Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 80, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 June 1902 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

“ " “~j "Many minor labob confI6V YOrL tMversies have been settled, ’ —’but the situation in the anthracite eoal region has assumed a more serious aspect. Railway earnings continue satisfactory, roads reporting for two weeks of Ma, show gains of 0.1 per cent over last year and 18.4 per cent over 1000. No change is reported in the iron and steel situation, former conditions merely becoming intensified by the threatened decrease in supplies of fuel and' the labor controversies in certain branches of the industry. The railways are seeking rails, rolling stock and other equipment, while contractors require much structural material.” Trade conditions are thus summed up by Dun & Co.’s Weekly Review. The Review continues: Quiet conditions have prevailed in the cereal markets, with only a moderate volume of option transactions and fractional changes in quotation. Exports of wheat, including flour, were only 3,8(53,568 bushels during the past week from all ports of the United States, against 5,525,130 bushels in the corresponding week last year. Small receipts of corp,, amounting to only 1,263.188 bushels for the week, against 3,667,042 a year ago, held the spot price at about 70 cents. Dispatches from correspondents of R. G. Dun & Co. indicate satisfactory progress with the new corn crop and a material increase in acreage. Rains Help Crops. Bradstreet's says: Telegrams to Bradstreet’s point to the greatly increased area devoted to corn, and oats is receiving adequate moisture at a time when greatly needed. It will probably be found that all of the 5,000,000 acres of winter killed wheat and that lost to spring wheat by heavy rains in North Dakota will be turned into coarser grains, high prices for which have been induced by short yields and straitened supplies last year. The winter wheat crop in the Southwest is practically made. Wheat is slightly lower on good cron reports, but straitened supplies of corn and oats, make holders confident. Corn visible supplies are only half those of last year, and 60 per cent of the stock is in Chicago; —

Unless all signs fail, or LlliCd&O. something unforeseen devela lops, the country is in tor a good measure of business activity tor a considerable period to come. The coal strike has apparently spent its greatest force as a disturbing factor, For weeks the prospect of a serious labor •controversy bung over the eastern industrial world, and was a hindrance to trade in all lines. When it finally came, -business in general suffered less than had been expected. To a considerable extent the effect had been discounted. This strike is a very serious thing, and it might readily spread and be developed into something big enough to give the whole country a setback, but the business world is not looking for anything like this. There exists the firm hope that somehow, or by some means it will be fixed up in a manner mutually satisfactory. To get the really hopeful and enceuraging view of things, we must leave the east and came to the west. Here there is nothing adverse, or at least nothing important enough to be worth considering; It is really remarkable how western railroad earnings keep up. When it i s ronsi de rod rh a t 1a s t yea r th o cartr in gs were 10 per cent greater than ever before, and that this year they are maintaining another gain of nearly 10 per cent, it will be seen how large has been the increase in the volume of traffic. Not many of lite homeseekers who went into -the northwest iti the early spring were of the very poor, class. Most of them have more or less money. Already they have been better buyers than was expected of them. Retailers are carrying on an active Selling campaign, and the jobbers are feeling the beneficial effect.