Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1902 — COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL

~ “ T~l “Settlement df the eoa NfiW YOrk. hrike removes the only se l- 1 nous handicap to inausina progress. Five months of restricted sue production had begun to check the wheel at many manufacturing centers, whih there xvas a perceptible diminution ii consumptive demands, ns the purehasini power of the xvage-earnerl steadily de creased. Savings have been exhausted nnd much money has gone opt of tb country because of this struggle, but tb nation’s remarkably strong position as sores a speedy restoration of prospered conditions.” The foregoing is from th Weekly Trade Reviexv of R. G. Dun t Co. It continues: '• jOfi' Transportation is noxv the’ worat fen tare, and threatens to continue disturb ing. While the grain crop# ffra beini moved the supply of rolling stock nn< motive poxver xvill prove insufficient, al though every effort is made at the shops liberal premiums being offered for earl delivery. That the railways are well oc cupied is evidenced by earnings for tb first week of October 3.5 per cent large than last year and 10.9 per cent stbox--1900. Inadequate supplies of fuel caused fm tlier banking of furnaces, but the effec of a decreased output of domestie pig iroi hna been partly neutralized by larger ai rivals from abroad. Practically no yric can be named for Immediate delivery o home iron, and there is no disposition t make concessions for distant contract! oxving to the abnormal coke sitttatior Fortunately there lias been littlelintei ruption at finishing mills, and the putpe of rails, structural material and land re lines is well maintained. Consumers no only find difficulty in securing steel fror the mills but encounter a further dela on the railways, which are unable to hai die freight promptly. Orders come foi ward freely for the heavier lines, numni ous contracts being offered for steel rail for next year’s delivery, nnd-the plans so buildings and bridges keep a lot of bus ness in sight in beams, channels and ar g!es. Plates for shipyards are also sough freely, prices tending upward on tan steel. Higher freight rates huve ebecl ed imports of finished steel. —— — ra i] roa c[ g con tinti CDIC3QO. P*l' n S »P earnings and no dines naturally to be expected in then ports of the anthracite coal roads, tfc forty-three leading lines show an agg.a gate increase for the first week in Oetobe of 6.18 per cent over the correspond in week last year. The Great Western r< mains an uncertain factor in the xvester rate situation. The Milwaukee is lx lieved to be contemplating an extonsio to the coast, although the latest repoi says traffic arrangements have been pel fectod with the Union Pneifie and th* the Milwaukee will not build, at lea« not at present. There is some grumblin on the part of railway employes iu th West, but nothing has occurred to v.-ai rant any uneasiness or apprehension c any trouble. Cooler weather has helped retail tradi Moderate advances are noted in man commodities, while iron and steel arc ms terially higher. With coal obtainabl many furnaces that have been cripple for a month or more are expected t resume operations on the former larg scale. The Northwest is making sul stantial gains iu the general Volume c business. The Northxvest leads the coir try. Last week Minneapolis broke ever previous record xvith a production of 443 830 barrels of flour. The flour demand i good, with inquiry coming from ever quarter and the prospect favorable fc heavy grinding by the Northwestern mill to the turn of the year. Grain receipt are increasing somewhat. Jobbing an manufacturing lines are doing a satisfm tory business. The banks report th financial tone very favorable. The wheat market has been eontim ously strong, partly in sympathy wit the strength in corn. There is litt wheat in Minneapolis and not more Tha enough coming to {supply the mills, xvht millers selling flour freely have been bh ders every day for wheat to nrrix'e.