Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1902 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

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“Holiday trade reached its maximum this week, nearly all sections of the

country reporting exceptional distribution. While the class of goods especially stimulated by Christihas demand occupied the position of greatest prominence, general merchandise was not Jar behind in activity. Transporting interests were just beginning to overcome congested conditions when severe storms made the situation more complicated than before. .In njany industries it is not a question of finding buyers, but securing the privilege of postponing deliveries beyond the date originally specified,” according to R. G. Dun & Co.’s Weekly Review of Trade. Brndstreet’s says: Retail trade has held th(/‘■enter of the stage this week, stimulate* as it has been by the dual influenc'd of exceptionally cold weather throughout the country and a rather more pronounced holiday demand, which promises to be of record-breaking character, not only as to volume but as to quality and grade of goods purchased. While jobbers in many lines, notably shoes, clothing and rubber goods, report a good reorder business growing out of the above conditions, wholesale trade as a rule has been seasonably quiets exceptions to this being noted in woolen goods, raw wool, lumber, leather, coal and last, but by no means least, iron and steel in a myriad of forms. Nothing is heard of the usual conservative waiting for the new. year’s arrival to place business, and order books of leading producers are filled for long periods ahead. Hardware is in good demand at most markets. Talcs of rate cutting at the West contrast strangely with reports of car shortage and incidentally returns of earnings, which show that fifty roads earned S per :enl. more in the first week of Decent be" this year than they did last, while for the second week forty-two roads show a gain of $500,000 over the middle week ot December, 1900. Again, October gross earnings of 105 systems increased 10.2 per cent on a total of $119,212,770, while net took on 20.5 per cent, the total being $40,092,955, as against $38,249,005 for v etober last year, when the coal miners’ rtrike held sway.

Chicago.

Conditions in the wheat market have assumed a more bullish tone, and those

who had been bears and worked for lower prices for a week found it impossible ‘o dislodge any amount of long wheat ber; 80c, and, although * hey forced tuo price down to TOe on t.vo days, a - advance'followed, and the price Saturlay was up to 81 to 81'/4c, and closed at file. It was at 81c a week ago, but bro'-u :o 70%e at the close. The net gain lor the week was l',4e. There is evidence ot' a tenacious country holding. The latter have made up their minds that wheat is going to bring more money, and with corn selling very high, they are keeping tbeir wheat for an advance. The foreigner has bought Manitoba wheat largely at the seaboard, and has reduced the discount under the American. This Manitoba wheat is moving freely, going from Winnipeg to the seaboard by rail, and is taken iu. preference to the American. We nre nearing the period of increased consumption and depleting stocks, and on this basis the bull has the best of it. There was nothing but a scalping trade In coarse grains, and conditions have not changed from those of a week ago. The range on May corn was 6G J 4c to <>7%c, and oats 44%c to 45%c. The close iu both was at a net loss of %c to %e for the week. Western offerings were small and shipping demand limited, although at the close Liverpool accepted small lots of corn for the first in a long time. The [•ar scarcity both East and West has restricted the movement, and cold weather has also been a factor. The low temperatures, with snow on the ground, has increased consumption on the farms, and Western holders are indifferent sellers.