Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-01-14
IT SHOWS ACTIVITY.
Confidence Pervades All Branches
Of Business.
SIGNS FOR THE FUTURE ARE HOPEFUL
Thousands of Employees in the Glass
Industry Get Back to work-Best
of All Records in Business Re-
verses Made in 1897.
New York, Jan. s.-Bradstreet's says:

New York, Jan. s.-Bradstreet's says:
1.-THE year opens with tone of quiet con-
ndence perVading nearly all branches Of
business, With encouraging activity in the
Iron trade, resumption of work by many
thousands of industrial employees in the
western glass industry, a largely reduced
volume of business failures, as compared
with corresponding periods in preceding
years, and a general outlook certainly not
INFERIOR to any previous year at this time
Distributive trade has naturally been
rather slow pending stock taking, and the
return OF statesmen to the field. While the
volume of distributive business is no larger.
industrial activity Is special feature un-
conhned to any one section. but specially
notable In the west. Resumption of work
after the holidays has been generally en-
couraging IN that section. Autumn weather
IN the northwest checks distribution, but
collections are reported good. Sales of
southern iron are large. Louisiana sugar
crop returns have been very satisfactory.
Nlne-tenths of Floridas orange crop was
gathered before the late freeze, and cotton
IS steady and in good export demand, Wool
has opened up actively in some eastern
markets, and lower prices for cotton goods
have stimulated some demand.
Grain Exports.
The holidays have exercised their ex-
pected effect on export trade in leading
cereals. Wheat exports from the United
States and Canada for the first week in
January amount to 3.4Sl SIS bushels against
o49o,O0O bushels last week. 1888, 900 bushels
In this week year ago, and 8, All 600 BUSH
els IN the corresponding week in 1896. Corn
exports also show a sensible diminution.
amounting to 4,0s6.G00 bushels last week.
4,sls.OOO in this week a year ago and 2,62G,-
600 bushels in the corresponding week OF
1885," W
The Failure Record,
r. G. Dun & Co., in their weekly re-
view of trade, say:
I'm failures 1897 was not only the best
year since 1872, but on the whole the best
ever definitely known. With 1882 fail
ures. in number u.5 per cent less than 1896.
and slS2,5sl.7n defaulted lioLiiities. $40
per cent. less than in 1896. the
years banking failures counted for $685.
249,7OO and the commercial failures were
but 1885, with liabilities of s154, 1892 OH, the
average per failure being only S11, $50 the
lowest ever known except in 1892. But even
IN that year the failures during the la st
half averaged liabilities of SlO,477 per fail
ure. while in the last half Of 1897 the ayera ga
was only $685. The returns by branches
OF business show that in 10 out Of Is classes
the failures Were lower than in any nre
yious year of which there is record. with
especially large decrease in the great num-
per OF unclaSSlfled manufacturing and ira d
ing failures. Moreover. the year showed re.
markable decrease, as some other prosner
GUS years have shown increase, compar.
ing the second with the first half.
Not Bad Sign.
THE new year began with disappoint.
ment for spectators in stocks and grain
which is not a bad sign. Prices of stocks
nave gained little, after yielding at first.
and close u cents per share higher for ra IL
roacs, and $1Oo per share higher for trusts
Wheat declined Ia cents owing to the
termination of the corner at Chicago. and
western receipts We're about double la ST
years. with Atlantic exports 2,S4O 31S bush
els, flour included, against q so, 909 last year.
A speculative estimate makes the quanti-
ty still in the farmers hands 40 per cent
Of the crop. which Is quite possible, but the
consumption and exports In half the yea,
ought to take more than 40 per cent. of the
years supply. A fleet of vessels is reported
at Baltimore, or on the way thither for
wheat. Exports of corn for the week fell
below last years. although western re-
ceipts are unusually large. and the price
fell but Is of cent Cotton was a dis
appointment to many because 1t did NOT
change at all in spot price, although
accounts of reduction in wages by New
England works warrant hope of lars er con-
sumption.
Iron Trade EncournSing.
The iron manufacture has been en-.
couraged by unusual business for the sea.
son, including large building contract
M nd az IA fNp It'd