Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

f""77 77 | R. G. Dun & Qp.’s heW I OIK. Weekly Review of Trade *■ says: Development of spring trade is naturally slow, but this may be fully made up ns (he season advances. Business proceeds on a conservative basis that promises immunity from the excesses that precipitated the recent setback. Manufacturing plants aro gradually restoring idle machinery, and there is more disposition to anticipate future requirements. Staple commodities are still inflated by war and manipulation, mnkiug It extremely difficult to ascertain the actual legitimate situation. Foreign commerce at New York for the last Wgek shows.a loss of $2,489,790 in exports and a decrease of $2,541),672 in imports, as compared with the same week last year. Finances abroad were badly demoralized at the close of the last week, aud several important failures -have since occurred, but there was no reflfction in this country, and money continued easy. Viplent fluctuations have continued in the great staples, legitimate iufluences upward being supplemented by manipulation, and realizing sales precipitating reactions. Wide changes from day to day in the leading commodities indicate an unwholesome and undesirable situation that is due to speculation, and that is calculated to eheck or'divert consumptive demand. Wheat led the advance, and was closely followed by the minor cereals, but flour was less erratic, and as a xesult exports were mainly confined to the latter. Inabilities of commercial failures thus far reported for February aggregate $10,796,106, of which $2,732,478 were in manufacturing, $4,290,235 in trading and $3,773,453 in other commercial lines. Failures this week numbered 240 in the United States, against 211 last year, and 22 in Canada, compared with 2S a year ago.

niT Weather conditions were LniCdOO. not favorable to an enlarga ed movement of commodities, nml retail trade suffered some interruption. There were, however, heavier dealings at higher prices in cereals and provisions, and better transactions In the iron and jobbing lines. The demand widened in the prominent dry goods departments, millinery and footwear, and increased sales were made of carpets and furniture. The buying of clothing, woolens and men’s furnishings reached a satisfactory average. Prices of staple goods were firmly maintained, and with increasing numbers of visiting buyers in the market the indications point toward more activity appearing in the general demand for supplies. Country collections have shown well and less complaint is noted as to local settlements. Grain shipments were 2,1157,305 bushels, and are 26.05 per cent over the corresponding week of 1903. Receipts also were in excess of a year ago, except rye, and flour has shown a large gain In volume. Supplies of food stuffs appear to be ample for normal requirements. The May wheat option was advanced on Thursday to $1.09, its highest point. The reaction was sharp and not unexpected in view of the poor demand for the cash articles and diminished exports. Receipts of live stock were 322,683 head, compared with 322,794 head a y«»r ago. The shipping demand showed more strength for choice beeves, but the packing demand was light and quotations advanced only 5 cents per hundredweight. Heavy hogs nml sheep sold readily at advances of 25 cents and 15 cents, respectively. Failures in the Chichgo district number 22, against 28 the previous week and 22 a year ago.