The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-04
FAILURES DURING ArRlL.
Drndstreet's Reports Them Fewe
and Smaller Than Usual

NcpnFIs Inem FEWER
and Smaller Than Usual.
New York, May 3.--iBradstreet's review
of the failures for the month of April will
say: Business failures in April were NOT
only fewer than in any corresponding
month for number of years past, but
they were 10 per cent smaller in number
than in March, and we're. in fact, the
lightest recorded 10 any month since Sep
TENDER last year, when business embar
easements and liabilities were the small
est reported in any single month for at
least seven years past. Liabilities showed
even larger shrinkage from the proceed
/ ing month of March than did failures
! themselves. the decrease being nearly Fl
4 per cent, but compared with April a year
ago the falling OH is only fractional one,
! this being due mainly TO the occurrence OF
a few large failures in New York city
and Boston. none of which, however, was
significant of any particular change OF
/ tendency in the general course OF bust
ness. The failures in April 1900, number
4 zee; assets $685., 567; liabilities $7,214,5SI.
When comparisons are made with tho
corresponding month in previous years the
really favorable side can be best appre-
ciated for instance. the liabilities in
April, 1899, were only about one half what
they were in 1898. 1896 or 1885 and were
less than one-tifth as large as they were
in April of the panic year, 1898,
An even greater proportionate decline is
shown in the volume OF assets, this being
a feature frequently calling for attention
OF late and one not entirely favorable as
may be judged by the &lct that the per-
centage of assets to liabilities, or in other
words, the salvage in April, 1900, wa.
only So per cent whereas a year ago Il
was As per cent and in April, 1896, wa:
fully 55 per cent.
The number of failures in every section
of the country Is smaller than IN Apri
year ago. the falling off being most mani
fest in states which year ago had no
yet begun to feel the full measure o.
prosperity which has already reache,
other portions Of the country. For in
stance, failures in New England were p
per cent smaner smaller in number th
year than they we're year ago. The!
we're IA per cent less in the Middle State
and 10 per cent less in the central West
In the Northwest there is practically N
change TO be noted in number This sec
ton, it will be recalled, was among tn
first to feel the favorable influence Of re
cent years trade prosperity The decreas
in the number Of failures in the South j
nearly 10 per cent, while the falling Of
in the Pacific coast States is % per cent
In the Territories there are only abou
J one-fourth as many failures as in Apri
year ago similar though les
| marked falling of in the value Of liabil
( tiles and therefore of assets is noted f
every section except the Middle State!
? where. owing as above estimated, to fe'
I large failures IN New York City, The a2
: gregate of liabilities and OF assets
] rather larger than IN April year az,
t With this exception. however, the tendenc
of failure liabilities as of failures, con
c tinues apparently steadily toward a mini
\ 1nliut