The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-07-16

fortune 10 say that never before in oul
experience In the compilation Of these
statistics, has the decrease in mercantile
casualties been so marked; III no previous
period has the comparison OF losses BY
bad debts been so favorable, aS ut the
present hour"
The indications are numerous OIL every
hand OF an improved condition Of bust.
ness, yet none are more significant than
the decrease In failures. Aside from the
direct losses OF large sums through mis-.
fortunes oil character, the amount locked
up In estates awaiting adjustment Is a
most serious withdrawal from active Capi.
tai. But even greater than this ia the
effect upon the confidence SO essential to
business pursuits. Numerous failures re-
tard business ventures IN greater ratio
than any other singular circumstance;
while the probability OF lessCned disasters
begets faith in the future, and this feeling
otsaiety contributes almost US much as an
incentive to transactions as the hope OF
gain. The decline In values, and the
absenCeof remunerative profits experienc.
ed in all branches OF business during the
last two years, served TO intensity the anx.
iety always felt when losses by failure are
frequent, or even probable; but now that
the figures above submitted reveal such
marked improvement, as compared with
the losseschroniCled in previous years by
bad debts, another element Is added in the
growing confidence already manifesting
itself, especially when taken in connection
with the present steadiness in prices, i'm.
provement in values Of many staples, and
the evident growth in the volume OF bust.
ness.
In relation to the growth in the volume
OF business in the past elk months, as
compared with tho transactions OF the
same period in 1875, the circular before us
contains returns FROM all the clearing
houses in the country, some twenty-five in
number, located In the chief centres OF
tinapce. From figures 1t appears that the
total settlements or balances to be adjust
ed between the various banks indicated
an increase OF business all over the Coun-
try exceeding twenty per cent. There are
seven out Of the twenty-five cities whose
returns show decrease in the six months
from local causes, which in the next six
months may not prevail; but that the to.
tai result should in six months show a
gain Of one-flfth Notwithstanding these
local influences, is next to the failure Of
figures themselves, very satisfactory
showing.
The circular before lis contains brief, but
explicit, reports from forty or fifty repre-.
sentative cities, furnished by the branch
managers ofthe A gency at each locality,
after consulting the best local authorities.
The result is photograph Of the business
OF the entire country, Of a most encourug.
ing character, and as tho Agency says:
"No one can peruse them without being
convinced that not only is the dawn of bet
Ter days upon Us, but that a country so
blessed with abundant resources, in the
hands OF askillful and intelligent, people to
apply them to the best advantage, must
soon, now that the tide is changed, achieve
a marked and permanent prosperity"
The failures in West Virginia for the
half year were fifteen, with liabilities Of
SS4, 500, us against twenty.three for the
same time last year and liabilities OF S227,-
73G. In Ohio the failures were l7G and
liabilities $25lO,S94, against 200 and
81, ,S3l ,233 for the first half Of 1878.