The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-19
DUN's REVIEW OF TRADE.
The General Condition of Business
Shows Some Improvement


Shows Some Improvement
NEW YORK. Jan I9.-Dun's review of
trade today says:
IN most directions the condition of gen
eral business has improved slightly this
week Prices of staple commodities are
stsady. as are most manufactured goods.
Orders to manufacturers ere sustained in
volume, and that pronounced ease in
money in the interior Is stin stimulating
business Is shown by bank exchanges at
leading cities outside New York for the
week, Az per cent larger than in 1850,
and rs per cent ai-oye 1899. Al New
York the record is a gain Of 77-3 per cent
over 1900, and BIB per cent over 1893,
Retail trade has not declined as much
as usual since the holidays. Textiles show
more life 4 small but steady improve
ment in the demand has appeared, and in
the cotton goods division ii is the more
noteworthy because OF the weakness in the
raw material. Sellers of both staple and
fancy cOttOns are able TO maintain a po-
siticn OF independence Railway earnings
for two weeks Of January were So per cent
larger than last year, and 26-5 per cent
above 1899
''Steadiness is the chief characteristic Of
y
has brought no new developments of strik-
ing Importance, aud quotations are IN
changed There IS 4 noticeable lack of
new contracts covering large operations.
but many small orders are placed and
mills are well occupied on old business
that IN most cases viii take months 10
complete, even II nothing further offers
Or this account there is no urgency. about
securing orders, and no concessions are
made by leading concerns
Another moderate Increase occurred in
sales Of wool at the three chief Eastern
markets. raising he total for three weeks
10 ~ IS zoe pounds. There is still heavy
loss compared with preceding years These
ngures give good idea of the present
dizziness in this industry. Manufacturers
stocks are generally considered low. new
ertheIess they buy nly for immediate
needs, and continue to take mainly the
cheaper grades
The raw material for the other leading
textile industry has bee" in less satisfac-
tory position owing TO depression IN the
yarn market, which caused the associa-
ton to recommend reduction ia output by
one-half- Larger estimates Of the cotton
crop also assisted the decline.
Boot and shoe shops are, as a rule, well
occupied but It Is noticed that business Is
uneuually distributed While some makers
have booked sufficient orders 90 occupy
tLtH1 Auf some u4OLLDS- liners depend on
current sales 70 keep their force employed
Sales Of leather are OF only moderate
volume, and much below expectations Of
holders with no speculative operations.
''The ease Of the money market is still
pronounced. There have been large receipts
Of cash from the lnteric-. and the Treas
ury has paid ont money largely in the last
ten days. Country banks lend freely here
on any advance in rates, and the supply
CT funds from this source seems to be in
cre8sinE. Little call money loaned over
u per cent. ana lenders on time were
seeking borrowers, and with less dis
elimination against industrial collateral
than for some weeks past.
The feature of the financial situation
was the increased activity of the CONNER
cial paper market the offerings showing
a material increase and from many quar-
ters. Liabilities Of failures !a the first
half OF January We're $3.50 93I of which
3. rs ,965 we're O. manufacturing concerns.
Se751,a6 Of traders, and S249, O53 other
commercial.
Failures for the week were 325 in the
United States. against 242 last year and
- in Canada. against 40 last year.