Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-21

lnuuStfles mas had good el-
feet upon the general trend of mer-
chandisng, and the firm conviction Is
expressed In all commercial circles that
continuation Of the present situation
in these branches Of Utah's industrial
capabilities Is necessary TO the future
welfare Of business from general
point Of view. That such continuation
VIII be had is also generally conceded
ind there 10 no other prospect but Of
q moderately optimistic nature.
During eleven months in the year
1901 there have been fifty mercantile
failures, In which there were reported
liabilities IN the aggregate sum of SlOb-
SID and assets to the amount of $lOL-
$780, A comparison with Bradstrects
report for 1900 shows a very small DIFF
ference between the two years, for dur
ing a similar period in 1900 there wei e
forty-nlne failures, involving liabilities
60 the extent Of Sl02S62, with assets of
$sSgG5.
Up to the month Of November OBJ
lectlons have been exceptionally gojd,
hut since December | they have been
fomewhat sluggish, as they always are
ut that time in all years.
In the matter of mercantile failures
The burden Of loss has fallen principally
upon eastern jobbers, home dealers Of
that class having come off with very
little posted up to their loss account
Money has been plentiful and a
steady demand for 1t has sustained a
healthy condition Of affairs In this re-
bpect. At the present writing, however
there is more difficulty IN securing
specie and the demand has rather in
creased than diminished
While the year has been good busi-
ress one the more optimistic have not
quite been satisfied. but no condition,
however good, is such but some discon-
tent may make itself apparent
Prices have been mostly higher, es-
pecially In the lines of clothing, dry
goods, produce, lumber and grain.
These features have registered the
heaviest advances to the purchaser but
with scarcely single exception all
other classes Of goods have felt the up
ward tendency. In some cases the in
crease in price has scarcely been justi-
fable In the actual conditions Of sup
ply and demand, which are Invariably
supposed to control values In all COM
modlties, but IN these instances the adj
Vances have simply been of a sympa-
thetic nature. involving only the in
nuence Of association.
AS compared with any and all preNi-
Gus like periods the year just ending
makes a bright showing; and present
Indications EVEN counting In the pos
Bible drawbacks, ore for a still more
favorable showing In the year of 1902.
Utah merchants have been heavy
purchasers In the east during the year
and their standing from credit point
OF view has seldom II ever been better
than at the present time. Trade In the
west generally has been good indeed
md Utah has much more than kept up
with the business procession. The fact
IS there has been decided step TO the
front of the trade moving column.
Usually a city will point to Its bank
clearings as thermometer indicating
the amount Of business transacted ana
as fixing the status of the community
in general In the commercial list OF the
country, The enormous Increase In
Salt Lakes monthly totals this year
has been Of q surprising nature when
viewed without a knowledge OF the
conditions which brought about such
accumulations, Denver, Portland,
Omaha and other cities, population
considered have been left far In the
rear In some months and In one case a
Jealous municipal sister questioned the
reliability Of Salt Lakes figures. There
they are, however. and may be exc
amined and verified In the books Of the
clearing house. Some big mining ana
other Industrial deals and the opera
lions upon the stock exchange have
made great additions to the accounts
passing through the hands of the clear
ing house managers, and the figures
given out have represented truthfully
the cash involved in the transaction of
business by check And even then, the
proportion Of people who do their bust
ness by the simple exchange Of coin
or bills has been by no means dimn-
ighed, SO that the figures furnished in
the clearing house reports do not repre-
sent all Of the dealings.
All banking institutions report great-
or deposits for most OF the year while
the savings have also shown an in
crease. And another fact very po-
tent In Judging a communits's pros"
perity or the lack Of II Is In the Item Of
anxiety In the east for Utah orders
business in this state has been more
eagerly sought for during this year
than for several in the past
Salt Lake Is gradually becoming a
supply center for the districts In SUR
rounding states that have rail connec-
tion with Utah, but one drawback has
been always encountered In the matter
of freight rate discrimination Time
coupled with an unconquerable advance
In business volume, are probably the
only factors which may eventually
mend this state Of affairs.
As rule the mercantile firms In
Utah, and in Salt Lake especially are
handling o better class OF goods than
heretofore-there is much less of the
shoddy variety on the market and of
fered for sale. small percentage Of
the increase In prices Is partially
chargeable 10 this fact; and IT is an
indication of more comfortable condi-
lions, because people have been pos
sessed of the means with which to pur-
chase the better article and consequent
ly demanded IT,
Some discussion has been had as TO
lIlt bNNu VI ndu NllfNAN VI Allf BdilhT
ruptcy act upon business conditions
AS In all other cases a great deal de-
ponds upon how the results have ar
fected the persons discussing the ques-
ton, and the conclusions arrived at
cannot be taken as an exposition OF
true effects. This is the present situa-
ton, however, and more time viii
probably be required before an intelli-
gent estimate OF the effects OF the
bankruptcy act may be made In
stances have been pointed out where
men have become involved 10 such an
extent that thev were unable 10 meet
their obligations. although willing ana
honest enough to do so were they al
lowed a free hand. Being crowded by
persistent creditors these men have
filed petitions In bankruptcy been eX-
amined as to theii ability or lack of
ability TO pay; and having been dis
charged and purged Of their debts they
have again entered into business un-
der hampered conditions on account Of
lack OF credit, but freed from the I'M
portunties Of former creditors In