The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-06
n Ratio OF DefauIted Liabilities to
sOlven Payments Reduced to
o on the $1,000.
SOME SETBACK In BUSINESS
HAVE ADVANCED UNTIL
THERE is A CHECK ON TRADE.
Situation Outlined in the
weekly Reviews Of Dun & Co
and Bradstreet.

NEW YORK, May 5-R. @. Dun & Co.
In their weekly review of trade tomorrow
will say: The failures in April were the
smallest in any month since records by
months began, 80 per cent. smaller than in
April of last year, not a third of the amount
in 1897 and not half the amount Of April of
any previous year. Both in manufacturing
and in trading they were the smallest ever
known in that month, and in trading the
smallest ever known in any month, as in
manufacturing they were If the larger fail
ures were omitted. The ratio of defaulted
liabilities to solvent payments through
clearing houses was less than 20 cents per
$1,000 against 80 cents in January and $1.19
in March, s7.$ in August and $500 in Sep
TENDER. 1886. A great share of the risk in
the business world has been eliminated.
1t is not inconsistent nor strange If busi-
ness halt. because it has been crowded to
the utmost for four months in anticipating
future needs on account Of new combina-
tions proposed. In some cases prices have
been advanced so far as to check new bust
ness. and in others works have been en-
gagged so far ahead that new orders cannot
be taken. Yet new business in amount
which would have been astonishing two
years ago is still coming forward, and the
NOiunldly dCNdICe III wages Uy Tic SiAlccH
bessemer firms of the Central Association
and by the Frick coke works, whose ship
ments in .April-0.4 52 cars-were the
heaviest ever known. show confidence in the
future. AT Buffalo and in Idaho strikes are
causing trouble, but labor questions else
where do not affect general business.
The grain movement has fallen off. only
2, asa, Jas bushels of wheat having been re-
u 90 tLo uvoe+ 1,c{,x the u-aaLy ooatpct
4.7e5, 5l9 last year, and of corn only 2.s72. All
bushels have been exported. against 4,545,-
74s last year. while wheat exports from both
coasts have been better-3,5 5,7 57 bushels
(four included). against 2.654,2s7 bushels last
year. recess astfs
Nearly all iron works are crowded for
months ahead. but a good many are catch
ing up with their orders, which have re-
Gently diminished. The report that all the
great companies are to be melted into one
influences the stock market, but is still
scarcely credited, and the raising of for
eign prices where American competition IL
no longer felt is suggestive. Pig iron is no.
where higher, nor has any class OF finished
products established higher prices, though
in many the demand exceeds supplies. Lon
don speculation made a higher price Tor TIN.
at S.S cents. although Atlantic receipts in
April, 5,lO5 tons, were the largest on record,
and copper is stronger, at 1925 cents for
IN " ~ ACAAS
Shipments of boots and shoes from the
East in five weeks have been but las per
cent. larger than last year, IA per cent.
larger than in the next largest year, 1895, and
A per cent. larger than in 1882. Factories are
busy with orders for months at old prices,
and 2a cents advance is paid on new orders
for several grades. But the only change In
leather is q small advance in Union sole,
and hides are half of l per cent. stronger
at Chicago.
Wool sales for the week have been large,
$3.50 .S53 pounds, owing TO sales of over a
million pounds Australian in bond for ex-
port and heavy speculative purchases OF ter
stocks on hand and prices about 10 per cent.
lower than last year, British prices averag-
ing about IL per cent. higher for Australian
fine, but about 10 per cent. lower for En-
glish and cross-bred woods. Sales of do
nestle wool in four months have been
S3.5S3. 735 pounds. which is more than in any
year excepting 1897, when spectators were
them have recently been selling at a loss,
but sales of foreign have been LIS SOB
pounds for the year, against IS, 2d $50 in
that year. The market in goods is a little
stronger, with an advance in clay mixtures,
but in general is waiting for the outcome
of new combinations, and about some of
these there is still doubt whether they will
be completed. The worsted combination has
gone into operation, but without Interior
ing with deliveries of goods under previous
orders. The cotton-goods market is the
more steady because some strikes still limit
production a little, but is quite encouraging
and active, and in some staples has further
advanced.
Failures for the week have been 15S in the
United States, against 2S last year, and
twenty-three in Canada, against twenty-five
last year.