The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-03
DUN's REVIEW OF TRADE.
Business Failures for October Ag.
Gregate SD,O72.sO1.

EreSate Sc,Vs-.sDI.
NEW YORK. Nov 2.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S review tomorrow will say:
| Commercial failures in October were
| 1872 in number, and s9,072.791 in amount.
Manufacturing defaults numbered 200 for
| s.. 1882. trading al for s.. 351. 1sS. and
other commercial Al. for s52s,241- There
| were only two financial disasters with
liabilities of $500, COO. AS was explained in
| detail last month, the unparalleled con-
ditions existing year ago make COMPARE
| son with 1899 unfair but October 1896.
| was also the month just preceding Presi-
Dental election. and failures then wero
1.254 in number and S14. $50 266 in amount
I'm manufacturing the October figures
are particularly encouraging Prior to
last year but five months out of sixty
three showed smaller liabilities. and even
in 1899 FIVE out of the fourteen branches
showed heavier losses. Trading failures
were generally smaller. but if we exclude
few large defaults for over 100000
each. the total is smaller than in any
previous October since these records were
commenced, except 1899 and 1898.
The period of suspense is nearly over
Business has been longing for free field
in which to leap forward. but restricted
buying largely to wants for immediate
consumption. Some evidence appears Of
willingness to take speculative chances IN
the movement of a few standard goods,
notably of iron and steel The actual re-
sumption OF operations in the anthracite
coal fields has added largely 10 the work.
ing force. and the closing down of few
small steel plants is only in the nature OF
concentrating operations at more advan-
tageous points and has not much reduced
the number of men employed
THE weather in some sections has IA
vored business but at New York has been
unreasonable. accounting for much OF tho
loss OF 1913 per cent in bank clearings
here as compared with last year. though
the week shows a gain of 20.3 per cent
over 1895.
Encouraging signs multiply in the iron
industry. Strength in Bessemer and grey
forge at Pittsburg shows that the recent
increase in activity of finished forms has
at last affected the market for raw ma
terial. improvement in domestic buying
of pig is the more noticeable because OF
decrease in exports. Reports are current
that American concerns have contracted
for machine shops in Bremen and numer-
Gus bridges abroad, including some in AZ
RIGA
Full forces are employed at New Eng
land shoe shops and heavy orders ensure
brisk work for the rest of the year. Prices
have not advanced for the finished arti-
oles with leather and hides. Textile o2-
erations are more vigorous. sales OF wool
at the three chief Eastern markets ex-
ceeding all recent records. with total OF
I. SO4 SEQ pounds
Cotton has recovered a little of the re-
cent sharp decline. attributed to reports
that frost would do serious damage. The
market does not show much fear of disas-
ter. and there is more reason to believe
that the slight advance was induced by
better purchases of spinners who were az
'racted after the fall of $3.50 bale in less
than three weeks.
There was also some recovery in wheat.
started by the statement that Argentina
would not be able 10 export freely this
year because of injury to the growing crop.
Corn did not join the advance to any ex-
tent. and provisions were generally quiet.
Money continues heavy owing TO the small
speculation and the very limited demand
Tor funds in mercantile circles. Much gold
was received from Europe this week, anG
heavy disbursements have been made for
both for Government and corpora
lion account. The movement of currency
10 the South and West for the handling
If crops is practically over for the season.
Failures were les in the United States.
lgainst 1sS last year. and in Canada %
against IS last year