Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1903 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

. 'TJ "72 7~1 Jugt-as the railway coni' nftW ‘ <QFn 1 gegffoh/bejgarf to toiy .I— ——Efore the vigorous efforts of traffic managers situation became ‘further complicated 1 by the worst snowstorm Of the season, and the movement of merchandise was again interrupted. Latest figures of gross earnings show the usual gains, February thus far surpassing by 1J.6 per cent -last- year, when un'usual delay’was cafus’ed by severe stoftns, < and 1901 ■by 11.0 per cent. Increased coSt of operation, however, necessitated further advanceo in rates.” The foregoing is from tlie Weekly Trade Review of R. G. Dun& XJi. It continues: .Trade was interrupted to a .considerable extent by the' inclement weather, except in certain seasonable lines, notably heavy wearing apparel. Wholesale houses dealing -in staples have received liberal orders and much forward business has been placed. Jobbers urge quicker shipments on old orders, while travelers send in many new contracts. Manufacturers of paper straw goods and clothing report conditions fully as satisfactory as a year ago, aside from interruption by labor controversies. Failures this week numbered 247 in the United States, against 250 a year ago, and 26 in Canada, compared with 31 last year. Bradstreet’s Grain Figures. Bradstreet's weekly report on grain •ays: Wheat, inclqding flour, exports for the week ending Feb. 19 aggregated 2,173,752 bushels, against 2,856,439 last week, ‘ 3^609,435Tn ' this week' a yea! "agtUWd 3,424,802 in 1901. Wheat exports since July 1 aggregate 158,135,769 bushels, against 176,931,559 last season and 129,662,639 in 1900. Corn exports aggregate 3,731,457 bushels, agiunst 1,830,170. last week, 247,830 a year ago and 3,267,668 in 1901. For the fiscal year exports are 28,370,643 bushels, against 22,806,326 last season and 127,594,834 in 1901. , ,

TT; ' Barring the matter of uDICdQO. bad freight conditions, a which hits every western point, the outlook is extremely favorable. The spring trade is opening up well, and jobbers and manufacturers report the business so far secured of a volume larger than at this time last year. A uniform degree of activity pervades the mercantile field, and while the grain trade has not been heavy, but rather under that of last year, the bank clearings for the week were large. Prices are being maintained on the staples, and neither in the leading manufactured products nor in country produce has there been the easier prices that hhd, been predicted some weeks ago. Merchants report collections gopd, even better than last year. Bad debts are rare. Country merchants are buying freely yet are not overstraining their credits. The good milling outlook has been an important influence for firmness in \vheat. It is remarkable that the niarket has held so well against eentin-ued depressing reports. Since Argentine Ixigan shipping new wheat, she has thrown about-5,909, 000 bushels into Liverpool. The trade realizes in full the bearish import of these figures, but so far has refused, to be disturbed by them. There is a .big winter whegt acreage in our own country, and the growing plant is doing well. The recent cojd wea.thcr did no damage so far as can’ be learned,’as it wab preceded by a heavy snowfall that gave protection. There are many other bearish features, ye t the bears have made little headway: There are so many who think wheat legitimately worth the present prices that buying support Jias been forthcoming on eVery decline. The bearish features will no doubt have effect if they remain, but meanwhile let any damage occur to winter wheat, and the Lulls wouid.be quick to start a campaign for a rise.