Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1900 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

New York.—Midsummer dullness to noted in all different markets. General trade always slows up somewhat at this time of the year, and the Stock Exchange situation is simply a reflection of this state of comparative inactivity. No important change in conditions is likely before the middle of next month, when merchants will begin to make preparations for the early fall season. There is a more confident sentiment in commercial circle* Thia is not due from the growing, belief that prices have at last reached bed-rock, which has resulted in a better inquiry for goods. The situation in respect to crops is also hopeful. For this reason merchants are all looking forward to a satisfactory fall trade. Dullness has been the only feature of the stock market. The volume of business has been too light Throughout the week to give prices any decided tendency in either direction. Chicago.—The price of wheat tended moderately upward during the week, and showed a slight improvement at the close of Saturday’s session as compared with its value at the end of the week previous. The firmness thus indicated was chiefly iue to heavy rains and comparatively cold weather in Europe just as harvest was well under way, and resulted in the receipt of heavy buying orders from the importing countries. No new light has been thrown upon the vexed question of the actual total of this season’s domestic wheat production in the crop report of the national agricultural bureau. It did not''include any reference to the extent of the reported damage to winter wheat, but as far as it went confirmed the report of the previous month as to the seriousness of the loss to spring wheat by the long drought that prevailed in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The size and excellence of the Kansas wheat crop is attested by the heavy volume of the deliveries and the eager competition for their possession between the home and foreign millers. Kansas is the main present source of supply, nnd for n month to come, at least, should be able to hold in check the bullishness arising from crop failures in other parts of the country, unless further damage should overtake the crops of the United Kingdom and Europe. Heat and dry weather have reduced by two points since July 1 the promise of the corn crofi, and a further continuation of such weather threatens additional deterioration.