The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-31
DUN & CO.'S ANNUAL REPORT
1892 tie Most Prosperous Year Gener.
ally in the History Of Trade.
Silk Machinery Fully EmplOyed-Lsast
Number of Failures Since 1856.

NEW YORK, Dec. S0.-R. G. Dun e. Co.'S
weekly review of trade says: The moss
prosperous year ever known in business
closes with strongly favorable indications
for the future. From nearly all points
comes the report that the holiday trade has
been the largest ever known. and while
wholesale trade is not usually active at
this season CT stock-taking. it is now
remarkably large. Settlements through
clearinghouse outside New York in De-
cember were apparently the largest ever
made IL any month, exceeding last years
by more than 10 per cent. For the year the
volume Is also about 10 per cent. larger
than last year. Railroad earnings In
December show an increase Of about
3 per cent. over last year, and for the year
an increase of about SIS per cent. Foreign
trade has been smaller than last year in
volume Of exports-at New York, S7,S00.0 900
in value for the past four weeks, and AZ
cotton ports about &c. 0O. 900 less. bur I'M
ports at New York have been $4,000. 600
larger. and the month still shows q great
excess of exports. For the year. the excess
of merchandise exports has been not far
from $4,000. 900. with the largest imports,
and the largest total of exports and I'm.
| ports ever known in any year.
The year closes with all WOODEN, cotton
and SILK machinery fully employed. and
unsold stocks of goods much lighter than
usual. while the demand for the coming
season already exceeds the capacity Of
many mills. The orders in dry goods are
extraordinary. Sales OF wool at the chief
markets have been 800, 600, 600 pounds,
against GAG, 900. 900 last year. and foreign
imports have been the largest ever known.
hind the largest. Shipments of boots and
shoes from the East have been 8 per cent
larger than last year. and nearly 5 per cent.
larger than In any previous year., while tho
increase in ten years has been oyer 80 per
cent.
Boston reports quiet wholesale trade.
| Wool IL quiet but firm. At Philseelphia
iron IS weak. At Pittsburg iron is slower.
and the demand for finished products di-
minishing. but glass is fairly active. The
shoe trade at Cleveland Is excellent. end
other trade good. though In iron no im-
provement Is seen, and four million tons OF
ore remain on the docks. The clothing
and foundry business Is mp to the usual
mark. At Detroit trade Is maintained.
Business at Chicago is good in all lines.
especially in heavy dry goods Decrease
appears in sales of securities and real
estate, and for the week receipts of hogs
and lard. wool and -four. seeds and dressed
beef show considerable decrease from last
year, but increase appears in cattle, corn
and hides hides; and md" receipts, Ds Of barley:
i more than double. Holiday trade was
very good at Milwaukee,. At ST. Louis
retail trade unusually strong. Business az
st Paul exceeds last years. and is large az
Minneapolis. though lack of water restricts
the flour output. The lumber trade 10 most
prosperous. Business at Omaha and az
Kansas City is satisfactory. At Nashville
trade is very good, and at New Orlesnl
trade Is weaker the demand for finished
products being at present light. But steel
rails have been reduced to $29 per ton. and
sales of $4,000 tons have folio wed. This
| great industry has been much affected by
the market for securities, which has been
depressed for some months by foreign sell
ing and monetary uncertainties, so that
companies have been restricted in pur-
chases of rails and supplies. But for tho
past week stocks have been stronger, gain
ing about 81 per share in average price.
Speculation in products has been compar-
atively inactive, though wheat has been
advanced by . Western pool nearly 2 cents.
Cotton has been steady AID strong. with
diminished receipts.
The year 1892 was remarkable for fewer
failures than have occurred in any other
year since 1886. the number reported
being 1884, or 2.029 less than in
1891. The Indebtedness of firms fall
ing was but Sl14. 00O. 900 in 1892. against
Sls9. 600, 600 in 1891, and about the sam in
1890. The average liabilities of firms fall
ing in 1892 has been only S11 900, the lowest
average reported since 1875.
In 1892 only one in every 113 traders
failed, against one In every ninety-three IN
1890. and one IN every 102 In 1880.
Review of the Wool Trade.
BOSTON, Dec. S.-The Commercial Bull
letin will print tomorrow in its annual
statistical review of the wool trade Of thu
United States the following interesting
comparisons with 1891: The number of
sheep in the country increased from a.
100000 to A. 93S. 600; the United States clip
increased from S07. Adj. 507 pounds to S33. 0ls.-
sos pounds. The stock of domestic wool on
hand Dec. 81 in Boston increased from 2S,-
705. 339 pounds to 30. ESQ, 500 pounds. The
stock of foreign wool in Boston increased
from 1909. 800 TO 4.34l,0 600. The sales for tho
year in Boston increased 81. 292. l41 pounds
over those of 1891. Boston increased he's
sales by Six million pounds more wool than
the entire increase of the domestic clip.
The total stock IN the country Is but 6S.-
$4,000 pounds domestic and 1S.3SS. SIS
domestic and 81 .154, SEQ pounds foreign Dec.
81. 1881. The consumption OF ali grades Of
wool by American mills shows an increase
of So. O0O pounds over 1881. AmJ
A southern Exhibit
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Dec. 30.-The
Trsdesman has compiled reports of new
industries established during the year 1891
in the States of Alabama. Arkansas. Flor.
ida. Georgia. Kcntncky. Louisiana. Miss,s-
sippi. North Carolina. South Carolina,
Tennessee. Texas. Virginia aud w est VIr.
Rinia. The total IS z. 4f0; S23 less than for
1891; sos less thar for 1880 and 14l less than
for 1889.