The sun., 1901-10-05
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Many Evidences of Great Business
Activity.
LARGE RAILROAD EARNINGS.
Good showing of Transportation
Companies and Heavy Payments
ut Clearing House Incontrover-
tibIe Proofs of Prosperity.


New York, Oct. 4.-R G. Dun & Co.'s
weekly review of trade says:
Trade channels are remarkably free
from obstruction, although the move
ment of goods at some points is check
ed by insufficient transporting facili-
ties. This is attributed to the unusual
ly heavy shipments, which are shown
more definitely by railway earnings in
September, 81 per cent larger than last |
year and 1861 per cent above those of |
1893. Payments through the clearing |
house at this city for the week exceed |
ed the same week in 1900 by 3S.2 per |
cent and 1859 by ~ per cent, while at
leading cities outside New York the
gains were Dot and 124 per cent re-
spectively. 1t Is not possible to contro-
vert these evidences Of activity, nor can
the larger bank exchanges he attribut-
Ell to speculation, as sales of Stock EX-
change securities We're not greatly in
excess of the same week last year and
Of about the same size rs i'll 1899. Man
ufacturing is of such vigor that few
wheels are idle, ana further wage
agreements have reduced the number
Of strikers to minimum. Mild wealth
er, yacht races ana other temporary in
fuences curtniled the volume of retail
sales in this vicinity, but jobbing and
wholesale concerns are preparing for
exceptional transactions. Foreign trade
is also heavy. exports of merchandise
from this city for the last week exceed
ing the large movement last year by
ST43,535, and imports We're 81, CO., ,55S
greater.
Nothing new has developed in regard
to the iron and steel situation, and with
mills crowded in their efforts to over
take consumptive demand there is lit
tie prospect of any material change in
the market for some time. Two events
of the week We're noteworthy. The
statement of the United States Steel
company indicated that no serious EN-
barrassment had been caused by the
strike. the closing of mills reducing eX-
penseS ANA giving Il splendid opportll-
nifty for overhauling machinery and
making repairs.
Textile Markets Steady.
StcadineSs is still the feature in tex
tile markets. Sellers are not making
any concessions in prices and buyers
do not force matters There was a
tendency to hold back the placing of
new business, particularly in the cot.
ton goods division. This was attribut-
ed to expectation Of changes in the
price Of raw material.
StpnIa In,
ately rs Il rule, with the exception of
cotton and pork products. The varia-
tion was widest in corn. as might be
expected since that cereal was inflated
much more than any other commod-
ity. Exports have increased, but are
Still small, for the week only S43,374
bushels going out from Atlantic ports
against 2,144,610 bushels last year and
2,992,232 in 1890 Wheat was also cas-
Ter partially because Of conflicting Is
Inmates of foreign crops and needs
while exports from the United States
We're smaller than in the preceding
week, especially as to flour shipments
There Is still a good showing in com
paliSon with earlier years, 4.j23. Az
bushels going out against 4 .1S3 GO3 ii
1900 and 4,3GG,645 two years ago Th,
great size Of the domestic wheat croI
this year Is Indicated by interior re
ceipts of S,4lt,7T5 bushels agains
6139.1Si last year and G644113 II
1929. Cotton was easier until the off
clal report appeared. when tile low con
ditlon caused 4 sharp advance A Sc
we're decline occurred III refined suga
in the local market, willie at point
where domestic beet sugar compete
tie reduction was still greater.
Failures For Nine Months.
Failures during nine months Of 100
were sl44 against 7,S9J in 1900 bu
the small increase in number was NOR
than offset by the decrease in amour
of liabilities from Sl33 234 9SS last Yea
to S9I.S5641G in 1901. Suhtracting Iii
banking defaults leaves S0S3 strictl
commercial failures With IN indebted
ness Of SSO,56O,SG2 against 1851 las
year for S1Ol, SIT, HIS. Considering iii
many distressing events, strike
drought. ETC., occurring this year, indi,
pulable testimony to Tile solid found;
tion Of business is furnished by theS
statistics, showing Il decrease of abot
20 per cent in amount Of bankruptcit
as compared with 1900. The ratio {
bad debts to solvent payments wa
but 81 cents per $1,000 in the thir
quarter Of 1901. only four other qua
tiers out of the preceding 107 making
better showing, The average loss fC
each firm III business was little MOI
than SO but three years of the precpt
ing two decades having as low rati
for the third quarter.
SchIey to BE Invited to Chicago.