Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-01-05
REVIEW OF TRADE.
Business Has Been Prosperous
During the Past Year.
Manufactures show Steady Increase
-General business In Good Condition
Smallest Number of Failures
for Six Years.
A GOOD RECORD.

NEW YORK, Dec Sir G. DUN g.
Co. S weekly review of trade says:
The most prosperous year ever known in
business closes to-day 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 of stock taking il is remarkably
large. Settlements through clearing houses
outside New York in December were apparent
~ the largest ever made in any month, exceed
ing last years by more than 10 per cent For
the year the volume is also about 10 per cent
larger than last year. and the largest ever
known. Railroad earnings in December show
an increase Of about 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 s. 100000 in value for the last four weeks
and at cotton ports about Sl0,O00,OO) less-but
imports at New York have been S3O00OO0
larger, and the month still shows great ex-
cess of exports For the year the excess OF
merchandise exports has been not far from
S70,0O0OOO, with the largest imports and the
largest total OF exports and imports 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 ex-
in dry goods are extraordinary. Sales OF wool
at the chief markets have been $4,000 900
pounds, against 246,0OOOG0 last year, and for
eign imports have been the largest ever known,
with domestic supply but slightly behind the
largest
Boston reports quiet wholesale trade. Wool
is quiet but firm. At Philadelphia iron is
weak. At Pittsburgh iron is slower, and the
demand for finished products is diminishing,
but glass is fairly active The shoe trade OF
Cleveland is excellent and other trade good,
though in iron no improvement is seen, and
100000 tons iron ore remain on the docks. The
clothing trade is good at Cincinnati, and ma
chinerF and foundry business up TO the usual
mark. At Detroit trade is maintained Bust
ness Chicago is good in all lines, especially in
heavy dry goods Holiday trade was very good
at Milwaukee At St Louis retail trade
unusually strong. Business at St Paul ex-
eeeds last years and is large at Minneapolis.
though lack Of water restricts the flour output.
The lumber trade is most prosperous Bust
ness at Omaha and at Kansas City is satsfao-
tory At Nashville trade is good and at New
Orleans active, especially in sugar
In iron the trade is weaker, the demand for
finished products being at present light But
steel rails have been reduced to SO per ton,
and sales Of 5000 tons have followed. This
great industry has been much affected by the
market for securities which has been de-
pressed for some months by foreign selling and
monetary uncertainties, so that companies
have been restricted in purchases OF rails
and supplies But for the last week stocks
have been stronger gaining about 81 per share
in average prices. Speculation in products has
been comparatively inactive, though wheat has
been advanced by western pool nearly two
cents.
Cotton has been steady and strong, with di-
minshcd receipts
The year 1892 was remarkable for fewer fail
ures than have occurred In any other year
since 1856 the numbers reported being 1881,
or 1929 less than in 1891 The Indebtedness
of firms failing was but sll40O0.0OO in 1892,
against Sls9,OJO000 in 1891 ana about the same
in 1899
The average liabilities Of firms falling in
1892 has been only $1,000, the lowest average
reported since 1873
In 1892 only one in every 113 traders failed.
against one in every ninety three in 1891, and
one in every i02 in 1890.