The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-01-03
TRADE REVIEW.
Dun & Co. Present a Preliminary
Statement of Business Fail
@ ures for the Year. .4,

New York, Dec. Or. G. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade says: while 1t
is not yet possible to print accurate figures
Of failures during the full year 1900, a pre-
liminary statement may be made that will
approximate the final result. Detailed re-
turns for all but the last few days of the
year have been compiled, and adding a pro-
portionate amount for the time. still to
elapse it appears that commercial failures
will number about 10, $50, with liabilities oil
S137,O00 900. OF this number 1900 were in
manufacturing for $40, $50, 900, 1880 in trad
ing for &c., 00,0 900, and $50 brokers, trans
porters, ETC., not properly belonging in
either of the other classes. for $27 $50, 900.
Besides these strictly commercial defaults
there were 60 financial concerns with la
bilities of $34, 600, 900, swelling the total to
1O,690 in number and $170, 0OO, 900 in amount.
This shows a large increase over the pre-
cedlng year, when all failures numbered
1888. and liabilities were 1923. 1872, 679. It
must not be forgotten, however, that 1899
was a year of exceptional prosperity in
business. and while trade was then stimu-
lated by rising prices the succeeding year
had to bear the bitter fruit of reaction, De-
spite these disasters, made unavoidable by
the very conditions that brought such a
phenomenal record for 1899, 1t still will be
found hat 1900 compares favorably with
other recent years.
S general preparation had been made
by eastern business interests for a squeeze
in money near the end of the year hat
the expected advance did not occur, and
collections in the Interior were so good that
banks made general complaint of the
scarcity of mercantile paper offered for
discount. This outcome 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 dfstribu-
ton of merchandise south and west, sell
ers assuming an Indifferent attitude, ex-
cept In cotton goods and some branches
of silk, where the general improvement
has been reflected to comparatively small
degree. In both cotton and SIX circles
better things are expected in January, and
In no direction has reduction of working
forces in mills occurred. Some wage diff
ferences have been adjusted. In this re-
spect the situation, IL unusually bright.
More talk of a general reduction in coke
and cheaper ore after navigation opens
might be calculated to unsettle quotations
of the finished products. b u iron and steel
continue the even tenor of their way. In
every department Of this Industry moro
business is offered than can be accepted I'M
less purchasers are wilhngto 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 secure material. Instead of the
agitation for cheaper steel rails that was
SO prevalent a short time ago producers are
said to contemplate an advance"
Bradstreets says: "a fitting close to a
year of exceptional and In some respects
unprecedented activity is furnished by the
very general report of large holiday busi-
ness In the past week. The best reports as
to this sort of trade come from the south
western section, but except in some parts
Of the spring wheat and lumber belt of
the northwest satisfactory advances are
quite general, Heavy weight clothing, too,
has been measurably helped for the same
reason. but despite a good business In the
past two weeks the fur trade has ap
parently Jagged somewhat owing to mild
weather. In wholesale trade business has
been Of seasonably small proportions, but
reports from leading lines, such as iron and
steel, shoes and leather, lumber, glass and
spring dry goods, lave been encouraging,
chiefly, of course. as regards the views en-
tertained as to the outlook rather than as
to new business actually accomplished.
Stock taking Is now in progress and details
as to accomplished results probably win
be forthcoming soon after the close Of the
year.