The Monticellonian., 1895-07-12

l and S736 per S1 900 solvent payments.
 Manufacturing failures for the half year were 1,254 against l,501 last year, and liabilities $40, 30i, ,949 against S41,- 976, l02 last year and about Ss9, 000 GOO in the first half of 1892
 Trading failures for the half year were 5,335, against 5, 402 last year and liabilities S45, ,669, $50 against 1852. 345, ,97s last year, and about $61, 900, 090 in 1892.
 Manufacturing failures were @ of 1 1 per cent. of all manufacturing con cerns, against .49 last year, with lia- bilities averaging SIS for every con cern, against Sl17 last year.
 Trading failures were .64 of per cent. of all firms in business. against 64 last year, with liabilities averaging only S54 for every such concern in business, against S62 last year.
 Banking failures, not included in above statements, were 63, with liabili- ties of Sl6, 653, ,276, against 68 last year, with liabilities of Is, 3,Os4 46l.
 The details show decrease in every class of failures in the second. com pared with the first quarter of 1885, both in number and magnitude, the defaulting liabilities averaging S34 against $40 for every firm in business, and S3.04 against S4. 03 for every S1 900 solvent payments.
 The midsummer reports from all commercial centers, to which more space is given than usual, are of espe- eial interest, covering the questions | 1 ;a1, l, f,,+ They indicate distinctly better crop prospects than other official or com mercial accounts. a marked increase in retail distribution of products, an act i've demand for goods, and a general enlargement of the working force, with some advance in the wages of more than half million hands. At the same time they show that the rapid advance in prices has somewhat checked buying of a few classes of pro 1ucts in every part of the country. and 1 the outlook for fall trade is considered bright.
 Nothing disturbs the money market. The government begins the new fiscal year with more than the required gold reserve, and the disbursement of nearly ss0,000, 900 by corporations in interest and dividends will stimulate business in many branches
 The latest agreement of railroad presidents is treated at Chicago as meaning more than usual and ship. nents have increased amounting for four weeks to POS, ST tons east-bound, l against 1S7, 309 last year and POS 11S in i 1893.
 Earnings of railroads in June, thus far reported amount to S23, 0S0, 870 in the United States and are g. per cent. larger than last year, but 15.7 per cent. less than in 1893.
 The advance in iron continues, and the Thomas company has raised an- thracite No. l another S1 per ton. Comparison of prices for various iron products shows an average ranging from 72. ? per cent. since February for wire nails to r per cent for anthra- cite pig and in all kinds averaging g per cent. The demand and rise have come so suddenly that, even while the i first order for shipments of steel bil- let's to Europe, given some time ago, when prices were low, is being an nounced, the prices here have ad- vanced from SIT in April to S22 25 or about 31 per cent.
 Wool is stronger both here and abroad, the London sales opening July at higher prices, and the aver age for lO4 qualities of domestic wool, 1 quoted by Coat & Bros, has risen nearly half cent since June 20.
 Cotton goods also continue to ad- vance and the mills are generally well employed.
 Speculation has advanced cotton three-sixteenths, though the crop news Is favorable, but has depressed wheat cents in spite of estimates that the yield has been materially reduced since June 1. Every year the crop re- ports are having less influence, and the time is ripe for the radical change 1 in government estimates which the l department proposed. The year closes with more than 2600 900 bales | American cotton available here and abroad and with at least 65,00O, 900 bushels surplus wheat, although some make the quantity 8O000, 900 bushels i larger. The crop of oats is certain to be large, and the prospect for corn has greatly improved within the past few weeks