The Newtown bee., 1892-04-08

Main street has been bought by Freder- ick Booth.
 George w. Brown has gotten out plans for new factory for the Monumental Bronze company, to be erected at West End. The proposed new building is 175x149 feet and will be equipped with all the necessary facilities for carrying on the company's extensive and rapidly growing business.-[ Record.
 Henry Dun Wiman, Bridgeport man. ager of R. c. Dun X Co.,, the mercantile agency, has prepared interesting figures in regard to the failures in this county for the first quarter of the present year, compared with previous records. The total number of failures in Fairfield county for the first three months of 1892 was 16, with estimated liabilities of $780, 7I7 and assets $42,517 The figures for the same quarter of last year were fail ures two, aggregate liabilities $15, 200 and assets $10,300; for 1890, first quart CT, four, liabilities $36, 200, assets $35, ,610. During the whole of 1891 there were in Fairfield county 19 failures, with liabili- ties $780, and assets SIP, 537 and, for the whole of 1890, there were 15 failures with liabilities $S9, ,566 and assets $44 $50. A little calculation shows that the aver age amount of liabilities for the quarter just closed was $S170 and the average assets $2657. For the corresponding quarter, last year, the average of liabil- ities was $7600 and assets $5150. It will be readily noticed that the assets for this quarter are just g 1-2 per cent. of the li- abilities, while for the corresponding quarter of 1891 they were 67 1-2 per cent. and, during the whole of last year, they averaged 10 per cent. and, in 1890, 50 per cent.
 It can hardly be said that the figures are encouraging and there still seems a weak kneed feeling amongst poorly rated dealers. The truth of the matter is that we are passing through a stage of de- pression which is making it's influence felt throughout the whole of this country and also in Europe. A survey of the market reports will show a considera ble falling off in prices in breadstuffs and staple raw materials, compared with those which obtained at this time, last year. Very few Fairfield county manufactures are running up to their full capacity. The hat trade is not up to expectations, for example and, to this fact and the cOnse- quent poor collections, is attributed the failure of several small suppliers in hat ting towns. While it is strongly hoped that the opening of Spring trade may help retailers, it is wise to remember that gradual and steady improvement is the only path to permanent prosperity
 George F. French has the contract to build $3000 house for Thomas Stewart on Orchard street, Longstaff X Hurd to build G. DrOuve < Bros shop on Clinton street, Charles l.. Chamberlain to build Dr C. B. Bakers house at Seaside, James McGee to build T. F. Feeley's 5000 house on Benham avenue, D. c. Mills to build A. W. Hyde's house on Deacon street, w. F. Randall to build H. II. Pyle's new house on Norman street.
 Edward J. Alquist, graduate of the new business college at 122 Fairfield ave- nue, is bookkeeper and stenographer for Edwin c. Rowley, the Main street roofer and payer.
 The Monumental Bronze Co.,, now in leased quarters on Barnum avenue, is to move to the West End, where they have bought 260xl0O feet, corner of Howard avenue and Cherry street and will put up the necessary buildings at once.
 James A. Wilson, wife and little daugh- ter have been on a trip to Washington.
 George W. Brown has made plans for a $3GOO house on Laurel avenue for H. H. Pritchard and for a three-story building, with store and two tenements, 32x46. corner of Olive and Pequonnock.
 Allison P. Smith of the Homestead spent Sunday with his mother, Mrs s. H. Smith of South avenue.
 Cards are out announcing the mar riage of Miss Jeanette, daughter of James A. Thomson of 209 East Main street, to William Edward Hatheway, to take place, April l4, at the residence of MT Thomson.
 The Young Peoples society of the Presbyterian church gave an unusually pleasant surprise to their friends, last week Thursday evening. A program of merit, consisting of music by the Kinder Symphony orchestra, led by Prof Spin hing, solo by Mrs George Simmonds, recitations by Miss Kapral, Miss Edith Phillips, German Dwarf and singing by the Y. M. c. A. Glee club were enthus- iastically received. Refreshments were served to all after the entertainment and Prof Spinning was the recipient of a handsome bouquet presented by Mir Stanton in behalf of the young people.
 The ladies of the South church gave the last supper of the season to their friends, last week Thursday. The par lors were handsomely decorated and the tables loaded with good things, as is usual.
 The fifth annual meeting of the Bridgeport c. D. Union was held at the Presbyterian church, Monday evening. After song service conducted by Mrs r. Ravens, the annual reports of the presi- dent, H. D. Simonds, secretary and treas urer Bacon Wakeman were listenad to