Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-29
U N REVIEW OF TRADE.

NEW YORK, December 28.-R. G.
Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade
tomorrow will say:
While it is. not yet possible to print
accurate figures of failures during the
full year 1900, a preliminary statement
may be made that will approximate
the final result. Detailed returns for all
but the last few days of the year have
been compiled and adding a proper
tionate amount for the time still to
elapse, it appears that commercial fail
ures will number about 10,630, with
Liabilities of $137. 600, 900. OF this num-
Der 1900 were in manufacturing for
$40, 750, 600; 1890 in trading for So
600, 600, and SO brokers, transporters,
ETC., not properly belonging in either
of the other classes for $27, %, GOO. Be
sides these strictly commercial de-
faults there were sixty financial con-
Germs with liabilities of $4,000. 900,
swelling the total to 10, 1890 in number,
and $40. 000 600 in amount. This shows
a large increase over the preceding
year, when all failures numbered 1893
and liabilities were 1928, 1926 1t
must not be forgotten, however, that
1889 was a year of exceptional pros
perity in business, and while trade was
then stimulated by rising prices, the
| succeeding year had to bear the bitter
fruit of reaction. Despite these disas-
ters. made unavoidable by the very
conditions that brought such a phe-
nomenal record for 1899, it still will be
found that 1900 compares ~favorably
with other recent years.
SO general preparation had been
made by eastern business interests for
a squeeze in money the end of the year,
that the expected advance did not oc-
cur and collections in the interior were
so good that banks made general COM
plant of the scarcity of mercantile
paper offered for discount. This out
come was particularly encouraging,
though business will need more money
after January /. Meanwhile a good
undertone has been continually in evil
| dence, founded upon the active distri-
button of merchandise south and west,
sellers assuming an Indifferent atti-
tude, except in cotton goods and some
branches of silk, where the general
Improvement has been reflected to a
comparatively small degree. In both
cotton and silk circles better things
are expected in January, and in no
direction has reduction of working
forces in mills occurred. Some wage
differences have been adjusted. In
this respect, the situation is unusually
bright. More talk of a general reduc-
- = II. 81 Ioa~N O-0 1frnr
navigation opens might be calculated
to unsettle quotations of the finished
products, but iron and steel continue
the even tenor of their way. In every
department OF this industry more bus
mess is offered than can be accepted
unless purchasers are willing to give
much time for delivery. One large
foreign contract was lost on this ac-
count, and at many points domestic
operations are delayed by inability to
secure material. Instead of the agita-
ton for cheaper steel rails that was
SO prevalent a short time ago, produc-
ers are said to contemplate an advance.
Domestic contracts in this line ex-
ceeded $4,000 tons at Chicago, and
among the foreign orders is noticed
OlC " LiyNNU tOAo lOA AdoLl oAios -
many smaller sales. Structural mate
rial is wanted Tor buildings and
bridges, with noticeable activity in
this department for export.
1t is not a bad sign that the local
jobbing trade in footwear is quiet, nor
that orders received by manufacturers
from statesmen are small, as most trav-
elers returned home for the holidays.
Hence now contracts are not large but
factories are running at full capacity
and in many cases refuse to duplicate
orders at previous prices. Shops are
assured of brisk employment well into
! the new year and make<- expect to