Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-22
bRADsTREET & DUN.
Different Views rs to Increase of
Trade Volume.

Trade Volume.
NEW YORK, November 2o.-Brad-
streets tomorrow will say:
Jobbers and other wholesale dealers
in general merchandise do not report
the anticipated increase in the volume
Of goods distributed this week There
are Increased purchases OF holiday goods
and the tone of the market for staples
~ one of encouragement. Relatively, the
advices show that the main demand has
been for dry-gcods shoes, and groceries
The demand in dry-goods has been small
Tho many Industrial enterprises which
have started up continue a feature Of
each days new bulletins but there IS
reason TO believe the significance OF these
exhibits has be- oyer-emphasized in
some Instances.
The most favorable feature this week
is the increase IN bank clearings
throughout the United States. the total
volume OF which is yi,Z6OOOcO0, nearly
per cent. more than the unusually
largo total last week, and nearly 10 per
cent. more than in the corresponding
week one year ago.
There were S0S business failures in the
United States this week, fifty more
than last week, but fifteen fewer than
IN the corresponding week one year ago.
The gross and net railway earnings
for nine months reject the severe
trade depression which eliminated In
tho stagnation preceding the late presi-
Dental election. The favorable returns
earlier in the year have not been main
tained. and the tendency Is TO wipe out
the gains shown early in the year, as
contrasted with 1895. The total earnings
OF 135 railroads, embracing g. per cent.
of the railway earning capacity Of the
country, aggregated $685., y22 for nine
months Of the calendar year, an increase
over the like period IN 95 OF 1.6 per cent.
and a gain in 1880 over 1894 OF 5
per cent The net earnings for nine
months Of 1895 aggregate Sl76.lQ4 SCI, a
gain over 1891 Of siX-tenths Of / per cent,
and a gain IN 1875 over 1894 Of nearly S
per cent. The largest percentages Of
gain In gross earnings are shown by the
Grangers and Southern roads, the only
decreases being shown by Central West
srn and coal roads. in net earnings, the
Southwestern, Southern, and Pacific
roads show the largest gains, while the
Central, Western, Eastern, and coal
roads, and the trunk lines Show the
heaviest decreases"
Messrs. Il. G. Dun e Co. viii say in
their weekly review Of trade tomorrow
Flle gam II NolutIc % bueiHt5S CUT
tinues entirely without precedent More
than 800 establishments have started
work since the election, which were idle,
and at least 800 have increased their
working force. Every day thus adds
thousands TO the number Of those who
are able 10 buy q weeks supplies, and
10 make up gradually for many months
OF enforced economy. Already this
brings great increase IN the volume Of
business, and the clearinghouse trans
actions. for the first time in several
years. not only exceed those OF last year
By 10 per cent, but also exceed those
OF the same week in 1892 by per cent.
Businessmen are all anxious to prevent
anything Ike the fictitious extreme Of
last summer and in nearly all branches
an excessive rise I'm prices Is prevented.
But, with more hands at work, there is
inevitably a greater demand for sup
plies. materials. and products. The de-
mand for freght-room, both here and on
the Pacific coast, IS still so large as TO
disclose IN extraordinary demand.
Cotton has declined from 8 to 1G2
cents in spite of the starting of so
many cotton mills, and the controlling
fact for the moment IS that reports Of
Weld smaller than $4,000 bales are now
entirely dscredited. The quantity
coming into sight has exceeded last
years by $4,000 bales. and II is not ex-
pected that the decrease in the remain
ing months Of the year will bring the
aggregate below $4,000. The export de-
mand does not abate. although tempo
rarily checked while prices were about
cents. and the increase Of s., 10000 in the
value Of cotton exported in October con-
tributed more than any other single item
~ ruako the aggregate exceed that of
the same month in any previous year.
In a transition period Industries record
gains slowly, but the slight decline
i'm the price, OF Bessemer pig-lIon and
OF the finished products Of iron and
steel IS partly due 10 realizing on specu-
latfve purchases before the election, and
partly TO the selling Of nails by jObbers
below the combination price. For most
manufactured products OF iron there Is
a better demand, and a slow advance IN
prices. The shipments OF boots and
shoes for three weeks Of November have
been 1907 cases. against ll4,lS last
wear but while the works have orders
for some time ahead, neither manufac-
turers nor dealers are disposed to do
much. because OF the uncertainty about
prices. those Of boots and shoes being
about IL per cent. above the lowest point
leather 1913 per cent, and hides 5l4 per
cent. the latter again rising at Chicago.
in cotton and woOllen goods no serious
change appears. though there is con-
tinued weakness in cottons, and PRINT
cloths are a sixteenth lower.
The failures for the week have been 3ii
in the United States. against 320 last
year, and forty in Canada, against forty
two last year"