The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-07
DUN'S GRATIFYING REPORT.
The Failures in July Aggregate the
Smallest Sum Since 1892.
CHEERING NEWS FROM ALL PORTIONS.
There Has Been Material Increase In the
Number of Hands Employed in the Iron
Business on Account OF the ADJUST
nent of the Scale Of Wages.

NEW YORK, August 6.-R q. Duns
Weekly Review OF Trade tomorrow Will
say:
-four years ago. August 3. 1898, the first
number of Duns Review was issued with
failures in that month amounting TO over
S60.oO00C0 while IN the month just closed
failures have been only NllII21 the small
est in any month since 1892
The statement of failures by classes Of
business for July and for forty-slx months
shows that failures have been smaller
than other months Of the same period IN
trading smaller than any other month
except one, and in many branches Of each
department smaller than almost any
month. The pessimists who prophecied
reports Of gain fictitious and misrepresent-
ing have grown weary of their dismal
song and begin to look for better days.
GRATIFYING IMPROVEMENT
Last month was the frst for four years
IN which the volume Of business reached by
the clearing house. was larger than IN inc
same month of lsg2 ard dispatches from
all parts. or the country given this week
show a gratifying Improvement rms IS
partly due TO a large yield OF wheat ana
large nor are prices thus far as high as
i'm 1892 but OF cotton the price ls hlgher
and the yield probably larger than IN
that year Other farm products are real
izing good prices and The possible decline
I'm yield of corn may help TO market INC
enormous surplus brought over from last
year The organization or power ia, ,
combination has brought reactlon OF Il
of cent, but gain oil IL oe"' io'
lowed.
There has been material increase i'm the
number OF hands employed IN the IRON
manufacture because or satisfactory dv
iustment OF wage disputes with the Auldi-
gamated Association. and the opening OF
numerous establishments which have peeh
waiting. while the coal miners HtfiNt
seems more likely 10 end In permanent
settlement beneficial TO both parties
Meanwhile the demand for most iinished
products f. steadily increasing the fea-
ture this week being large contracts TOY
Russian oil fields i'm Sumatra and Cor
manv. While consumption does not yet
equal the capacity of the works IN opera
tion and prices of iron and steel products
average slightly lower the situation is
more hopeful.
Ia minor metals the consumption Of tin
equals the receipts. so that prices do not
change, and the visible supply is pruc-
tiCally the same as month ago, whie
exports OF copper have been heavy anu
prevent decline Of lake below ! per
cent, and realizing in lead has caused
SALES OF WOOL.
The sales Of wool and comparative re-
turns by months show but little relation
10 the actual consumption I'm manufac-
ture. but heavy liquidation since the new
tarin bill was enacted, gives the impress
sion that some dealers are no longer
confident OF q speedy advance. Neverthe-
less, prices have risen during the past
few weeks nearly ] cent per pound.
Manufacturers are buying but little.
though they arc rapidly increasing the
output. and are able TO obtain an ad-
vance OF about 10 per cent. I'm prices Of
goods with rapidly Increasing orders.
The temporary curtailmcnt OF output by
cotton mills continues, but does not yet
bring improved prices for products. al
though the demand is generally gaining
fallures Tor the week have been 231
in the United states. against 240 last year.
and - I'm Canada. against 81 last year.
BRADSTREET ROsEATE VIEW.
NEW YORK. August G.-Bradstroet' S
to- morrow VIII say.
General trade shows the most pro-
nOunced gains this week at Chicago. st.
Louis and Galveston. The feeling of con-
ildence th1r general business is 20 improve
in the carly autumn is marked At these
cities, and purchases OF dry goods. cloth
ing shoes and other staples have in
creased heavily and are followed By a dis
position 10 crowd prices up.
Purchases were restricted at Kansas
city. Omaha. and some other points west
carly in the week owing 10 extreme heat
and fears Of damage to the Indian corn
crop, but rains and cooler weather have
stimulated demand again.
On the Pacific coast business IS brisk the
feature in California being heavy wheat
shipments TO San Francisco.
The movement Of general merchandise
throughout the country is unquestipnabiy
larger than Last week, cotton goods and
WOOllen Industries are better OF, and the
stagnatOn In iron ana steel has given way
10 growing inquiry and Increasing out
put. But more significant stlll is the ex-
traordnary expansion In bank clearings
this week and last month.
The upward tendency of prices during
the past three weeks is again "a feature
without being frmer and higher Tor some
Cotton yarns are stronger also. as are
some grades Of cotton at the west. Shoes
are no higher, but leather ana hidea cost
more than "a week ago.
As 10 wheat Notwithstanding the re-
action IN September OptiOn) wheat, dour
pork. lard, Pacific Coast hops, sugar,
soft cotton and tea. Ihere Is q per
cent gain in Bessemer pig ana m9nuldc-
furers decline orders tOr future dellNeIy
at cut quotations. In fact. our predicted
revival i'm iron and steel has appeared
Quotations for cotton and print cloths
are practically unchanged Mhlle lnosc ioi
corn and oats are lower on improved crop
nrospects. other products, quotations foi
Rbich have declined. are coffee, petroleum
turpentne and rosin.
WHEAT EXPORTS.
Exports Of wheat Chour includedl rom
both coasts Of the United states ana from
.Tcntrcal this week show q sharp M
crease SrG amounting TO 3, 43J,S7 bushels com
pared with 23i3.0OO bushels last week
s747. 900 in tho week year ago; L.yv.vVe
TWO years ago. 3,n7O0) bushels three
,esrs AGO and as cOntrasted with 5,lb,Wl
bushels i'm the like week Of 1893.
Exports of Indian corn this week
amounted to 3223.6s5 bushels, compared
with / 4S2 90 bushels last week. lZol 80,
IN the week a year ago l,lO6.VD two
years ago 22G. 900 bushels three years ago
and as compared with 1881, 900 bushels IN
the like week OF 1893.
States this week, compared with Zo9 last
week. There are 81 failures reported IN
:. LII. - Nl.lL