Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1902 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Mow V L Adverts influence* In th* NBl lOfn. badness world are few in —■ ~ J number and are not of sufficient importance to deflect trade from Its steady course. One month of the year is already gone, and all that the records have shown, by comparison with the corresponding period of 1901, is in the main favorable —more so even than many men of experience had permitted themselves to exjpect with confidence. There is no diminution in the defnand for iron and steel products, which continues greater than the mills can meet promptly. Assurance of this prosperity is contained in the annual report of the United States Steel Corporation, which says everything indicates that *ll the facilities of each subsidiary company will be taxed to the utmost to supply the demand for this year. The same must be true also of the independent companies. The inability to get orders filled in reasonable time is responsible for more imports of German steel. Inquiries have been made in England by consumers in this country for pig iron. Production of pig iron in this district is increasing. The policy adopted by the United States Steel Corporation of avoiding advances in prices is being adhered to in substantially all lines. Wire and nail products have been raised again 5 cents per hundred pounds, but this is more in the nature of a restoration of past prices. The new price is still below last year’s quotations, which were made before the various manufacturers Were operating in harmony. Pronounced activity continues at the structural mills. These plants and those which turn out railway supplies are the busiest. U In Chicago real estate an ClliC3(]o. improvement is registered I by the volume of transfers of property of all kinds, and cause for encouragement can be seen in many directions. The continued purchases of land and the plans for improvement st downtown real estate assure many betterments during the present year. These will attract the attention of investors to other desirable properties, which can be made to yield good Incomes by he erection of new structures or the modernizing of old ones. Labor disputes exist only in isolated localities. Some apprehension has been expressed over the possibility of labor-diffi-culties in the anthracite coal districts this spring. It is possible also that there may be a controversy between the operators of the bituminous coal mines and their employes. The former are not prepared to grant that 10 per cent advance in wages asked by the latter. The operators sny that while the demand for their product is good the price they get for if is low. The consequences of strife in the coal industry would be so serious that the peacemakers of the National Civic Federation will bo likely to keep their eyes on the situation and do what they can to avert a strike. Fear of a eoal famine is no longer entertained. The output of the anthracite mines is larger, and the better transportation facilities afforded by the railroads have relieved the situation. The snow storm which extended over wide areas helped the prospects of the winter wheat crop, but at the same time had a tendency to depress wholesale buying. That buying is simply deferred for ■ short time, however. All grains broke on Monday last as a result of the liquidation of a line of 1,200,000 bushels of May oats. The rapid selling of May oats caused a decline of 5’4 cents, but there was a quick recovery. The net change for the week was a gain of %c to %c. May wheat closed at 78c to 78%c, l-16c lower. May corn closed at 62%c, a gain of >4c to %c. The repeal of substantially all of the war revenue taxes is recommended by the ways and means committee of the House, and, it is believed, will pass both branches of Congress, giving relief after July 1 to many business interests.