Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-01-13
BUSINESS YEAR
OPENS BRIGHTLY
Outlook Was Never So Generally
Auspicious in Half a Dec
ade, Says Dun.

New York. Jan. 7.-Dun's Review of
trade tomorrow will say:
Not in half decade has
year opened with the bus
mess outlook so generally suspicious
as the year 1910. In January, 1907
there was a tremendous volume Of
transactions but already this clouds Of
impending disaster could he seen on
the horizon. In January, 1905. the
crash had arrived and the business
world was counting the heavy losses.
In January 1909, confidence had been
in part repaired but the progress to-
ward recovery was very slow. But in
January, 1910 the volume of trans
actions Is as large as In 1907 with con-
fidence supreme and no impending
disasters casting their shadows be-
fore
Some Of the perplexing issues which
contributed to the crisis OF 1907 stu
remain unsolved while the question OF
high prices has become more acute
but it would seem as If business con-
| tidence were not going to permit these
things to interfere with the further
progress of industry and commerce
| The optimism which usually prevails
at this season. is, this time. apparently
well supported by the facts of the
economic situation. In the great IRON
and steel trade. which is so basic, this
| spirit of optimism Is particularly con-
| spicuous. Conditions are not so pro-
| nouncedy strong in some other de-
! partments hut with favorable aEr!cul-
tural conditions and with no event po-
litical or otherwise to impair the con-
hdence Of business men In the credit
structure there seems to he no reason
to doubt good year.
| II is n favorable omen that the first
| week witnesses n decline in the Eank
Of England rate Of discount to four
ner cont. which is n sign Of more sta
lilo conditions abroad and that the vol
ume of hank exchanges in the United
States shows heavy increases. IFS per
cen+ ovcr 1909 and 9.S per cent. over
oo6 outside # New York and 2I.2 pei
cant over 1909. and so per cent. over
lone IN New York. Predictions ARE
h.,n, made that 1910 will be the best
year ever experienced by Canada
OPTIMISM IN ALL LINES.
New York Jan. 7.-bradstree' 5 9'"'e .
Trade tomorrow VIII say me ~"
opens with WIN peie"Pt'"'" $3.50
thourh with optimism as the unueVNHl
ol.men, in all lines. Severe cold wea'he
, ard heavy snow. sleet or rain storm
have checked transportation and retarde
na,,n,rv trade. though more or les
,r,nodiatc benefit TO retail trade in cue
has accrued from the stimulus given |
demand for seasonable goods by weathe
, oor1i,,ons and the beginning Of clearanc
t sales Of winter goods
, rho 1863 failure returns show an I'M
nroyement over 1905 in one-sixth fewe
. s,u,,,.os oue-half less liabilities. tn
9 .n,al,est proportion of assets 10 liabilitie
ono,,ed I'm seven years, n record numbo
~, re,y enterprises started and smaile
. oor,uercial death rate than in all d.
eve Of the past twenty years Failure
a.oreased l6.5 per cent. in number froi
= | ,on, hut Increased IL per cent over IN
=" ~, ,c nor cent. over 1906. Liabilities wer
,as. than half those of 1905 and only one
. ,,,,rd those of 1907 though "a per cen
y ,arror than. In 1906. The proportion {
. .sats 10 liabilities was only is.4 per cen
u aga,rst 81 per cent in 1905 and 10 pc
u cont in 1907. The number of concern
u -, BUSINESS showed an Increase of $500 {
" 81 ner cent. In 1909, the largest gain eve
rocorded and the annual death rate wa
univ seventy-seven hundredths of one pr
cent against ~ hundredths In 1903 and
hundredths In 1897.