Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-24
DUN AND eRADSTREET.
Only M Augusta, Ga., l. There Any Inn
proyement in business.


proyement in Business.
NEW YORK. December 22.-R. @. Dun
& cos weekly review Of trade to-mor-
row will say: "Thc year is practically
over except as 10 holiday business, which
is remarkably well sustained "a respects
the number Of sales. considering the state
Of industries and the army Of unemplOy-
ed hut Il Is materially diminished IN
volume because Of purchases averaging
much smaller in value than IN recent
"Othcr business. all branches included,
appears from clearinghouse returns 10
be 2l1 per cent less than last year at
the same date. But much business ~
done at prices which return no pronl,
merely TO keep hands together or retain
customers and the losses by numerous
and heavy failures reduce profits even
where the volume OF transactions mas
given fair promise. The changes during
the past week have not been cheering In
character but the minds Of many are
now turning 10 the dawn of the new
year. with the hope of better things
The failure OF the Crane Iron Com
pany at the end of last week. with some
other smaller failures. outwelghed the III
nucnce Of the resumption oi Work by q
few iron-wOrks. ana has increased me
depression Besscmer iron IS shipped To
Philadelphia from Pittsburg, whore ~
sells at $l0I5. and grey forge sells ior
even I'm that region the manufacture Keeps
only = 20 of the COnncllsVille cOke-ONeISs
at work. while 9,0sS are idle.
"The reduction in price OF bleached cot
tons last week and Of leading wide sheet
ings this week has been less effective in
stimulating trade than was expected anu
print cloths are selling 40 cents. Tie
woollen manufacture has started three
more mills. but six have stopped one en-
ployng 3CW hands, and others are TO
ported as going To be stopped when the
sin'Ks on hand are worked uu.
THE closing Of the 81. Nicholas Bank
with liabilities Of $}1J3.uO, caused no cN-
element Custom has hardened the street
to reports OF failures. ana II IL generally
expected that the close Of the year may
bring more than usual.
Foreign trade SIN Shrlnks, the cX-
ports for three weeks having been lO per
cent less than last year, and the imports
at New York 20 per cent. less.
"Thp failures for the week Were "li A
the United states, against 20 last year
and 81 I'm Canada, against IS last year.
Bradstrects tomorrow viii say: The
features OF the business week are m
creased uniformity in reports that gene
raj trade is quite ms mucn or more ,r-
pressed than previously that holiday
trading has been unsatisfactory ana lar
below that OF a year ago. and that The
closing down OF important ndIstfLu '3-
Establishments has continued, WIN Ie4uc-
tiOns Of wages. and increased instances
where short time Is being enforced. Near
" All the STAPLE markets have been quiet
almost 10 stagnatiOn, the exception
having been cotton. the price OF Wh'ch
was stimulated late In the week by "A
revival of the confidence I'm the low crop
reports. with the exception OF Augusta
'. Ul r1.aihlV one othNr uplnt, dtSp-
lutcly no claim to even slight improN -
mrnt I'm any line Of business ls made az
any point this week.
''Restriction Of Industrial production
and commercial output continues features
of the situation at Boston, ne SANE
being true as TO Philadelphia. whore the
usual orders for January and February
delivery at this season are not received.
The sales OF lumber have declined % per
cent and the shoe and leather markets
are duh. Very small stocks viii be car
RED over by jObbers AT Baltimore, wheie
funds are easier and the matter or push
Ing collections is prominent.
collections are pressed by klchmonl
iobbers and Richmond manufactures
are refusing 10 pile up stocks. The Ike
is true Of Charleston. while at savannah
naval stores are firm, with prices adj
VanCing.
sales are nsht at Atlanta. and manu-
featuring there Is only moderately ac-
tive, but at Augusta all lines of business
show a large volume Of trade ana manu-
featuring industries report me demand
fair Trade Is quiet at Memphis, Birmins-
ham, and Nashville, demand for gro
cerles and for Christmas specialties being
the only one notlceably active.
There Is small increase In the volume
Of trade at Mobile. though IL Is less than
| a year ago. Country merchants In south
ern Alabama are buying conservatVely.
but the lumber mills in that vicinity are
more active.
at New Orleans the bulk OF the cot
ION and sugar crops IS reported market
! ed: orders from jObbers are small, and
| there are no new features. At the larger
Texas cities tho situation remains as a
week ago, with fair collections and a
moderate volume OF transactions"