The Sentinel=record., 1909-10-30
FINANCE AND
 TRADE BETTER
THERE WERE LESS BUSINESS FAILURES THIS WEEK THAN
 LAST WEEK.
Cotton and Woolen Goods Maintain High Prices--Jobbing Trade Is
 Doing Exceedingly Well.

New York, Oct 29.-R. c Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade tomor. row will say:
 Further progress is making in trade expansion and financial conditions are more settled. while politics, in spite of the nearness of the election day, do not materially affect the business situation. The reports from the lead | ing trade circles are so uniformly flaw Drable as to leave no question of doubt as to the widespread character of the revival.
 It is probably within due bounds 10 say that at no previous period of it's history has the wealth of the United States made better showing of it's growth than it is making at the pres ent time.
 If further evidence of the rapid eX- pansion of iron and steel were needed it is furnished by the report of the ter and the appropriation of S10,000.- 900 for new construction work, which testifies to the confidence shown in a steady growth of business in the fu- ture.
 The leading railroads continue to make liberal purchases of needed ! equipment, recent sales of rails az gregating S0,000 tons, New business comes forward slowly in structural | lines More interest is shown in the wire trade than for some time past and current sales are of good volume. The maintained hs-n costs of wool and cotton add complications to the merchandising of textiles and tend to force regular productions. yet mer- chants agree that the demand is broadening in distributing channels, just as it has been expanding in phi mary centers for some weeks Stocks in retailers hands are reduced and or ders for fall have been so conserva- lively placed that the rush for imme- diate delivery of seasonable merchant disc forces higher prices and iobbers are asking that orders for deliveries in December be set aside. Premiums are being offered fer quick delivery on several kind sof knit goods
 Prices are marked up daily and are already at high level although not up to 1907 Hopes of export trade in cotton goods are still favorable.
 Improved conditions are still re- noriee in the footwear market. but some lines continue neglected.
 Bradstreet's Report.
 New York, Oct. 29-Bradstreets to- morrow will say:
 Trade as a whole is good or better, the former word, in fact, hardly suf- ficing to characterize the buoyancy of demand shown in many lines. Indus try. in turn. responds with advances of full manufacturers crder boo.s, full of overtime, and general reports of an insufficiency of skilled labor to meet requirements. Altogether the situation is. all things considered, very satisfactory one, and the rate of improvement in the late months of the year promises to place 1909 close to the front in the list of years of pros perity.
 While mild weather tended to re- tard retail trade in some sections of the northwest, the general reports are that the advance of the season and the marketing Of the years crop is bringing out a large volume Of trade in the country districts, while enlarg. ing pay rolls, fall festivals and state fairs are all helping to stimulate dis tribution in the cities.
 Jobbing trade keeps pace with, and in some cases, exceeds final distribu- ton as regards encouraging reports, dry goods. clothing, millinery shoes and kindred lines all reporting good demand despite the generally very high range of values of all commodi- ties. Early reports as to holiday trade are also very good. Spring trade is reported of good volume and it is noted that while advances in prices of cotto ngoods are still a brake on full est activity in these lines. 4 number of mills announce shorter time in op- eration. the coarser products show ing the most strain. Iron and steel are being produced in large volume. though some adviees Of ease in pig iron are neoted
 Business failures in the United States for the week ending October 2S were PIT. against 244 last week, 241 in the like week of 1908. and 225 in 1907.
 Business failures in Canada for the week were 24 which compares with 90 of last week.