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BUSINESS DIFFICULTIES. HOLIDAYSBURG. Pa., Dec. 14.-The First National bank of this place, the oldest bank in this section of the state, and one of the original fifty-seven banks in the United States, suspended this morning. Two other banks, at Martinsburg and Williamsburg, failed as 8. result of the first failure. The Martinsburg Deposit bank was established in 1870. Col. William Jack, of Hollidaysburg, is the president. The bank had a capital of $25,000. The Williamsburg bank is controlled by Watson, Morrow & Co. It was established in 1873, with a capital of $30,000. The closing of the banks, It is said, was due principally to the withdrawal of the deposits of the Pennsysvania railroad company ten days ago. The total of deposits in the three banks was $450,000. The banks have been distrusted in financial circles since Sept. 18 last. On that day the private banking house of Gardner, Morrow & Co., of this city, failed, with liabilities of $325,000 and assets so far as ascertained, of $92,000. The intimate relations existing between the four banks, the fact that they were mainly officered and controlled by the same people, and the additional circumstances that between $60,000 and $75,000 worth of securities was removed to the First National bank from the private bank before its failure aroused suspicion. The national bank officers claimed that these securities were given them for cash balances due on the exchange of checks. A deed of assignment was recorded in the Blair county court this evening from the Martinsburg Deposit bank of Martinsburg, this county, to its cashier, Wm. S. Nicodemus. The bank was a private partnership with a paid up capital of $25,000. Its assets will aggregate $200,000. The Williamsburg bank, of Williamsburg, this county, assigned to its cashier, John Clark. This bank is unincorporated with a paid up capital of $27,000. Its merchant rating is $175,000. New York, Dec. 14.-The firm of W. D. Rountree & Co. announced their failure on the cotton exchange this afternoon. Neither this nor the Collins failure affected the market. Edwardsville, III., Dec. 14.-The banking house of John A. Prickett & Sons, in this city, suspended today, making an assignment to S. N. Travous and E. D. Gillespie. Chicago, Dec. 14.-The Filip & Rachart Manufacturing company, manufacturers of sash, doors and blinds, made an assignment to John R Hand today. Assets, $30,000; liabilities, $28,000. WALL STREET TALK. The entire $3,200,000 issue of Louisville & Nashville refunding bonds put on the open market the latter part of the preceding week has been sold to investors in various parts of the country. A syndicate of New York bankers made a good thing on the deal, as they purchased the whole issue at par and sold out for prices ranging from 102 to 105. Sugar will sell ex-dividend tomorrow. The Standard Oil people have been making large loans on this specialty. Big Four earnings for the first week in December decreased $1,451. Edison Illuminating company shows an increase for November of $39,680. President Depew says the Vanderbilts have not had a controlling interest in the New York Central since 1880. A break in cotton and some troubles among the cotton houses attracted some attention in Wall street, mainly because the market had nothing else to talk about. The occurrence in question is a direct result of a break in the price of cotton. That rate of discount in London open market advanced 1/8 today, to 31/4 per cent. NEW YORK MONEY. NEW YORK, Dec. 14.-Money on call easy at 11/4@2 per cent; last loan, 1½, closed at 1½ @2 per cent. Prime mercantile paper, 4@5 per cent. Sterling exchange firmer, with actual business in bankers' bills $4.86%@4.87 for demand, and $4.83%@4.84 for sixty days. Posted rates, $4.84½ and $4.871/2@4.88. Commercial bills, $4.821/2. Bar silver, 65%o. Silver certificates, 65%@65%c. FOREIGN FINANCIAL. NEW YORK. Dec. 14.-The Evening Post's London financial cablegram: The stock markets were idle and dull today, except for Kaffirs. Americans sagged all day because of the absence of business, and the lower New York prices. The close was at the lowest. Consols were flat on the continental demands for gold. PLAN UNDESIRABLE. NEW YORK, Dec. 14.-Messrs. J. P. Stewart, Edward King and Alexander E. Orr, of the committee under the trust debenture of the Union Pacific railway company, have issued a circular to the holders of Union Pacific collateral trust notes stating that in the opinion of the committee, he proposed plan of reorganizaion is undesirable. BANK CLEARINGS. St. Paul-$837,842.67. Minneapolis-$1,675,084.64. New York-Clearings, $79,497,359; balances, $4,341,648. Boston-Clearings, $13,800,397; balances, $2,122,375. CHICAGO MONEY. CHICAGO, Dec. 14.-Money steady, unchanged. New York exchange 50c premium. Foreign exchange firm; demand, $4.86%; sixty days, $4.84.
