Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-10-06
Tho nuslns.s situation.


Bradstreet's for the current week
says: tThough rather quieter con-
ditions are reportable in o number OF
lines of trade, the volume of business
doing the country over is a very heavy
one, slightly smaller, 50 far as bank
clearings would indicate, than in Sep
TENDER one year ago, but comparing
very favorably with corresponding
periods in all preceding years While
the edge, appears to have been taken
off the active demand for some time
noted in the West and Northwest, and
the imposition of yellow fever quaran-
tines and the low price Of cotton in
the South have hurt trade in that
section, there have been, on the other
hand, rather better reports received
from the leading Eastern and Middle
States cities, pointingtto a fuller de.
velopment of the long expected fall
trade. Accompanying this slight shift
ing of activity from one section of the
country to the other has been con-
tinued heavy export movement OF
leading cereals, unprecedented activity
in the manufacture of nearly all lines
Of iron and steel and continued good
reports as to gross railway earnings,
comparisons in this respect, IT being
remembered, being made with par
ticularly favorable conditions one year
ago. Rather less pronounced strength
is noticeable jim the price situation.
Bank clearings for the week aggregate
81, $40, 904, 900, ga per cent smaller
than those of last week, but 1.8 per
cent larger than in this week year
ago, 80 per cent larger than in 1896
and per cent heavier than In 1893.
With the exception of slight decrease
reported, as compared with the cor
responding week of 1891, weekly bank
clearings are, therefore, heavier than
ever before known at this time. In
dications point to total for Septem-
Der in the neighborhood Of So, AGO.
600, 600, smaller by 2 per cent than in
September a year ago, and by slightly
larger percentage than in August, but
heavily in excess of any preceding
September on record" W
According to Bradstreet's there have
been 1855 failures in the nine months
of this year, against 1888 in the cor
responding period last year. The assets
were S52, 1892, 800 against s65, 454, 923.
and the liabilities, $102, 1872, 8S7, against
$118, 484, $50. In Pennsylvania the
failures were 1,09S, against 89S in
1897. The assets were S6, 272, 272,
against 81, $50, I'll, and the liabilities,
S12, 551, 927, against IS, 220, 523.
r. G. Dun a. Co.. IS Review says that
failures in September have been
about So, 700, 900, and for the quarter
about S22, S75, 900, q smaller aggregate
of failures than in any other month in
many years, except in August of this
year, and smaller for the quarter than
IN, NJ civ ",
fact, excepting one quarter in that
year, no other appears to have shown
| smaller aggregate unless more than
ten years ago, when the volume Of
| solvent business was very much smaller
than it is now. Evidently the COM
plete returns to be given next week
will show that the state of business is
| in that respect more satisfactory than
| it has ever been, unless in one quarter
| of 1892. Changes are all for the better,
| excepting the fall Of cotton to the
lowest point for fifty years, and even
the lowest prices of 1848, considering
difference of qualities, were perhaps
| not lower than prices this week, II
| there were not on hapdie commercial
and millstocks unusually large, or if
manufacturing were moe successful,
early recovery might seem probable,
but the heavy fall in material has
| affected the demand for goods, causing
buyers to expect still lower prices fol
them, although after the decline last
i week goods now average lower than
ever before. While the stagnation in
wool continues, with sales even smaller
than in the same month Of the panic
year, 1893 numerous mills have
started temporarily in order to get out
sample pieces. There. has been nc
quotable decline In wool, and scarcely
any in goods, the recent reduction
having stimulated larger demand.
The demand for boots and shoes seems
little better, and recorded shipments
have been larger than in September o.
any previous year, except the last, an6
larger than in any other year from
January LIST to date. Nickel is higher
at 30 to 80 cents, and tin plates un
changed, in spite of the enormous in
crease in production, though the desir,
to push smaller works into the con
solidation which now commands III
mills is said to threaten temporary de
clines. Pig iron is firm everywhere
in spite of the extraordinary output
Wheat rose 21a cents, but on Thursda.
declined sharply, closing 2 cents lowe
for the week, Notwithstanding yer.
heavy exports, amounting for tn
week to 4,911,022 bushels, agains
, 5000, 1856 last year, and for four week
to 15,011, 1862 bushels, against 20, 66l, 81
last year, -four included. The usua
| Babel of guesses does not change tn
, belief that the crop will be the larges
ever grown, and while farmers through
out the West are holding back grail
l In nf MN
III Western receipts are now runnin
81 ,'aboye even the extraordinary move
year ago, both for the wee
sAlapa the month. Foreign commerce ha
Fl been a little smaller in exports an
larger in imports, and yet the return
from New York still indicate anothee
. heavy excess of exports, probabl
, about S54, 1000, 600 for the month
making $114, 900, 900 for the quarter.
notun,h hin I ad q ntftca