Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-11-10

Tne Business situation.
Bradstreet's for the current week
says: Further quieting down of new
business in iron and steel, the relapse
into dulness, though at steady prices,
of wheat, consequent upon the with
drawal of the excited foreign demand
and some slight increase of quiet in
general trade, chiefly at the South, as
a result of the approach of the election,
are all'features calling for special men
ton this week.. Among the more
actively favorable features are the price
steadiness displayed by most staple
articles and the enlarged distribution
of staple goods at many Western and
Southern markets, as the result of i'm
proved weather and removals of quaran-
tines. Confirmatory of the quite favor
able reports as to general trade during
October are the returns of bank clear
ings for that month, and scattered re-
ports asto the increased business doing
at many centres in that month as COM
pared with one year ago. An en-
couraging feature is the continued
active demand for domestic woods,
largely at Boston, and much OF it at
price concessions, with rather more re-
ported doing in cheap makes OF
worsteds. While a little more IS doing
in boots and shoes, the market for
hides and leather is still unsatis-
factory, and price reductions are a
feature, being severe, however, in
harness leather, from which the stimu-
lus of war demand has been removed.
Business failures in the United States
this week number 1873, against 219 last
week; 223 in this week year ago and
-. ~, in
October clearings bear testimony to
the heavy aggregate of business done
during that month in a total for II
! cities of S., 500, 154, SIG, smaller by only
| 1.2 per cent than the record total of
| January, 1858, and the largest monthly
| total since that date, Upper cent larger
| than that of September and 5.3 per
cent larger than in October year ago.
| Compared with preceding years the
comparison is evan more favorable. For
| the ton months the total clearings at
n cities aggregate $04, 903, Ola, 967, q
gain of 1877 per cent over 1887, of BIZ
| per cent over 1885, of 48.5 per cent over
1894 and of 8.9 per cent over 1882, the
year of heaviest aggregate clearings
Wheat, including -four, shipments for
| the week aggregate 6,773,643 bushels,
against $1,000 bushels last week
| 5, $50, S9S bushels in the corresponding
| week of 1897; 3, 472, 976 bushels in 1886,
2, SOS, 567 bushels in 1895 and 2,6S9, 1928
bushels in 1884. Since July LIST this
year the exports of wheat aggregate
rs, 545, 523 bushels, against So, S74, 092
bushels last year. Corn exports for the
week aggregate 3.566,64 bushels,
against 2,424, 376 bushels last week
2, 1879, $50 bushels in this week a
year ago I, 2,247, CAB bushels in 1896
/, 225,477 bushels in 1895, and 73, 4le
bushels in 1894. Since July LIST this
year corn exports aggregate so, 345, 45C
bushels, against 50, 800, 104 bushels
during the same period year ago. -
r. G. Dun & Go. IS Review for this
week says that mot even the election
has disturbed business nor industries
on the financial side this week.
Although many are doubtless waiting
for the votes before borrowing, the
volume of business through clearing
houses is S.5 per cent larger than last
year, and 1854 per cent larger than il
1892. While political doubts may
count for much, they can only have
prevented growth of business which
might have been much more than ha:
been realized. Failure returns fol
October are curiously puzzling, because
while the small failures compare re-
markedly we'll with those of previou:
years, and also the failures of 500, 00t
or more in about thirds of the
business classes, there were large
failures in few branches, not generally
due to present business conditions
which made the aggregate S14, 900. 600
but neither the Sawyer WOODEN failures
nor others, excepting perhaps some il
machinery and boots and shoes an6
leather, Indicate difficulties beyond
those of the particular concerns failing
Neither the volume of business nor thu
value or manufactured products dimin
ishes. Railroad earnings in October
thus far reported have been So PEI
cent larger than lust year, and 6.1 PEI
cent larger than in 1882, notwithstand
ing the general complaint of cutting o
rates, and the returns are on the Who'll,
the best of tho year thus far.
"Eastbound tonnage from Chicago il
smaller by 8 per cent than last year
and yet gains are larger in westbounC
traffic In spite of the cutting of rate
not yet stopped. While domestic ex
ports from New York for four week
past have been 20 per cent larger thai
last year in value. for four weeks pas
imports have been also somewhat larger
but the difference indicates anothe
enormous balance in favor of thi
country not at present covered by speci'
movement or by exchange loans, which
are growing very heavy
Burglaries at Blackbird.