Evening journal., 1900-11-05
WEEK OF Trade

This commentary on the trade Of the
week is made by Bradstreet's: I'm
seasonably warm weather continues
the leading directly unfavorable fea-
ture Of distributive trade. because of
the check given to retail distribution,
and, therefore to recorder business in
most lines Of dry goods, wearing ap-
parel and shoes. Conservatism, in
view Of the near approach Of the presi-
Dental election, is undoubtedly an ele-
ment exercising considerable influence,
particularly in stock speculation, but
conspicuous exception to this is
found in the reawakening of demand
and the advances in prices shown in the
ron trade in widely separated sections
This is really one Of the most impor-
tant developments OF the week, and is
taken as indicating not only that con
idence in election results is felt but
that consumers stocks are down to q
minimum. Clearing statistics are en-
cOuragine, those for October particu-
larly so, although quieting stock spec
ulations has apparently limited the
weeks total. Failures naturally show
expansion over the same period yeai
ago, but are much more favorable than
in preceding years. Following the end.
ing OF the anthracite coal strike has
come the announcement Of an advance
In wholesale prices Of from 25 to sc
cents per ton, and the impression Is
that retail rates are not likely to show
any marked reduction very soon.
Leading authorities look for an ac-
tive demand for the larger part Of the
years American cotton crop, and pre-
lictions that IL 900 600 bales are abso-
lutely needed are made. In the manu-
featuring trade the feeling is that a
firm and even higher market may be
looked for after election. Weather
conditions are not altogether favora
l die to the shoe trade, the hides ar,
firm, and sole leather shows an ad
vance of and cents per pound at the
| West for October Wool is showing in
creased activity, while the prices ar
arm, in sympathy with the better tom
| Of London and Melbourne advance
Western live stock receipts for Octo
Der were very heavy, but prices hav
held we'll despite this. A distinct AM
marked improvement in the deman
for both crude and finished iron an
steel is noted"
r. G. Dun & Co. sum up the situa
ton in this wise: "Commercia
failures in October were 1852 in mum
Der and S9O72,79l in amount. Manu-
featuring defaults numbered 200 fo
$2195,362. trading 54l for s5,351 ISL
! and other commercial Al for s526,24
There were only two financial disasters
with liabilities Of s55O,OOO. AS wa
!, explained in detail last month, the III
I, paralleled conditions existing a yei
: ago make comparison with 1899 VI
fair, but October, 1896, was also IL
: month just preceding a Presidents
election, and failures then were 1 q
2 in number and S14,sS0, 266 in amoun
y although the number of concerns
z business has increased more tn.
y l25,000 in four years. October shoy
p much improvement over September T
r turns, liabilities decreasing near
u 100000, In manufacturing the Oct
Der figures are particularly encoura
ing Prior to last year but five mont
e- out of slxty-three showed smaller i
- bilities, and even in 1899 five out
fourteen branches showed heav
- losses. Trading failures were genera
~ small. but If we exclude a few lal
e. defaults for over 100000 each /
&C. total is smaller than in any previc
W October since these records were co
IS menced. except 1883 and 1898. 7
te- period Of suspense IS nearly over. b
OF ipess has been longing for a free f