Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-04-11
A Study Of FAILURES.
Comparison of Those Occurring This
Year with Other Years Makes
Favorable Showing.
AMOUNT OF LIABILITIES MUCH SMALLER
Continued Urgent Demand Causes
ket-Strikes in Cotton and Wooden
Mills-Fluctuation In the Price of
Wheat.


Wheat.
New York, April 1O-R. q. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade says: Failures in
the first quarter of 1899 were in number
2,772. against 1851 last year. and the liabili-
ties 27,152,031, against $32.946, $50, de-
crease of 176 per cent. Geographical as
poets make the return peculiar. with a
slight increase of defaults in New England.
an increase of 10 per cent in the southeast
and 20 per cent. in the central states There
was decrease of nearly 40 per cent. in the
Pacific and southwestern states, Al per
cent. in western states and 4s per cent, in
middle states. No other year of the "a COW
cred by Dun's quarterly reports has shown
as small failures during its first quarter
excepting 1880 and 1881, and no other except
1880 and 1856 as small liabilities per failure.
The average of defaulted liabilities per
firm in business, only $22.19, is smaller than
in the first quarter of any year except 1880,
and the rate of defaulted liabilities to SOL
vent payments through clearing houses.
only SLIP per $1,0O0 is also the lowest Tor
the quarter except in 1880.
Famine In Iron.
1.-THE famine in iron caused by urgent de-
mand, far exceeding present supply, not
only continues, but has caused haste to
start 40 additional furnaces, with an output
estimated at 1880 tons weekly, of which
the bulletin of the Iron association mas
given list, These are expected to increase
production this month, and yet more in
May and June, and some weakness has
been attributed to the prospect. But the
price of gray forge has again advanced to
sl450 at Pittsburgh, without change in
other quotations. The demand for products
Is still enormous.
Progress In Other Industries.
I'm another industry progress seems to
have been caused by firmness of manufac-
turers who notified customers that options
for boots and shoes not accepted for April
would be withdrawn. A great number OF
orders followed. 1t is said. and April begins
with the largest shipments for that week IN
any year. 9s.734 cases, making the total for
the year larger than in any year excepting
1898 The market for copper Is stronger
at Is cents for lake, and, while domestic
consumption is heavy, the increase of 4.10C
tons In European supply in March is not
considered encouraging.
Strikes Close Mills.
1.-The wooden manufacture does not yet ap.
pear to have gained by recent consolida-
lions or proposals, but goods of the finer
grades are steady in price, with moderate
orders. while medium and low grade goods
tend in buyers favor. The demand for q
few kinds has covered the season, but
makers of the large majority are yet In
need of orders Sales of wool have but
slightly increased, though more inquiry Is
reported, with better demand for some
grades of goods. The cotton mills have en-
joyed a fine demand of late and have held
prices WELL but strikes have now closed
several large mills about Providence and
Norwich, growing out of the recent adj
vance of wages, which the hands claim does
not affect the full restoration promised
Meanwhile cotton has been weaker. with
better receipts in March and poorer foreign
demand.
Wheat FIuctuates.
wheat has been fluctuating without
much visible reason, rumors being wildly
contradictory. as usual at this season. ant
commanding not much more confidence
ports for the week. -four included, hav'
been 2074,769 bushels, against 2.24o.172 las
year. and. in spite of all reports. the cur
rent receipts continue to exceed last years
The prospect for continuance of large ex
ports of staples has not improved withil
the past ten days
Failures for the week have been 141 IL
the United States. against 232 last year, ant
II in Canada, against 80 last year"
Bradstreets View.
New York, April S.-Bradstreet's review
says: THE quieter tone Of distributiv
trade is even more marked this week thar
last. testifying to the unfayorable effec
upon retail trade and indirectly upon job
bling distribution of the cold, backward
spring and less favorable wheat crop ad
vices, While reports as to damage to win
ter wheat are most numerous from tn
southwest. the influences of the backward
season. frost in the ground and other un
favorable conditions have tended to mod
/ crate the hitherto very cheerful tone o
advices from the spring wheat states. TIL
situation as regards prices is still yer.
favorable one. the list of staples ADVANCING
or remaining steady being by far the mos
numerous. while bank clearings statistics
railroad earnings and all other obtainabl
measures Of trade progress point to an i'm
mense business speculative and otherwise
having been done during the first quartz
of the wear 1899"