Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-06
The Business Situation.

Bradstreet's says that unsettled
weather and holidays are a drawback
to retail and iobbing distribution in
many markets, but the general situa-
ton IS still most satisfactory one and
the iron and steel, coal, boot and shoe,
hardware and lumber trades are con-
spicuously we'll situated. The indus
trial situation is also deserving of note,
because OF the striking absence Of COM
plaint az to idleuess or as to pending
or future labor troubles.
"While the volume Of new orders IN
crude material continues moderate
| when compared with the enormous
activity for some time rast, business
in iron and steel is steadiei, and as a
rule held better in hand.
| 1.-THE general business situation 10
sound and progressive, and the Old
Country is passing into history, leav-
ing to its young successor a splendid
heritage of prosperity. Here and
there, as in the wooden trade. unfavnr-
able spots appear, but they do not
change the general aspect of things.
except in the retail holiday trade,
which is already giving substantial
proof of the existence OF good times.
Moreover, it is period of balancing
books and taxing Of stock and prepare.
tion for the payment of interest and
dividends. But all the statistics of
domestic and foreign trade for Novem-
Der arc SO favorable that there iR every
promise OF like results during Deceln-
Der. Although foreign exchange is
firmer, the balance of International
trade is still heavily in favor of this
country"
II. 6. Dun & Co. IS Review says
Commercial failures in November
were $50 in number and $1a, 300.3l6 ID
amount of liabilities. against 1872 in
October for ~, 072. 79l, and 1856 In No
vember last year, when liabilities wert
= only So, O46, S4s. Manufacturing de
faults were but 1893 in number aue
50, 1873, 1856 in amount, the bulk of th,
mortality occurring in trading con
Germs. CT which GIT failed for 81, SOC, 1858
There were 40 other commercial fail
, ures with liabilities of 500, 1903. Fou
banking and financial companies de
faulted for SS23,000. At first glanc,
/ the November statement appears yer.
8 unsatisfactory, but it must be remom
. bered that few heavy failures In woo
and other textile industries account TO
large share of the reported liabilities
| thltb 10 Oil6 VI bEhup
which has, naturally suffered heavil
, from the tardy approach OF winter, tn
figures show business to be on q goo
foundation. The value of Classification
y by branches Of business and sepRratio
I. of large from small failures is more ap
!, parent in this m nth statement tina
y ever before. The money market wa
If easy, though borrowers ON good raj
o road stocks found much less difficult
}; iu securing contracts for three to 81
d months than those who had even tn
better class of industrial securities
y offer. Exports OF merchandise fror
= New York for the last week were value
T. at Sl2,9Js, lS4, an increase of nearl
$5,00O,o00 ever the preceding weel
~ and gain Of 81, a8S, 1872 compared wit
70 the same wne;i of 1893. me fot
weeks exports exceed last years b
- about 3 Per cent. Imports declined
50 50, 1876, 575 for the week. and for fol
40 weeks are scarcely different from YET
- ago i.ank cearings at New York for d,
:, Gays, with less speculation reflects
u THAI in two weeks previous, indicate
% gain of b. Per cent over 1885, and 81
~ per cent over the full week in 1879
while at leading cities outside Ne
On York there is gain of TO- per oel
over 1899, and loss Of per cent fro
Y. 1898"