Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 126, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1903 — fd [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

fd

"77 ~ B. —G. Dun & Co.’s N6W YOrK. Weekly Review of Trade ——— says: There have been no developments of importance in the commercial world. As a rule, there is more caution in making contracts, especially among manufacturers. Uneasiness regarding the financial situation recedes as the season advances without producing any monetary pressure in connection with crop moving. Manufacturing news is favorable except where the raw material markets arc unsettled or labor struggles cause trouble. Latest returns of foreign commerce at tin’s port are unsatisfactory, exports showing a loss of; $1,188,646 compared .with the same week last year and imports decreasing $2,577,124. Bank ox changes at New York for the week were 23.0 per cent smaller than last year, while at other leading cities there was a gain of 4.4 per cent. Reduced dividends nnd curtailed p'roduction in the iron and steel industry show that conseryatism is increasing and that there is no disposition to disguise the fact that business is not progressing without interruptions. Yet there is nothing alarming in the situation and a few years ago the contracts now in sight would have assured full occupation for all plants.

Failures this week numbered 239 in the United States, against 245 last year, and 17 in -Canada, compared with 21 a year ago. p, . - Agricultural reports are LDIC3OO. satisfactory, the corn crop — being practically assured and confidence returning in various sections where interior merchants had hesitated in filling up stocks. Transactions both in jobbing and retail lines reached a large aggregate, the buying being well distributed in dry goods departments, woolens, wearing apparel nnd footwear. Tlie factories are steadily employed, various plants working day and night. Railroad earnings show continued gains and more satisfactory charters stimulate activity on the lakes. Mercantile collections are good, with fewer failures reported for the week in Chicago district. •Grain shipments for six days, 5,790,247 bushels, including 3,803,390 bushels of corn, largely exceed the corresponding period of last year. Demand has been steady, the bgst support coming from abroad. The markets for breadstuffs show reviving strength and large sales of flour were closed both for domestic and foreign consumption. Compared with the closing of a week ago, prices are higher in' corn % cent, oats % cent and wheat 1% cents, tlie latter also standing 11 cents above a year ago. Live stock receipts, 290,914 head, are 4 per cent over the corresponding week of 1902. The shipping demand was fairly good, but the heavy supplies forced a decline in values. Choice beeves nnd sheep closed 20 cents a hundred weight lower. Hogs suffered the worst fall—7s cents, due to' lessened needs of packers. International’s Repqrt. Telegraphic advices from correspondents of the International Mercantile Agency throughout the United States are summarized as follows: Merchants generally are not anticipating requirements with the freedom heretofore noted, partly on account of weather and crop conditions nnd in part because of industrial slowing down. Financial advices at larger centers indicate that neither imports nor bank loans are being curtailed and that indebtedness abroad is increasiug. James H. Eckels, former Comptroller of the Currency, sends word that increased western bauk loans, compared with last year, are not due to the banks currying speculative accounts.