Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1902 — COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL

PT ~ J Although the shortest nBV YOrK. month of the year was furl-"- »ther curtailed by two holidays and handicapped by the most severe ;torms of the winter, industrial and trade results were most satisfactory. The closing week brought a general resumption of activity in lines that suffered from the weather, and preparation for an exceptionally heavy spring business was re' ported at many points, southern cities alone being backward.” R. G. Dun & Co.’s Weekly Review thus sums up trade conditions, and continues: Insufficient motive i>ower and bad weather combined to restrict the movement of coke from Connellsville, and pig iron production suffers at a time when a -maximum output would not be excessive. This difficulty extends all along the line. Pressure for structural material is already severe, and will probably be still more so as the regular building season draws nearer. Further hardening of quotations is reported, and inquiries for delivery in 1903 are not exceptional. More foreign steel has been engaged, and domestic concerns are still holding in the German market. Footwear buyers are leaving New England without doing much more than a fair sample business outside special lines. Makers of cotton goods are very cautious about undertaking future deliveries owing to the uncertainty as to labor and raw material. Exports orders are still available, but at prices slightly below the views of holders. As a rule woolen goods are well maintained and in brisk demand, but new lines of heavy weights are not sought. ~ Last week witnessed CuiCdllO. heavy E cnera l liquidation in I all grains that carried wheat down nearly 2 cents, corn and oats over a cent in the first two days. Prices were forced lower on wheat and corn during the Januarj- break, but May oats did not get so low. In the later trading the losses were regained, but top prices did not hold, and wheat closed at a net loss of 1 cent, but corn gained %c and May oats l%e and July %c. The recovery in wheat was due to a crop scare, and in corn and oats to covering by shorts, induced by lighter western offerings. Wheat traders are now watching the weather and crop reports, as they are the Influential factors in the West. With the price below 80 cents there is not the Incentive for the bear to get short at this season, and the bull has not explicit confidence in his ability to carry the market upward. There has not been growing weather enough to make it possible for any one to tell definitely about the crop. The government weather crop report, covering the situation for February, indicates a moi* favorable outlook over the northern portions of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Missouri, and less favorable In Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. In Nebraska and Kansas the crop as a whole is in fine condition. In corn the evidence of an increased movement from farmers, so pronounced at the opening of the week, had largely disappeared at the close. A good part of the offerings were taken by the glucose and distilling interests. The cash demand from abroad and from the Eist was disappointing. Every one in the corn trade is now looking for a breaking up of the country roads to curtail the movement, and light receipts are predicted.