The record-union., 1899-12-02
With Big Falling Off in Failures as Com
pared With Same Period Last Year.
In Many Lines the Volume OF Trade
in November Exceeded That OF
October, Notwithstanding the
Extraordinary Flood of BUSH
ness Since the Beginning Of Last
March.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly Review of Trade" to-
morrow will say:
Business continues wonderfully large
prosperous and healthy. AS the de-
tailed statement Of failures by branches
of business cannot be made until next
week. it seems we'll to say that in four
weeks failures have been reported
amounting to $6,S4S, 800 against SS11O,-
4I5 in the same week of last year, SILL
610,19 in 1897, and over $12000,000 in
1896 and also in 1895. Yet the volume
of solvent trade represented by ex-
changes at the principal clearing houses
has been for the month 22.5 per cent
greater than last year, and As per cent
greater than in 1892. Thus the ratio
of defaults to business payments was
S2.57 in 81 900 for November 1895, and
S2.75 for 1896. and $215 for 1897, but
Sl.25 for 1898, and only 80 cents in
81. 900 for 1899 In many lines the vol
ume of business has been larger than in
October, Notwithstanding the extraor-
binary flood Of business ever since the
beginning of last March
Wheat remains weak, yielding one
cent and a quarter, although Western
receipts were but barely half last years
for the week, and for four weeks only
Il, 49, 800 bushels, against Sc. 602, 1876
last year. The great decrease in At
lantic exports for the week, only q
4lO,554, against 6, 1913, 066 bushels last
year, and for four weeks 10,O73, 175
against 17.3SS.210 last year, explains
much weakness. Corn declined l cent
with slightly smaller exports than last
year for the week, but for four weeks
l5,265,74 bushels. against 11,479,O9s
last year.
In woolens there is a strong demand
for dress goods, and all wool cashmeres
tend higher, but there is not much
change in mems wear nor such a rise
as to justify the higher prices paid for
wool. Sales continue heavy, but
largely speculative and stimulated by
the rise in London. The excitement of
speculation leads many to overlook the
fact that purchases of goods are to
some extent hindered by the rise in
prices already made.
The iron manufacturer has to meet a
greatly increased cost of material next
year. Prices for 1900 have been fixed
at $3.50 for Bessemer ore at lower lake
ports, against SOB last year, and S42J
for non-Bessemer, against 50 last year
while coke at 1915 for furnace. with
high rail rates in every direction, ind-
cate that iron will not be made next
year as cheaply as it has been. Prices
of pig still advance, according to the
Iron Age" Bessemer to S25 at Pitts
burg, with very small transactions, and
Grey Forge to 1925, quotations at
other points being unchanged. Prices
OF some finished products are still yield
ing as works run out of orders and
compete with each other for that bus
mess. and refined bar is 81 per ton
lower at Philadelphia, common Sc per
ton lower at Lehigh and plates SO lower
at Philadelphia. with further conces-
sions in sheets, because many of the tin
plate works are now closed. Some of
the iron works about Pittsburg are run
ming half time.
The shipments of boots and shoes in
four weeks have been 1919, 307 cases, II
per cent. larger than in 1897, and 33 per