Le MeschaceÌbeÌ. [volume] ([Lucy] La.) 1853-1942, 1895-04-13
DUN'S TRADE REVIEW.

Year-Returns Showing the Conditions
of Retail Trade In March Throughout
the Country, and the Distribution of
Goods to Final Consumers.
New YORK, April 6.-R. g. Dun &
Co. S weekly review of trade, issued to-
day, says:
Commercial failures in the first
quarter of 1895 numbered 3,S02. with
liabilities of S47.sl3,6 ,6S3, averaging
$12, 600 each. There were also thirty
FIVE bank failures with liabilities of
2,6s2. .537, or about S360,000 each. If
both were Jumped together as in other
reports they are the aggregate of lia-
bilities here reported would be $780,
496, ego, that is, S13, 1850, 600, Or $50 per
cent. more than is shown in any other
report for the quarter. But Dun's re-
view not only gives commercial and
banking failures separately, but shows
that of the former 651 were of manu-
featuring concerns, with liabilities of
$50, ,223, ,991, averaging $4,000 each,
while 3,107 were of trading concerns
with liabilities of So, 1879, SOL, ayerag-
ing about Ss, 900 each.
The decrease in number of CONNER
cial failures, compared with the first
quarter of last year, is but III per
cent, while the decrease in liabilities
is l6,30o,o 900, or 25.4 per cent. About
30 per cent. in manufacturing and 20
per cent. in trading. The instructive
ness of the report and its value as an
encouragement are largely due to the
separation of banking failures, in
which the liabilities were S12, ,6S2, 537,
against only S3, 4s2, 5i2 last year.
Returns of the highest Importance
given this week show the condition of
retail trade in March throughout the
country, and the distribution of goods
to final consumers, in comparison with
the same months in 1894 and 1898,
while the returns fully given on other
pages cannot be condensed into 4 sim
gle comparison. ard in view of widely
differing conditions in different sec
tions and branches, mightin that form
be the less useful, there is gratifying
evidence that in most trades and dis
tricts marked improvement over 1894
is realized, though on the whole
trade is smaller than in 1893.
Everywhere, also, the occurrence of
Easter in March last year, but
in April thi, year, is found to
account for much difference in the
volume of retail trade, especially in
dry goods and millinery; and the Sc
we're weather and backwardness of the
season also retarded recovery. While
the volume of trade, in quantities of
goods sold. is, nevertheless, larger
than last year, but, on the whole.
smaller than in 1893, the main differ
ence, in comparison with 1893, is
found in the general decline of prices,
which makes trade in value smaller,
even where it is clearly as large or
larger in quantity.
Accounts from the chief centers of
wholesale trade are also encouraging.
There is not only hopeful spirit, but
real gain in business, though not
equally distributed geographically or
as TO branches of trade.
Instructive comparisons of daily av-
erages by months show that all sec
tions have been gaining, but the east
rather more than others.
Railroad earnings in March were
only per cent. larger than last year,
and IS per cent. less than in 1898.
which is scarcely better than the re-
port for February or January, but the
loss is mainly on granger and south
western roads, while eastern roads
show handsome gain. The best news
from the industries is that labor
troubles have been settled or avoided,
Mahoning iron and eastern wooden
mills being again in active operation.
Next in Importance is the demand
for many manufactured products,
which gives greater reason to hope
that recent advances from the bottom
may prove successful. Following the
rise in coke, there have been this week
sales of 1000. 600 tons lake ore at about
13 per cent. advance, and finished
products are no longer inactive, Besse-
mer rising to S1065, gray forge to
50. 25, common bar to 95 cents, struc-
tural angles to S1.05, and plates 81 per
ton.
The cotton manufacture, stimula ted
by the rise in raw cotton, goes on gain
ing, though cotton has halted. Bet.
ter demand appears for many quail
ties. and in some slight advances in
prices.
Sales of wool reflect the renewed
confidence of manufacturers as strikes
are out of the way, for 6.675, 100 pounds
were sold last week, against 4,64s, 20o
for the same week last year. No rise
in prices is seen or expected in view of
the heavy sales and receipts of for
eign wool.
Stocks have made scarcely any adj
vance, doubt about coal settlements
having weakened Jersey Central 81
cents and the closing of Havemeyer
and Spreckel's refineries having weak
ened sugar some.
Speculation in products has been
dull and sales of cotton have fallen to
10000 bales, with no change in prices,
which are now higher than two weeks
ago. Large receipts and unprece-
dented stocks are certainties for which
decrease in acreage is only expected.
Wheat receipts at the west were
small last week, but in March larger
than last year, with Atlantic exports
about the same. Conflicting accounts
give no clear light as yet on the pros
pect for the next crop.
The demand for money is somewhat
better. but since April less increase
is noted in commercial loans