The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-29
FAILURES MORE NUMEROUS
Record of Current Year Surpasaes
That Of 1899.

New York, Dec. 2e.-R. c. Dun's Re
view Of Trade says;
While it is not yet possible to print
accurate figures Of failures during the
fun year, 1900. preliminary statement
may be made that viii approximate the
final result Detailed returns for all
but the last few days of the year have
been compiled, and adding a proper
tioaate amount for the time still to
elapse, it appears that commercial fail
llres will number about 1O.630, with IL
abilities of $3.50. 1000 OF this number
$500 were in manufacturing for 1880
000: SEQ in trading. for $60.000,00o and
$50 brokers, transporters. etc, not prop
erly belonging in either of the other
classes for S27-25O,O O0
Besides these strictly commercial de-
faults. there We're sixty field concerns
with liabilities of s34, 600 900. swelling the
total to 1O,6g0 in number and $170,0oo,-
600 in amount This shows a large in
crease over the preceding year, when all
failures numbered 1888, and Liabilities
were S123. 132. 679- It must not be for
gotten, however. that 1899 was year
Of exceptional prosperity and Wnne
trade was then stimulated by rising
prices. the succeeding year had to bear
the brunt of reaction Despite these dis
asteTs. made unavoidable by the very
conditions that brought such phenom-
. email record for 1893, 1t still will be round
that 1900 compares fayorably with otner
recent years
So general preparation has been made
by eastern business interests for a
squeeze in money near the end OF the
year that the expected advance did not
occur and collections in the interior
We're so good that banks made general
complaint of the scarcity OF mercantile
paper offered for discount
This outcome was particularly encour-
aging, though business will need more
money after January 1. Meanwhile a
good undertone has been continually in
evidence founded upon the active dis
tribution of merchandise south and west,
sellers assuming an Indifferent attitude,
except in cotton goods and some
branches of silk. where the general i'm
prOvenent has been reflected to 8. COM
paratively small degree
IN both cotton and silk circles better
things are expected in January and IN
no direction has reduction or WORKING
forces in mills occurred Some wage
differences have been adjusted. In this
respect the situation is unusually bright
and cheaper ore after navigation opens
might be calculated to unsettle quotations
continue in the even tenor OF their way
In every department OF this Industry more
business is offered than can be accepted
unless purchasers are willing TO give much
time for delivery.
One large foreign contract was lost on
this account, and at many points domestic
operations are delayed by inability to Sc
cure material Instead OF the agitation
for. cheaper steel rails. that was SO preva-
lent short time ago, producers are said
TO contemplate an advance Domestic con-
tracts in this line exceed sc, 600 tons at
Chicago and among foreign orders is no.
ticed one for 1900 tons for Australia
with many smaller sales Structural ma
terIal is wanted for building and bridges,
with noticeable activity in this depart
ment.
1t is not a bad sign that the local job
bling trade in footwear is quiet nor that
orders received by manufacturers from
statesmen are small. as most travellers
returned home for the holidays. Hence
new contracts are not large, but factories
are running at full capacity and in many
cases refuse to duplicate orders at pre-
vfous prices Aside from hemlock sole
leather. in which prices are barely main
tained. other leather is lower.
Wool lost the temporary increase in ac-
tfvity. sales aggregating only 4,575oo0
pounds, a decrease of 2ss1.s0o pounds
compared with the preceding week.
Stocks at the close of the year are ex-
cessive, although dealers are encouraged
by the knowledge that manufacturers'
supplies are light
Contradictory estimates are still heard
regarding the cotton crop. Port receipts
show large increase over last year, but
the erect IS neutralized by reports that
a much larger proportion of the yield has
been marketed.