Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-04
THE LAST YEARS BUSINESS.
OF the Mercantile Failure
i'm this Country and Canada.

The condition of trade and the industrial pros
perity throughout the country during the year
1881 are discussed in the last number of Brad
streets, and comprehensive tables are published
showing the mercantile failures in the United
States and Canada for the past year In gem
eral. the year has been very prosperous in
every quarter In the northwest bast-
ness has continued good in spite of short
grain crops. The present conditions are said
to be so favorable as to insure cont,Hua-
ton of trade and industrial activity throughout
1882. and perhaps beyond Great prosperity
in manufacturing business has existed. ana
there are no signs of lesseGed activity in ANY
direction. The year has brought great Deaehts
to the south in the shape OF rapid railway eN-
tension and the general development OF the
country. Trade on the Pacific coast is reportedto
have been fairly good It viii te remembered that
the Pacific coast the last TO feel the abound
ing prosperity OF the country. AT the sea
board cities. says Brddsfrass. land this is
notably true of New York. the movement in
general merchandise has been fairly unprece-
denied No pregious summer in New York eyer
saw such activity in the dry goods trade. ana
this statement will in q great degree hold good
for other trades. The forbiddng feature has
has been the Ealing Off in the export trade
consequent upon the short crops aad the
speculation for high prices"
In speaking of the mercantile failures. it is
suggested that tine fact Ofti.e disasters being in
excess of those of 1880 is not strange when the
remarkable activity OF the year is considered.
Failures arc natural when trade is at the full
and ventures-inany Of them ILL., ;ud@ed-are so
numerous. The mercantile failures for the last
three years we're as follows: For 1879. 66,3: for
1880 $50: for 1881 5923 For 1919 the liabiii-
ties We're 800. 636 3i2, and the actual assets
sfiS, 200. li6. - per cent. For 1850 the lia0i
tiles were s57, is0, 49, and the assets 81 o.2
or As per cent. while for ISL the liabilities we're
S1o,USi65s. and the assets So g6i. 80. or Il PEP
cent 1t will be seen that the failures for last
year outnuniber those for 1880 by .51a. SUM-
mary OF the failures i'm the United States for the
year ending December 81, 1881. shows that in
the New England states there were 3d.. with
liabilities argregating 81 .633 St3 actual assets
amounting to "a S4S.51S, and nominal assets
amounting to - So. i2t. In the middle states
there have beer 400 failures: liabilities
S27. l0G $50 actual assets. Sill 65..33:6. and nom
inal assets. SIS S+3.0i6. III the southern states
,3l3 failures are reported. With SI63i5., Ii
OF aggregated liabilities. 80 9l4 !i26 OF actual
assets, and S13.02Gci0 OF nominal assets.
In the western states there have been :Sc1 fail
ureS. The liabilities amounted to Sl4 6sj6 4.,4:
actual assets, 49,. $40. and nominal assets.
S11. ,36i. Iii the Pacific states but Clio fail
ures have been recorded with $. OPS. I'D Of La
biiities 81 SS6.69l actual assets and - $50 6S7
of nominal assets In the territories there have
been IS failures, the liabilities amounting to
81 ,29l .OfS; actual assets 1924 552: nominal as
sets, 81 .10S S23. The failures in New York city
during the year numbered o91. with II l:0. 1913
OF liabilities. $500. 0.tj of actual assets and
81, So, $50 Of nominal assets. Chicago reports
S3 failures. with 81 $50 OBI OF liabilities ti54 3f
OF actual assets AID ei.l71.li3 of nominal as
sets. In Philadelphia there were Ia f.iiures:
liabilities 81 So S5J actual assets. - Ws} sol:
nominal assets. -. G6 .56i. Boston had Isl
failures. with 81 - tlS1 of liabilities - fi5 $50
OF actual assets and - 92i $50 of nominal as
sets. The failures in the Dominion OF Canada
were as follows: Quebec, 1ua ial!iitIes
81 .622, Pig. Ontario i02: liabilities = CS, l49
and in the provinces 10. with 81 so ST. of la
bilities An analysis ri the years failures by
trades shows that ia the United States CS5 of
the failures were of general stores. l.0tS grocers
and cO1fectoners. $50 dry anal laucy goods. 3lS
produce. commission and fruit dealers. ;ff2
BOOTS and shoes $50 clothing firms and 2l6
hardware dealers