The age-herald., 1901-07-06
WEEKLY REVIEW
 TRADE CONDITIONS The Elements and Labor Agita- ton Interrupted Markets J0BBING AND RETAIL LINES Show Considerable Activity With Prof. itabie Priees-No Uneasiness In
 Money Market Except Among
 SpecuIators-StapIes Quiet.
J0BBING AND RETAIL LINES

New York, July 5.-R. G. Dun & Co.'s weekly review of trade tomorrow. will say:
 Developments of fresh labor troubles is a feature of the week that has been marked for conservatism in many dlrec- tfons, but throughout the country jobbing and retail lines are busy and are hand ling goods at prices which yield fair profits. There is a reflection of this ac- tivity in the continued improvement in the textile markets in the East, and un- easineSs over the money market does not extend beyond the ranks of spectators in stocks Crop reports continue gratify- ing, much good having been done by rains in the middle west. Harvesting of winter wheat progresses favorabiy. Manufacturing has been interrupted by the elements of labor agitation. Numer- ous prostrations from heat caused hu- mane employers to close mills during the most distressing hours, while the sheet and hoop workers were ordered to stop work until certain points were settled No immediate settlement is anticipated because many plants need repair and others are taking stock. Until the own CTS wish to resume their position will not be known. The reduction of % cents on No. 8 sheets was unexpected and not accompanied by any general weakening of prices.- Footwear shops in New Eng land are active on fall lines, but local 5obbers are less busy and orders from statesmen on the road are light. Leather is quiet but firmer, with a splendid ex- port demand for hemlock sole. Woolens and worsteds are selling better, and raw wool is taken more freely, but the aver age of 100 grades, according to Coates Bros circular, was slightly lower at IT. cents on July l. Cottons are in bet ter domestic demand but prices are held above bids of shippers to China and sales in the brown goods division have decreas- ed. Business as whole Is unusually ac- tive for the season.
 Staple products are quiet speculation being restricted by depressing weather and the lengthy holidays at most of the exchanges prevented new commitments News was as full of promise as to the growing wheat yield, causing further decline in prices, although foreign needs are known to be heavy. Corn steadfed somewhat because of reported injury from heat and drought. Receipts con- tue light in comparison with last years but exports are equally satisfactory. Cotton holds firmly at point little be- low cents, the free movement into sight of the old crop being disregarded Strength is found in grater activity ia the goods market, together with rumors of rain in Texas and a few other states where moisture is deficient. Sales of No Rio coffee have been made below 6 cents, which Is not surprising since re- ceipts at Rio and Santos ports for the crop year just ended were little short of eleven million bags. Even this record breaking crop will be surprised if the current yield is equal to expectations Compared with the prices of a year ago wheat shows a decline of about Il cents a bushel cotton $6.8 bale and coffee 3Ss cents a pound, while corn Is not higher than last years prices and pork products alone of these commodities show any advance.
 Commercial failures during the first half of 1901 numbered 5759 with liabilities of s55. .S04.690 against 5332 last year for S4,747, ,452. In manufacturing lines there were 1265 defaults with $21. .691 0fS liabili- ties while 41S9 traders failed for $24 S64,- POT.
 The improvement over the preceding year was most striking in brokerage and banking insolvencies, which were 8 209,- 435 and S15,839554 respectively against $22, ,124 346 and S25, ,S22 6S2 last year. This Is the more noteworthy because the violent agitation in Wall street during May was calculated to cause serious disturbance and in the last week of June g, other failures through injudicious speculation and poor banking methods. While the half years statement Is gratifying, the second quarter makes much better showing, liabilities declining $7,602, ,2s2 compared with the first quarter and ST. 623,6 ,675 in comparison with the second quarter of 1900 Tn average liability per failure was smaller than in the corre- spending three months of any year since the records were first compiled. The pro- portion of bad debts to solvent payments through clearing houses was but 69 cents to each 5000 and only one out of the pre- ceding 105 quarters recorded a lower ra- tio, while the average amount of de- faults to each firm in business was but $9o.33, only seven other quarterly periods making smaller returns.