The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-09
DUN'S REVIEW.
A Bright Business Outlook Predicted
for the Coming Year.


for the Coming Year.
New York. Jan. 9.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
review says:
The year 1897 begins with one advan-
tage-the past year has swept away
a great number of unsuccessful con-
Germs which at any time would have
been dangerous to business OF the
15.2S6 commercial and banking failures
in 1896, with liabilities of $276, SIS, 749, a
large share represented Gripping losses
IN previous years or the violence of
speculative storms in 1895 or the first
half of 1886, while thousands more re-
suited from the fury of the political
amounting to $50. us. 915 during the year
1896 averaged S156, 156 each and were
l49 per cent larger than in 1895.
Commercial failuers amounted to
$226, COG. S34, a little over 81. OOg 600 flav-
ing been added by the last day of the
year. but the average liabilities, $14. 1872,
was smaller than in some years of great
prosperity.
The failures of brokerage and other
commercial concerns averaged $5S, AIS,
each increasing 1873 per cent over 1875.
| While manufacturing failures averaged
! SzS,eOS each and increased "a per cent,
and trading failures increased log per
cent and averaged $9,606 each. Over
four-ffths of the increase in manufac-
turing and trading failures was in lum-
Der manufacturing, 40 per cent: dry
goods, so per cent; wooden manufac-
turing, 16; clothing trade, 20; shoe trade,
ST. leather and shoe manufacturers,
16f; grocery trade, SO; machinery, 40;
milling, III; furniture, 80. and print
ing, 81 per cent. In the other branches
the increase was moderate in amount
and in five of the unclaSSified manu-
features and trading failures the LA
bilitieS were smaller than in 1895.
While banking failures have not
ceased at the west, apprehension about
J them has almost wholly subsidized. and
I SRTiOIIS Influence general trade
| is now expected Many sound concerns
/ were doubtless cought by the epidemic,
| but practically all the important fail
| ures are traced to disregard or law
and banking sense at periods somewhat
! distant. 1t is felt at the west that all
| business will be the soundeT after its
| purging and the return of money to
/ New York has exceeded shipments to
/ the interior by $4,000, 900 for the week.
/ Wheat rose to 80 cents on Monday,
/ but had declined to 50 cents. The west
| ern receipts were 4 million bushels
smaller than last year, while Atlantic
| exports, flour included, were 2,031. 900
/ bushels, against 2, 337, 1886 last year The
| trade accounts indicate great quaint
! ty in farmers hands, enough to permit
more than 100, Geo, 900 bushels to be eX-
ported in the remaining six months.
| It is now proposed to relieve the mar
lxet by selling quantities of print cloths
| abroad. or by locking up 100000 pieces
| until the market improves. The only
change in quotations is one-QuaFter
| cent reduction in some bfeached goods
/ Prices of wool are a shade lower IN
| wooden goods the only change is re
I duction of ~ cents in Clay worsted
| and mixtures. and orders are not fire.
{ quent. Orders for boots and shoes
| have almost ceased, except for a few
/ qualities which have been advanced
| only 21a to ; cents in price, but job
! bers are buying a little more as stocks
| run low Leather is stiff and hides
| are stronger
Enormous purchases of billets came
| with q rush, most of the large concerns
| contracting for all they require for
! months and even a year to come, and
| some of the largest contracts are said
[ to have been at about $15 OF even less.
but there is as yet no better demand Tor
structural work. bars are weak, nails
/ have declined to 81. 40 for wire and $3.50
| for cut, and little is doing in rails, as
[ possible buyers think SIS is too high with
biIlets a $3.50 per ton. Nevertheless
/ a great trade is expected when relative
| prices become settled.
The aggregate of gross earnings OF
| all railroads in the United States re-
porting for December, or a part OF the
| month is $50, 437 ,0S5, decrease of "a
| per cent compared with last year and
| of SO per cent compared with the cor
responding time in 1894. The later re-
| ports make a more favorable showing
than any Of the earlier returns Tor the
month.
I For the fourth week, roads reporting
/ show a cOnsidera BILE increase in gross
| earnings The increase is not confined
| to any one section, but nearly all the
| large systems report a large gain in
I the fourth week. Compared with 1892,
| roads reporting for the month snow
| reduced earnings, the greatest loss be-
| ing on grangeFS and other western
roads AS whole the returns SO far
made for December compare much more
favorably with preceding years than
the first complete report Tor NoSem-
Der.