The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-04
BY DUN AND BRADsTREET
Largest List Ever Reported for
Like Period.
sEvENHuNDRED MORE THAN 1895
Improvement Expected with Spring
Has Begun Though in Some
Branches of Business it is
Scarcely Visible.

The regular quarterly statement OF
failures shows 4,o34; liabilities of $751;
425.135, against $500 last year, with
liabilities of SAT, 813, 6S3, and 4,304 IN the
same quarter of 1894, with liabilities Of
S64. 1877, 1876. The average Liabilities
were S14,246, against $12,577 vast year,
and $4,000 i'll 1894.
Manufacturing failures were 835
against 651 last year, with liabilities
of S23. 5O7. 1926. against $20,223, 991 last
year; increase $16.6 per cent, but the
decrease in comparison with 1924 IS
1914 per cent Trading failures were
3.118, with liabilities of S31, 424,3l2,
against $25, 9T9, 894 last year; increase
900 per cent, but in comparison with
1894 the decrease is 90 per cent. Inc
ratio of defaulted liabilities to pay
ments through clearing houses was
S4.45 per ST 900, the average for the
preyious ten years having been S3.27,
and the average per firm in business
was S47.48 against $3S.64 for the pre-
yious ten years. The main increase
over last year has been in manufac-
lures in New York, Ohio and Ken
lucky; in trading failures in Texas
and Minnesota, owing to two recent
large defaults. Other commercial fall-
,rres are also larger than last year,
practically all the increase being at the
South. Banking failures have been
81 against SO last year, but with liaDll-
ties of only S4,751 ,972, against Sl3,4s2,-
537 last year
More than half the entire banking
defaults were in northern states ana
,,.ao4 pf the MiSSiSSiDDl.
The improvement expected with
Spring weather begins, though IN
some branches of business rs scarcely
yisiblv. As consumers make spring
purchases they must lessen stocks
and compel buying. The stocks taKeA
~ advance of last Summers demands
haze been distributed far more slowly
than was expected but months OF
waiting have helped to lessen the load
which it IS hoped Spring buying VIA
clear away The backward season mas
been q hinderance as has also Deeh
fhe number of hands unemploS So ~
important industries and the 10"
prices OF farm products. Apprehension
IF foreign or financial difficulties nave
hindered but are now scarceiy iels.
Gold exports are rumored, but az eiis
season are so far natural thal lhey
have no such power TO cause alarm as
they had in winter.
The gigantic steel combination II
expected to have a great influence -
sustaining markets and sumulatiiie
confidence. and though such operations
often miss the success they seek, they
rarely fail TO kindle speculative buying
for a time. The sudden advance q So|
Yer ton in billets a week ago, has raised
sBesselner pig 81 at Pittsburg, and the
demands for structural forms increases
IN expectation that prices viii rise. Nall
associations have given notice OF az
other advance Of 15c. at the end OF this
month. Bars have been greatly demon
allied. but some makers now hope 70
re-establish the combination as steer
bars will become dearer. But no.
foundry is slightly lower at Phlladel-
mia. and the general demand Tor fisl-
fshed products does not yet improve.
The steele oncerns propose to restrict
production BY allotment, those produc-
ING more than their share paying ~
per ton to those who produce less: or-
tlerg for Jake copper are solicited at
1OiLc.. and lead is weaker at bloc, but
a single buyer lifted tin TO 1885 The
wooden manufacture does not gain in
orders. and large part OF the MAJ
chinery is stopped. Prices for wool
have fallen re per cent, the average
of 104 quotations being 1880. Sales ~
March were smaller than in any other
month since 1894, and for the quarter
were only 57,147,780 pounds, Of which
26. 258. $50 was foreign. Cotton mills
still pile up goods in advance Of orders,
as reductions in prices have failed as
yet to stimulate buying.
Speculation in products has been
tame. Cotton continues TO come for
ward SO largely that former predictions
Of 1. 500. 900 bales are remembered with
derfsion, and the outlook for the next
crop continues good. Wheat has
slightly advanced, and if late reports Of
INQUIRY from extensive frosts and
storms prove correct, will advance more,
though Western receipts continue near
Nv SO per cent. larger than last year,
and for five weeks past have been H.
855, 4l0 bushels, against 8,831,372 last
year, while Atlantic exports have been
only G,733,132 bushels, flour included,
against s, 435, 7O1 last year. Corn exports
are large and receipts also heavy, but
pork has declined 75c. per barrel.
BRADSTREET's REVIEW.
New York, April 3. Bradstreets to-
morrow will say:
stormy weather at the northwest,
continued restriction of distribution
Of staple merchandise and unsatisfac-
tory mercantile collections continued
to be the leading characteristics of gen
eral trade. The conspicuous change
is In the steel and iron markets. The
formation Of a pool Of manufacturers
Of steel to regulate production and
maintain prices results in advance OF
So per ton i'm quotations for steel bill
let's, and $1.25 per ton for Bessemer
pig iron A corresponding stimulus is
given quotations for other forms Of
iron and steel Whereas leading metal
markets were dull and depressed q
week ago, activity is now reported with
4 n n. -. la