Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-06
CONDITION OF BUSINESS.
Improvement shown by Smaller Az
eregate of Failures.

Jmprovement shown by Smaller Ag-
gregate of Failures.
NEW YORK, November 5.-Messrs. H.
G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review OF trade TO-
morrow will say: Stronger proof OF 'ne
great change in the condition OF business
could not be given than is found In the
detailed report of failures by the brancheS
| OF business for the month OF OctoDer'
Though swelled by a few large specua-
| tive or brokerage failures. the aggregate
| was smaller than In any other month LOT
more than four years. except In July anu
| August, and one month In 1894.
The manufacturing and trade failures
| 81, S23 1s9, against N.S50,S11 In september
and s7,760S35 in August-include one LOT
| 81. 900 900 having no relation TO the primer
| pie of business.
| During the four years manufacturihs
| failures have not been smaller, except III
| one month: wool, with the exception Oh
| two months: shoes and leather, except in
| four months, and cotton manufacturers
| except in six months. In the trading
! classes. failures have never been smaller
| i'm groceries. jewelry, or books, except in
one month; in clothing, furniture and I'M
| classified, except In two months, and ten
manufacturing and eleven trading classes
| out of fourteen each have never reached
| smaller failures in third OF the past
| forty-eight months. Improvement 80
| general with a remarkably low average
| of liabilities in most classes. has meah-
| ing which cannot be mistaken. -,
| The quiet following the great rush vi
| orders and purchases for over wv
| months is still increased In many prahSn
| es by unseasonably mild weather. ana
yet the mills are obliged to refuse many
orders because unable TO finish previous
| engagements soon enough. II is IN every
! way fortunate for the industries ana the
would-be buyers. since speculative pur-
chases would otherwise advance prices 30
| fast as to make reaction probable.
More works have Joined the active list'
including some long idle, and the prouuc,
ton in iron manufacture is the greatest
ever known. The output Of pig again
exceeds the demand. which naturally
| diminishes near the close OF the year, anu
prices yield slightly. but the consumption
| is kept at the maximum by pressure OF
orders. which the works are not able 10
| fill fast enough. ,
The Illinois Steel Company shipping
| 5000 tons of finished products per day. is
| behind Eastern and western orders ac-
cumulate for railway materials. for cars
and bars, for ship-plates and structural
| forms.
Cotton manufacture is doubly hindered
| by the decline in cotton and by the ac-
cumulation of orders. with slow distrl-
| button so that print-cloths nave falleh
to 21-s a new low record. and staple
| goods are sold at concessions. In WOOL
len goods the advance has been arrested
| by doubts about the future market Tor
, goods. and the cost Of wool, which mas
| advanced slightly In October, though
| heavy sales to take profits are reported.
few at Boston covering o'oOoWV pouIlus
this week. The mills have all they can
do for some time, and the opening OF the
next season may be deferred until the
future can be more accurately judged.
Cold weather Is greatly needed 10 has'en
the distribution OF textile goods and TO
| provide indications of the future demand.
Another rise in wheat lifted the price
above 81. but profit-taking speedily caused
reaction, and the price closed 21-2 cents
lower for the week. Receipts were about
million bushels larger than last year,
and Atlantic exports Qour included as
wheat) were 32S7, 536 bushels. against
1.S625S3 last year. Exports In october, as
In September were heavier than in any
preceding month, and after gloomy re-
| ports of the condition Of winter wheat,
| extensive rains have caused material I'M
provement. Corn has grown stronger IN
spite of the course of wheat, and au-
| thorities much credited estimate the yield
at /. 1923 900 900 bushels, which would hardly
permit continuance Of heavy exports, in
| place of wheat through the year.
Cotton has not lifted above cents,
| and the accumulation and declining prices
| of goods, which have increased the pros
| pect of extensive stoppage of Englisn
mills causes less speculation than usual.
| Failures for the week have been rs In
| the United States against 230 last year.
and thirty in Canada, against fifty-two
| last year.
RAISING OF GUARANTEES.
Bradstreet's tomorrow will say: Killing
frosts South, the raising OF quarantine
embargos in nearly all States invaded
by the yellow-fever, the resumption or
traffic, and a prospective revival In the
demand for staple merchandise, consti-
tute the trade features OF the week.
| Rains in the Central Western and West
ern States, followed by colder weather,
have favored farmers and stimulated de-
| mand from interior storekeepers. This
| has had a favorable effect at Louisville.
st. Louis, and Kansas City. Jobbers in
the Northwestern States are awaiting
seasonable weather TO stimulate the move
ment of heavy dry-goods and winter
clothing The features at the larger
Pacific Coast cities are confined to sales
OF merchandise and provisions for the
Klondike and heavy foreign shipments OF
| wheat and -four. The larger eastern cities
| report no increase In the general market.
New England centres report that the or
! ders from the West exceed those from
the South or East.
The leading manufacturing industries
| continue fairly well employed. While
| there has been a moderate reaction In
iron and steel, the furnaces and mills
continue well employed. and the outlooh
for higher quotations next year is un
| changed
In addition to lower prices for southern
and Bessemer pig. and for steel bilets
the quotations for naval stores. woods
copper, coffee. pork flour, oats. and wheat
are lower. while those for cotton, print
cloths. sugar and beef are unchanged
and for Indian corn, lead, and lard q
shade higher
The exports OF wheat flour included as
wheaO from both coasts of the United
States and from Montreal this week ag
gregate 5575,2l6 bushels. compared with
5.sif 1871 last week, 3472.0O0 one year ago
1855 900 two years ago. 2.6s9.000 three years
ago. and 2.sls.0o0 In the corresponding
week Of 1898.
The exports of Indian corn this week
amount TO 2. 1879 $50 bushels compared with
!. ESQ O00 last week. 2,2i70 in the GORE
spending week one year ago. l.225.c0l
two wears ago. 1900 three years
nrc and rs contrasted with $4,000 in the
| frs' week of November, 1899.
Th>re were 223 business failures report
ed throughout the United States this
| week compared with 21s last week. z2S
| IN the IKE week year ago, 26o two years
! ago, 81 three years ago, and 333 in the
| first week OF November. 1898.
North Carolina P0stmasters.
| n. ~ .fex.