Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1903 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

„ i “W eath ei; conditions Net York. have improved, particuiarly as regards the great staples, although considerable losses have occurred in garden truck and other minor farm products at the East owing to drought. Labor controversies are still lhe most disturbing factors in the situation, nud it is difficult to anticipate how fat distribution of merchandise will be affected. Structural material of all kinds is moving slowly because of strike* in the building trades, which are now exercising more widespread influence than other disagreements. At the East the trade situation is satisfactory as a rule. Railway earnings thus far reported for May were 12.8 pet cent larger thau last yeur and surpassed those of 1901 by 25.0 per cent,” according to It. Q. Dun & Co.’s Weekly Review of Trade. Continuing, the report says: After many weeks of discussion the expected transaction in pig iron was completed, involving a heavier tonnage than was generally anticipated and showing but a small decline in -price. Considering the improved conditions as to fuel and transportation, the magnitude of the contract and the ample time in which to make deliveries, $19.35 at Pittsburg, was by no means a low price. Some decline was to be expected, and only by a readjustment of quotations ean this industry maintain the activity for which enlarged facilities provide. Demands for steel rails lrfive again become urgent, particularly from trolley roads, nnd the rail mills that hare been mailing billets will resume their regular business next week. As practically all this year's output has Wen sold, the question of quotations in 1904: is under consideration. Structural steel is still adversely affected by labor disagreements in the building trades, but in the iron and steel industry there have been numerous settlements and few serious conflicts are in progress. Under the new tin plate scale an increased output is provided, and the mills are fully occupied with large orders on hand. Nevertheless, tim declined through liquidation at London. Nominally, the average of quotations for cotton goods is higher than a week ago, but actually the situation is scarcely altered. An artificial situation exists as to cotton goods that is complicated by labor controversies and the weather. The very slight improvement iu men’s wear woolens and worsteds is not consistent With reports of a good business in fall clothing. Failures this week numbered 200 in the United States, against I!>4 last year, nnd 7 in Canada, compared with 20 a year ago. Bradatrcct'a Trade Review. Wholesale trade awaits crop, labor nnd price development*. Too much rain is reported for western crops, but particularly for corn, the planting of which is still delayed. The tendency toward readjustment of prices of iron is shown in the reduction of 25 to 50 cents per ton at seaboard markets. Large buyers at Chicago say they will take hold at concessions. » The outlook as to the country's export trade is by no means depressing. Exports of manufactured goods for the month of April were only twice^,exceeded in the country’s history. Wheat, including flour, exports for the week ending May 28 aggregate 4,077,078 bushels, against 5.293,373 last year, 3,900,045 in this week last year and 4,138,970 in 1901. Wheat exports since July 1 aggregate 205,571,810 bushels, against 233,424,840 last season and 193,850,995 in 1900. Corn exports aggregate 1.179,739 bushels, against 1,814.184 last year, 71,488 a year ago nnd 2,037,043 iu 1901. For the fiscal year exports are 01.430,841 bushels, against 25,900,597 last season and 1(55,159.107 in 1901.