Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1903 — COMMEPCIAL FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMEPCIAL FINANCIAL

—•—» “Milder weather not only NBW York ! accelerated the demand fo* - J many lines of merchandise but relieved the pressure for fuel, whldl threatened to become a serious mattet, and incidentally facilitated efforts to reduce tho freight congestion. Wit,h other retarding feature than the holiday, business fully maintains its gratifying position. Returns of both domestic and foreign trade are fully equal to those of the same month last year, and in many cases there are marked gains. Tho people are consuming on a scale never before equaled, ns evidenced by the enormous distribution nnd continual inqulrle* for prompt shipment. Firmly held quotations also bear testimony to the fact that demand is often greater than supply.” The foregoing is from the Weekly Trade Review of It. G. Dun & Co. It continues: \ Increased interest has ...displayed by purchasers of all products of iron und steel, giving n decidedly firmer tone to the market nnd in many instances quota* tions have advanced. One of the detinito changes was a rise of $2 a ton in wire products, which was not a surprise, and a new ore schedule averaging over 25 cents a ton higher. This makes ex - ery step of the process more expensive to tha independent producer, ore, pig iron, coke, wages nnd freights having reached » higher position. To the leading producer, however, the situation is less disturbing, as most of these factors are under ono control, and it will be possible to bold prices of finished steel at a fairly conservative position. A very heavy tonnage of pipe has been moved on old orders and considerable new business is reported. Few additional ndvances have occur - red in quotations of cotton goods, the developments of the week being chiefly in the direction of establishing the market on the higher basis that was suggested by earlier spasmodic advances. There is morj conservatism on the part of buyers. Business in woolens has fallen off unexpectedly, some early buyers reducing the size of their initial orders, while in a few exceptional cases there have been complete cancellations. This clinngo of front is attributed to the fact that manufacturers have not held to opening prices. / New England shoeshops have secured moderate advances in several grades of footwear, chiefly of fall styles in demand by western buyers. Other divisions are very firm and the entire market exhibits an upward tendency. Quotations of leather are fully maintained, although trade is quiet in sole. Foreign dry hides are strong but inactive owing to light stock and restricted arrivals. Failures this week numbered 211 in the United States, against 215 last year, Uradstreet's Grain Figures. Wheat, including flour, exports for tlieweek ending Feb. 26 aggregate 2,G5C,-» 879 bushels, against 2,713,792 last week, 8,234.540 In this week a year ago and! 5,233,313 in 1901. Wheat exports since July 1 aggregate 160,792,648 bushels* against 180,166,099 last season and 134,295,952 in 1900. Corn exports aggregate 2,368,939 bush* els, against 3,739,457 last week and 4,185,440 in 1901. For the fiscal year exports are 30,739,582 bushels, against 23,118,990 last season and 131,780,324 In 1901.