The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-12-01

l D z D l,-
 100000.
 Business failures for October num- bered 1.476 compared with 1,34o a year ago. The liabilities were $21,- 000,00O compared with $15,OO0,0OO a year ago. The assets of the failed concerns were about S8,O06,0OO, Ieav- | ing a net liability of approximately 13,0oO,0oO.
 Building operations in 150 cities for October totaled about $7O,00O.o0O compared with $51,00O,00O for the same cities last year. Of the 15b cities, 100 showed increases for the month. The principal cities showing gains included New York, Chicago Philad delphia, Cleveland, Detroit and Minneapolis. The principal decreases were in the cities on the Pacific Coast, where unusually heavy building for the last few years makes comparison unfair.
 Gross earnings of all steam rail- roadscs for August were $2so, ,ooo, ,Oo0 compared with $275.Ooo.oO0 dollars year ago, <an increase of 2 per cent. Net earnings were $100,OOO,OQe conn pared with $9o,0o0,o00 a year ago, a. gain of II per cent. September gross earnings so far as reported show a gain Of per cent, the grain move nent being smaller. and the cotton movement larger. Gross earnings so far as reported fol. October show gain of IS per cent over q year ago, a tremendous gsin Eaing made in the grain movement exceeding even the record tonnage at this time last year. The cotton movement also showed a material gain for the month.
 The number of idle cars on the first of November was 26,000 compared with 7S,000 a month ago and ITO, 900 a year ago. It is estimated that the total number of cars without loads which are fit for service does not ex- csed 5000. while fully 100000 loads are waiting for cars, especially at heavy grain shipping points, although the car shortage, is quite general
 In October more, than 34,O00 freight cars were ordered, bringing 1915 or ders up to s7.0O0 compared with only 81,0 for all of last year. The figures indicate that more than 35 per cent of this years purchases were made last month, and 75. per cent of that number purchased in the last five days of October. So far for Novern- Der. more than 25,00o freight cars have been purchased.
 Rails ordered in October totaled 49O,o00 tons compared with 360,0oO tons a month ago and 49,00O tons a year ago. Rail orders to date for 1915 have amounted to 2,064 thousand tons compared with 1,s77 thousand tons a year ago and e1,087 thousand tons two years ago. During the first two weeks of November 25Ospo0 tons of rails were ordered and ST Locomotives.
 Iron ore shipments from Lake Sll- perior for October were 7,147 thou sand tons compared with 4,242 thou sand tons year ago, 6,526 thousand tons two years ago and 7,010 thousand tons three years ago, which was until now the record October tonnage. Shipments for the year to date have been 42,o0o.oeo compared with 31,- 0Q0.000 tons for the same period and 4G,0oo,00O tons for the same part of 1918.
 The productfon of pig iron for Oc- tober wsts 3,125 thousand tons com pared with 1.783 thousand tons, a year ago. The daily rate now exceeds 100000 tons which practically means full capacity. and the October output set a new high record. There were 276 furnaces in blast on the first of the month compared with 26S month previous
 The unified tonnage of the Steel Corporation on the first of the month was 6,I65 thousand tons, compared with 3,461 thousand tons a year ago. Practically all of these bookings are specified and not orders subject to flu ture specification.
 
 principal mines. for September was 53,oo0,OUo pounds compared with 28,- 1000 pounds a year ago. So far as reported the October output shows a i gain over September.
 The Northern pine cut in September | s2,oo0.o0o feet compared with l os. .0o0, 900 feet a year ago. Ship I ments were 70,oOo,00o feet compared | with 100000 feet a year ago, Mill l shipments of Western pine were 91,- 900 feet compared with 64.o06, 900 | feet year ago. The output of yellow | pine was 408,O00.Oo feet compared | with 40O.0O0, 900 feet a year ago. Ship | mcnts were 447. 100000 feet compared | with 357,ooo. 900 feet a year ago.
 The production of gold in the l Jransvaa1 for October was nearly | 7J8,0O fine ounces, which was the largest output of any month in the his | tory of the mines except March, 1912, when the production was nearly 831, poo fine ounces. For the year to date 1 Jand line ounces compared with 6,967 thousand fine ounces for the same part of last year.
 Commodity prices showed an in- srease for the month in sympathy l with increased wool production and | increasing money circulation. Dur ng the month, according to Brad 4nQSA, CO11TnOOIJ1eS SnOW0d Ln increase, 28 remained stationary md IA declined.
 Cotton ginned from the new crop o November first tota1ed 7,3S5s thou and baIes compared with 9,S27 thou and bales a, year ago and 8,830 thou and bales two years ago. Exports # cotton for October were 675, 5,0O0j ,ales compared with 497 thousand bales a year ago. The number of cot on spindles active is 31, 379 thousand compared with 30,461 thousand a vear ago..
 The labor situation has shown con- iderabIe improvement for the month While strikes are more numerous, set dement's are. being arrived at in h horter time and aside from labor on