New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-04
SOME INDUSTRIAL TOPICS.

CANALS AND RAILR0ADS.-Ihe canals nave
closed with very satisfactory results for the season
to the bOatmen mainly because of the large increase
in tonnage. The number of boats cleared from
Buffalo was only 22J larger than in 1882, but the
shipments from that point included l2,925,324
bushels more grain and in other respects the aboli-
ton of tolls has brought increased business to the
canals The question has another side, however
the railroads have had a good deal of freight
diverted from them, and the public has not thus
far obtained lower rates than before the abolition
of tolls The practical result is that part OF the
profits of the railroads have been transferred to the
canal boatmon, in order to keep alive canal compe-
tition as a restraint upon railroad charges in the
future Meanwhile tho people pay the cost Of keep
ing tho canals in order.
CANADIAN CorroN NANUFAcTURE.-Cotton man
ufacturing in Canada seems to be prosporlng. The
Secretary of the Board Trade estimates the value
of the products for 1888 at Sl0,4OOOOO, and an
agent of the cotton manufacturers recently stated
in n circular that IL was $10.200,000. But the
official trade returns show that tho value of all
cotton imported was only $2,2s6,53i. 1t is in
ferred that the mills made handsome proiits-pro-
yided they were able to sell their goods at the
prices assumed in the estimates On that point
however, there may be shade of doubt.
FAILURES AND THEIR SrArIsrICs.-Fsures con-
reported for last week being about 20 per cent.
Bnt it IL fair to remember that the agencies have at
command each year more complete facilities for re-
porting and include a larger number of firms and
dealers within their survey that the increase IN
failures reported does not necessarily imply cor
responding increase in failures that actually 0c-
Cured The number reported for last week was
232 against 1876 for the corresponding week last
year.
MAN WHO KNOWS WHEN To SToP.-Mr.
McIarcn of Milwaukee, appears to be man oil
wisdom Widely known for years as ono OF tho
most enterprisng and energetic grain dealers OF tho
West he considers that he has made money enough
10 begin TO enjoy himself. and has decided to close
I'D his business As he has by no means reached
the time of lfo at which men generally begin to tire
of active pursuits his decision is more noteworthy
There arc thousands of business men who have
been able to close their affairs with ample fortunes,
| at ono time or another, who are now struggling
desperately to save themselves from bankruptcy.
To know when TO stop Is ono of the most dlthchit
things in business life.
DECLINE IN THE SILK YIELD.-PeOple who insist
upon wearing silk will probably have to pay higher
prices for their luxury, as great decline IN tho
Weld of silk in China is reported Tho importation
of raw silk into this country has boon rather larger
| thus far this year than it was In 1882 but the
British imports have declined surprisingly OF late
| in October a. much as ~ per cont In comparison
with the previous year. The stock Ofraw silk IN Great
| Britain is also much smaller than IT was year
ago-S, 800 instead of $500 bales. The report Is
that owing to a disease of the silkwOrm like that
which has proved so destructive in Europe, the
quantity fit for export from China this year will
| fall oil about one-haH
| PROSPERITY INDICATED by SAVINGS BANKS
| Savings banks in Maine number 81. with lOl,o
depositors against S0,947 in 1881, aud S7,01I III
| 1882. Their deposits amount to $3l,3|l'ooo'
against 1913 277. 676 in 1881, and $26474,555 In
| 1882 The average to each depostor, and the small
increase in that average indicate that these banks
are still used mainly as place of reserve for tho
! laborng and poorer people, and not as convent
ence by capitalists. Hence the rapid increase both
in number of accounts and in amount of deposits Is
evidence of increasing thrift and prosperity.
LOWER WAGES IN observation-disclosures in iron
mills at Pittsburg and Johnstown havo boon called
upon to accept reduced wages. The establishment
of Oliver Brothers IL Phillips, at Pittsburg. has re-
duced wages 10 per cent and the Republic Iron
| Works has done the same. The miners of the Cam
bria Iron Company, at Johnstown, struck On Satur-
day against a similar reduction of wages. but 1t is
stated that this will not stop the works. AT this
and some othor establishments orders have been re-
ceived at low prices, conditioned upon the men be-
ing willing to work at lower wages THAI were pre-
viously paid. Many of the men are intelligent
enough to 500 that in the present depressed state OF
trade it is much better to be at work for fair wages
| than not to be ut work at all
Too Much Whisky IN KENTUCKY.-The whis-
kew dealers of kentucky are loaded with more
whiskey than they can well pay taxes on, ana tho
distillers have been called to assemble on Decem-
Der IL to form pool for the control OF the proauo
ton According to the report the disticres OF that
State produced 32.OO0.O00 gallons in 1887 ana
thus 40 completely glutted the market that only
q 600. 600 gallons have been mado this year. The
theory is that the demand calls for about