Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

■] R. G. Dun & Co.’s reGhlCdGO. view of Chicago trade for a * the week say.s: The traffic movement has been somewhat impeded by severe weather, but, notwithstanding this, the distribution of merchandise reached a large volume and no diminution appears in the consumption of necessities. Retail trade maintained a satisfactory level In most lines and was strong in wearing apparel, footwear and groceries. Wholesale dealers steadily added to the accumulation of orders for spring goods and an increased number of visiting buyers made their selections in clothing, men's furnishings and dry goods, the total sales reaching an aggregate comparing favorably with year ago. Later advices confirm reports of depleted stocks throughout the interior, and more disposition on the part of country merchants to replenish early in the staples. The situation in raw cotton may enforce an advance In the cost of finished goods, and this gives strength to the entire range of textile products. Labor difficulties but slightly affect Industrial progress. Manufacturing proceeds with a firmer feeling of confidence and production shows better. Implement and machinery shops have increased their working forces, the new business coining forward promising a fair run of work. Other manufacturers are in good position. Grain shipments, 2,464,767 bushels, includes 1,376,608 bushels of corn, and are 5.08 per cent less than year ago. Speculative influences again produced higher prices. May wheat touched 96 cents. The coarse grains were remarkably strong, closings compared with previous week being higher, for corn 5 cents and oats 3 cents. Receipts of Jive stock, 389,151 head, are 18 per cent over a year ago. Vallies closed higher in sheep, 5 cents, and in cattle 25 cents, hogs being unchanged. U ■' K

7T - ; Sensational fluctuations NSV iCTK. in the S reat staples were " J the features of the week, cotton and coffee attaining new high reejjedsYor lhe seasanc but subsequently declining sharply, while grain advanced. Trade reports are Irregular, improvement at the South and West finding little response at the large Eastern cities. Persistent low temperature is providing a good demand for heavy wearing apparel and increasing the difficulties of transportation. Spring buyers are arriving in large numbers, with noteworthy eagerness to secure cotton goods, even at the enhanced prices. Railway earnings for January'averagecL.7 per cent larger than in 1903. Progress is slow in the iron aud steel industry. Several dispatches regarding large contracts cannot be confirmed, and it is usually found that the statements refer to old orders, while the figures of tonnage prove much smaller than indicated.