The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-02
|RAI|O Of DEFAULTS
Speaks Volumes for the SpIen-
did State of Trade.
OCTOBER Is SURPASSED
In Business Done in Many
LineS--The Failure List
OCTOBER is SURPASSED

New York, Dec L-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade tomorrow will
say: Business continues wonderfully
arge, prosperous and healthy. AS the
detailed statement of failures by
branches of business cannot be made IN
til next week, it seems well to say that
in four weeks failures have been reported
amounting to S6,S4S,59O, against $S,11O475
in the same weeks of last year, S1L61O195
in 1897. and over $12,O0O,OOO in 1896 and
also in 1885, Yet the volume of solvent
trade represented by exchanges at the
principle clearing houses has been for the
month Us per cent greater than last
wear and 46 per cent greater than in 1892
Thus the ratio Of defaults to business
payments was $2.57 in $1,000 for Novem-
Der. 1895, and $275 for 1898, and s2l5 for
1897. but $1.25 for 1898, and only so cents
in 81 900 for 1899. In many lines the vol
ume of business has been larger than
in October Notwithstanding the eXtraor-
binary food 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 81 I43ooo
bushels, against 38,6O ,739 last year The
great decrease in Atlantic exports for the
week, only 2,41O,554, against 6,123,O66 BUSH
els last year, and for four weeks 1001S,l75,
against i, 9SS. 210 last year, explains much
weakness. Corn declined 1 cent with
slightly smaller exports than last year
for the week. but for four weeks 15,265, ll0
bushels. against 11479,09S last year.
The cotton movement has not changed
much. but prices gained sixteenth for
! the week, closing at 7.S1 cents, against
! 5.62 cents last year. The larger takings
/ of spinners and the great demand for
| goods have materially helped the rise.
/ Cotton goods have remained steady, all
| coming forward not under contract be-
ing snapped up qnickly. with contracts
! still untitled running into next year. In
woolens, a strong demand for dress goods
! and cotton warp and all wool cashmeres
! tend higher but there Is not much change
! in mems wear nor such a rise as to
! justify the high prices paid for wool.
| Sales continue heavy, but largely specu-
! lative and stimulated by the rise in Lon
don. 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
n n
| greatly increased cost of material next
year Prices for 1900 have been fixed at
$50 for Bessemer ore at lower lake
ports. against 1888 last year, and S4.25 for
| non-Bessemer, against 81 last year, while
i coke at s.. 70 for furnace, with high rails
in every direction, indicates that iron
will not be made next year as cheaply
as it has been. Prices of pig still adj
vance, according to the Iron Age, Besse-
mer to $25 at Pittsburg at very small
| transactions, and Grey Forge to S21.25
quotations at other points being un-
changed. Prices of some finished pro-
ducts are still yielding as works run out
of orders and compete with each other
for more business, and refined bar is s.
per ton lower at Philadelphia, common
Sc per ton lower at Lehigh, and plates s.
lower at Philadelphia, with further con-
cessions 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 373, 3O7 cases, IA pei
cent larger than in 1897, and SO per cent
larger than in 1894, exceeding those OF
other years even more. But new business
although considerable in quantity, shows
a marked decrease because Of the pro-
longed rise in prices, even though thai
rise has been relatively less than the ad-
vance in leather, which still continues, o.
| in hides, which has apparently beer
checked again.
Failures for the week have been IA IL
the United States. against 2Sl last year
and q in Canada, against 70 last year.
New York. Dec. 1.-Bradstreets to
: morrow viii say: Warm weather and
holiday have impaired an appearance o
, irregularity and even dullness TO som
lines of distributive trade, completing
month which has been on the whole
qUieter than was the preceding month
but one which still makes satlsfactor
comparison with corresponding perio
a year ago when the weather condition
| particularly favored distribution. TIL
= price situation generally is APPARENT
ono of notable strength in view of thes
= conditions. Farm products, it is tru,
70 notably wheat and corn. have been wea
, and lower on unsatisfactory foreign dc
5 mand and bearish inTnence exercise
by increasing supplies \ the former
cereals are stronger. however. Provis
ions have been lower, largely on increas
ed receipts of hogs, bur lard has bee
steady on good export demand. The sitJ
alton in textiles has apparently lost Ii
s tie in strength during the week thong
i ] raw cotton has suffered from a bear raj
n in domestic and foreign markets on 4
l. legged estimates Of heavy quantities b,
$ ing held back. O6setJing this howeve
u I have been advances that sales of az