Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-01-12

R. G. Dun & Co. IS Review for last
week says: 1.-THE failures for the year
1893 were u, 266, banking and other
financial concerns included, with
liabilities of S148, O57, 993, against Sl48,
6S4, PSI estimated last week, 1873 per
cent less than last year, and AZ. l per
cent less than in 1896. Commercial
failures were IL, 1856, with liabilities
of $130, 662, 800, 1913 per cent less than
last year, and 49, per cent less than
in 1896. The average of liabilities por
failure, $40, 1922, is the smallest ever
recorded. The ratio of defaults to
solvent business is really smaller than
in previous years, even of the greatest
prosperity, as they are but 81. SO for
every $1,000 paid through Clearing
Houses, but such payments formerly
covered stock transactions of many
thousand millions yearly, which are
now settled through Stock Exchange
Clearing Houses. The decrease in fail
ures for less than 500, 900, compared
with last year, was 1913 per cent in
manufacturing and 1873 per cent in
trading. The larger failures were 176,
with liabilities of $50, 075, 912, against
1888 last year, with liabilities of $751;
712, 596. The year begins with the kind
of business demand that counts. For
months there has been rising de-
mand for materials, but now the
crowding demand for finished products
begins to advance prices, in the iron
and steel industry about per cent,
without quotable changes in pig, ex-
oept at the East. Nor is there dis
covered reaction in the boot and shoe
industry, although shipments in the
holiday week were smaller than for
some years. A new factory, said to DO
the largest in the country, is about to
be erected at st. Louis, and expansion
in business at the West is remarkable.
With hides a shade higher at Chicago,
leather is also a fraction higher. Cot
ton goods are in fair demand, with
cotton at 5.S7 cents, and, while nobody
can guarantee that the price will not
go lower. it is believed by competent
observers that tho m;srket for goods is
SO far relieved of accumulated surplus
that prices are not likely to decline
materially, even il cotton falls. The
movement of cotton thus far indicates
q crop of over 800, 600 bales larger than
that Of last year. Railroad earnings in
December were 5. l per cent larger than
last year, and IL per cent larger than
in 1892, with Chicago eastbound ton
mage III lne pibSp loHT Wsbhs INV. ND
tons, against 292, 775 last year and 24s,-
lU5 in 1892.
Bradstreet's says: "The situation is
one of quiet, sustained strength. In
wholesale distributive trade annual
inventories have occupied attention,
and distribution in this branch is,
therefore, Of only seasonable proper
tions. Retail trade reflects the quoting
down of tho eager demand ruling before
the holidays, but it is sing iticant that
tho majority of the reports received
since January LIST in this and in the
wholesale branch refer to collections as
almost uniformly good. Export trade.
particularly in cereals, continues well
up TO maximum figures. while reports
from tho great industries Of the coun-
try are favorable. Bank clearings for
the week rohect exceptionally heavy
annual settlements in u total of ST.,
TG:j, 000. o00, nearly $40. GOO, 900 larger
than ever before reported. 25 per cent
larger than last week, "a per cent
larger than in this week II year ago,
| 81 per cent larger than in 1897, 20 per
cent larger than in 1895, and rs por
cent larger than in 1874. Wheat, in
GLIDING flour, shipments for tho week
aggregate G,S60.2 6S bushels, against
6, 292, ,i25 bushels last week, 8, 4Si, 51,i
bushels in the corresponding week of
1898, 3, los, 6Ss bushels in 1897, BAIL
BSl bushels in 1886, and 1857, 175
bushels in 1895 Since July LIST, the
exports Of wheat aggregate lbs, 3SS,977
bushels, against IT,, a43, 2S4 bushels
last year. Corn exports for the week
aggregate 4,s44, 2SS bushels, against
1869, 745 bushels last week, 30, ass, 4l6
bushels in this week year ago, A.
$40, 261 bushels In 1887. 1896. 423
bushels in 1896, and LOOT, 406 bushels
in 1895. Since July LIST, corn exports
aggregate 60, 1913, 927 bushels, against
So, so2, 736 bushels during the same
period a year ago."