness.
Textiles show noticeable strength. Next
season cotton goods will all open higher
and in finished products particularly
there is chance for expansion, as quo
tations in those lines have not moved up
to a parity with gray goods. The short
supply of water is beginning to affect the
output of New England cotton mills and
this promises to introduce still another
element of strength into holders po
sitions Wool, though quiet, is strong,
and manufactured goods will certainly
open at good advances. The bulk of the
old crop is claimed to have already been
marketed. Export trade for our fine
wool is good, as evidenced by some ship
ments this week to England, and some
buyers are said to have bought wool that
is yet on the sleeps back, in the west.
Wheat, including -four, shipments for
the week aggregate 2,509,602 bushels,
against 311O,557 bushels last week, $780,
26S bushels in the corresponding week of
1879: 3, 4S1. $40 bushels in 1898; 3,1OS,6SS bush
els in 1897 and 3.471,6S1 bushels in 1896.
Since July 1, this season. the exports of
wheat aggregate LOG, 493,S79 bushels,
against 12S. 3SS. 977 bushels last year and
49,. "a. 1856 bushels in 1898. Corn exports
for the week aggregate 4,119,o26 bushels,
against 1856. 259 bushels last week, ASA
2SS bushels in this week year ago, j.
As 4l6 bushels in 1898; ,261 bushels in
1897 and 2625, 423 bushels in 1896. Since
July l. this season. corn exports aggre-
gate 125. ISL bushels, against S5,7s4.s27
bushels during the same period a year
ago. and S5,s92,676 bushels in 1898.
Business failures for the week number
229 as compared with 90 last week, 237
in this week a year ago, 1888 in 1898 and
ASS in 1897. Business failures in the Do
minion of Canada number "A for the week
as compared with % last week. 26 in this
week a year ago, and As in 1898.
DUN'S TRADE REVIEW.
New York. Jan. 5.-R- G. Dun & Cos
weekly review of trade viii say tomor-
row: Failures in 1899 were 1855 in num-
Der. with liabilities of Sl2S132,6s9. The
last days of the year added few more
to the number, and some millions to the
known liabilities of firms and banks
which failed close to the end. so that
commercial defaults reached SS0S79.9S9. Of
which $50, 792 164 were in manufacturing.
S4S, 1924. IL in trading and $u,162,954 in
brokerage. promoting and other COM
mercial liabilities.
Most people in business have been so
occupied this week with the accounts and
the settlements Of the past year, that
little new business has been done. No
new tendency in manufacture or in trad
ing appears and less change than was
anticipated in money markets.
There is nothing unsound in the bust
ness of the great industries, but an ex-
tensive revision of prices may disappoint
extreme expectations Two ways os slim
ulating business are adopted. The Iron
Age notices transactions OF magnitude
in foundry iron which indicates that
some sellers are willing to make conces-
sions to secure the trade OF good Gus
toners" But the Steel and Wire COM
pany has sdvsuced prices Of wire nails,
barbed and smooth wire IS cents Bes-
semer pig is not higher than it was six
weeks ago and steel plates havt declined
from $50 TO 90 at Philadelphia, bars at
Pittsburg from s22s to s2l5 and sheets
from Ss15 to $3.50. while structural and rail-
producers have held. but refused to ad.
vance, prices. Some new business IS re-
ported. bat not enough as yet to indicate
the tendency. In tin. after a fair from
80 to . cents the price raises TO .. -
at London and in copper 1six cents Is