The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-01-04

While the Number is Almost Seven Hun
dred Less, the Aggregate of Liabilities
Is Slightly Greater How the Years
Early Promise was not Fulfilled-High-
mark and Closing Prices for Manufac-
tured Commodities During the Year
Results of Speculation in Cotton and
Wheat-Irade for Christmas Week.
| New York, Jan. 3.-R. G. Dunn & Cos
weekly review of trade, which issues to-
morrow, viii say:
| The commercial failures during the
complete year, 1895, number 1897,
against 1885 in 1894, but the aggregate
Of the liabilities is slightly greater,
s173, 1856, 900 against s172, ,992, $50, so that
the average per failure is s13, ,124 against
s12,45S in 1884. The bright promise Of
fered by a large decrease in the first
quarter was followed by a small in
crease in the second and third quarters,
and a large increase in the last quarter
Of the year. In that quarter also the de-
ferred liabilities to each firm in bus
| ineSS Increased, and also the proportion
of deferred liabilities to payments
through clearing houses.
remarkable contrasts are shown this
"Ccch ll ana OIL
manufactured products. Compared
with January 1, 1895, prices of manufac-
tured products and of materials rose
Tor pig iron 95.1 per cent at highest
point, but only 81 per cent at the close
while manufacturers of iron rose 53.7
perectn at the highest price, and 23.5
per cent at the close, anthracite coal IiS-
ing 1873 per cent but closed Sc per cent
lower than January ], 1895. Cotton rose
64.76 per cent at the highest point and
AL per cent at the close, but cotton
goods only 16.S per cent at the highest
and 14.5 per cent at the close. Hides
rose IS per cent at the highest point and
13.O per cent at the close; leather $50
per cent at the highest and 21,4 per cent
at the close, and boots and shoes 27.9
per cent at the highest and 12.4 per cent
at the close. Wools rose III per cent
at the highest point and SO per cent at
Dhe close, but woolen goods recently one
eighth of one per cent at the highest
point, closing a shade weaker. SILK 14.3
per cent at the highest point and 10.7
per cent at the close. The comparisons
cast much light on the depression and
increase of failures during the last
quarter.
Produce markets have been the thea
tire OF surprising changes which nave
influenced all business. The acreage in
cotton was wisely restricted, in order
to give producers a better chance for
fair returns, and the crop was further
reduced to some extent by injury, but
growers were injured still more by
frantic speculation which checked ex-
ports and by false Information and
advice. Wheat producers suffered in
like manner from wild speculation,
which prevented the exporting of many
million bushels, and false reports which
encouraged farmers TO keep back their
fosaf falr
the market by the spectators.
The inevitable consequence has been
a very great lowering in prices, the
yield being clearly in excess of all de-
mands, while Atlantic exports for the
last five weeks, -four included, have
been 9,411 ,250 bushels, against 9,073, ,673
bushels last year. The great crop Of
corn has materially affected the prices
of meats.
BRADSTREETS TRADE REVIEW.
New York, Jan. 3.-BradStreet's VIII
say tomorrow:
The week which ended 1895 and ustl-
cred in 1896 has been very dull in mer-
camille circules, as is usual at this per-
iod. The volume of business has fallen
away sharply, owing ito the New Years
holiday and the quiet in trade circles
at a time when stock taking and pre-
pairing samples for commercial travel
ers are taking the attention of jobbers
and commission houses.
A slackening of activity in some i'm
portant manufacturing lines is also no
ticeable. kilograms from mercantile
centerS report slow orders, the excep-
tion being at a few points in southern
states. Jobbers in leading lines at many
centerS are confident as to the outlook
for the trade in the near future, al
though in some instances fears are eX-
pressed of an unfavorable effect, due
to inability to secure necessary iegis- !
latFon on financial questions.
Exports of wheat (ffour included as
wheaD from both coasts of the United
bushels. compared with 3,142, 900 in the
corresponding week last year, 3,196,000
in the weey two years ago, 3,00S.000 three
years ago, and as contra aSted with 5,3H,
600 in the week four years ago. One
week ago the total exports amounted
to 3.457. 900 bushels. Foreign shipments
of wheat this week, therefore, are larg 4
er than those for any previous week .
since that ending September 10, 1898. {
Exports of Indian corn this week, which /
amount to 3,227, 900 bushels, were excep- .
tFonally heavy, being larger than those .
for any previous week since that end !
ing February q, 1892.
As is usual at this season there is a I.
considerable INCREASE in the number Of .
business failures In the United States, /
the total reached being 403 this week,
a gainst SIG last week, 372 in the week I
one year ago, 4S0 two years ago, and /
as compared with 313 in the week three
eyarS ago.