Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1898-01-13
TRADE SHOWS ACTIVITY.
The Year Opens with a Tone of
Quiet Confidence in Nearly
All Branches.
SlGES FOR TIE FUTURE ARE HOPEFUL.
Thousands of Employees In the Glass
Industry Resume WOrk-Best of
All Records in Failures Made Last
Hear-Disappointme of Specu-
latOrs Not "a Had Sign.

New York. Jan. S.-Bradstreet's says:
THE year opens with a tone OF quiet con-
hdence 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 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 distributiye business is no larger.
industrial activity Is a special feature un-
confined 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.
Nine-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 3.4S1, SIC bushels. against
700 bushels last week, 1891. 900 bushels
in this week year ago, and S,47I, 900 BUSH
els in the corresponding week in 1896. Corn
exports also show a sensible diminution,
amounting to 4.0S6.000 bushels last week.
4Sl9.0O0 in this week year ago and 1885,
600 bushels in the corresponding week of
1885,
The Failure Record.
Il. G. Dun & Co.. in their weekly re-
view of trade, say:
year since 1892. but on the whole the best
ever definitely known. With 1882 fail
ures in number ti.5 per cent. less than 1896,
and SlS2. 5Sl. III defaulted liabilities, $40
per cent less than In 1896. the
years banking failures counted for $685.
249, 100 and the commercial failures were
but 1881, with liabilities OF 1854 1882 OF. the
average per failure being only ST., $50, the
lowest ever known except in 1892 But even
in that year the failures during the last
half averaged liabilities of $l0.477 per fail
ure, while in the last half of 1897 the average
was only 1888. The returns by branches
of business show that in 10 out of rs classes
the failures were lower than in any pre-
vious year of which there is record, with
especially large decrease in the great num-
Der of unciassfied manufacturing and trad
ing failures. Moreover, the year showed re-
markable decrease, as some other prosper
Gus years have shown increase, compar-
ing the second with the first half.
Not "a Rad Sign.
1.-The new yer began with dsappoint-
| ment for spectators in stocks and grain
which is not bad sign Prices of stocks
have gained a little. after yielding al first
and close 73 cents per snare higher for rail-
roads, and Sl.05 per share higher for trusts
Wheat declined IA cents owing to the
termination of the corner at Chicago, and
western receipts were about Couble last
years. with Atlantic exports 2,S40.318 BUSH
els flour included. against Else, 900 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 tie year
ought TO take more than 40 per cent. of the
years supply. 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 q of a cent. Cotton was a dis
appointment to many because it did not
change at all In spot price. although
accounts of reduction in wages by New
England works warrant hope of larger con-
sumption.