Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1902 — COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL

fT "TZ j~l “Labor controversies costNffY 10rk. tim l * to be the only seripus- ■ Uy disturbing events in j. the industrial world, and, while many disagreements have been promptly settled, other? have appeared to interrupt production and make manufacturers conservative about new undertakings. Retail distribution of spring wearing apparel received a shock from the more inclement weather in many localities, yet merchandise of most staple lines is purchased freely, and collections are satisfactory at nearly all points except the South,” ' IL G. Dun & Co.’s Weekly Review thus ■urns up trade conditions and adds: “Supplies of iron and steel do not seem In any immediate danger of overtaking demand. In fact, the prospect of labor disturbances on May 1 makes the situation still more uucerQiin. and those who hoped for equilibrium in the market by July 1 are less sanguine. Midsummer seems to be the dividing line as to-quota-tions, prices after July averaging about V per ton less than earlier deliveries, while those few fortunate sellers of spot material continue to secure large premiums. Pittsburg pig iron is definitely higher, and large contracts are still under negotiation between the Bessemer producers and the leading consumer.* Coke continues to move a little more freely, yet prices are fully sustained. “No movement is recorded in conditions of footwear shops in New England, where only the larger manufacturers are able to keep going. Prices of shoes are unchanged, although buyers are holding back for better terms. Leather has steadied under large purchases of sole and belting, with the additional support of heavy exports. Domestic hides again average lower. "Widely divergent views as to the crop outlook resulted in a dull market for the cereals and only small changes in prices. Wheat receipts for the week were but 2,074,699 bushels, against 3,357,135 last year, while exports from all i>orts of the United States amounted ‘to 3,365,070 bushels, compared with 4,626,037 a year ago. There was not the customary loss in receipts of corn; 1,580,505 bushels, comparing with 1,602,027 a year ago, but Atlantic exports were only 204,356 bushels, against 3,046,891. “It is not surprising that cotton is so firmly held in view of the dispatches from correspondents of It. G. Dun & Cd. In the South. These reports indicate small stocks of old cotton and a decrease of acreage for the next crop, with smaller sales of fertilizers and a backward season. “The course of commodity prices during the month of March indicates a seasonable tendency downward. Dun's index mumber, giving the aggregate of quotations proportioned to consumption, was |99,222 on April 1, against $101,593 a month previous. This decline of 2.3 per cent was mainly due to the higher tem- • perature, which accelerated the output of garden and dairy products.” According to Bradstreet’s CuiCdQO. report, the great underlying ■ - J features of trade and industry remain as heretofore. Bradstreet’s quarterly returns of failures, bank clearings and prices all point to a heavy business having been done in the first three months of the year at fair profits, while most indications as to crop prospects favor a good summer and fall business. Wheat, including flour, exports for the week aggregate 4,446,917 bushels, against 2,(MM,110 last week nnd 4.698,693 in this week last year. Wheat exports, July 1, 1901, to date (forty weeks) aggregate 198,845,958 bushels, against 154,622.117 last season. Corn exports aggregate 330,531 bushels, against 139,205 last week and 2,990,541 last year. July 1,190 J, to date com exports are 24,464,701 bushels, against 146,956,878 last season.