Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

"77 77 I K. G. Dun & Co.’s IOrK. Weekly Review of Trade — says: Tardy spring weather, following an unusually severe winter, makes it difficult to restore satisfactory trade conditions, but it is encouraging to find at many points this unseasonable weather the only cause of complaint, and there is always hope that the early losses may be niade up, at least in large measure, when thermal conditions become normal. In the meantime sales of dry goods are restricted and stocks in all positions from producer to consumer are larger than is desirable. Aside from the cotton States, where business is brisk, the week’s dispatches indicate that early gains were maintained, but little further progress occurred. Labor controversies are still an adverse factor. Railway earnings in the first week of April were 7 per cent smaller than last year. No ’definite check to progress in the Iron and steel industry is discerned, although it lacks uniformity, ami in some departments it is difficult to find encouraging signs. In so far as pressure for immediate delivery is concerned, bar iron and steel are most prominent, makers of agricultural implements being importunate. Not only is it difficult to secure delivery of bars, but shipments four weeks hence are considered prompt, and some orders run up to the end of the year. Floods at the West have made it impossible to begin much proposed structural work, and, aside from supplies for repair ships, the railways are still operating on a moderate scale. The ore situation remains unsettled. Firmness and activity continue in the Chicago packer hide market, and foreign dry hides are held steady by the prompt absorption of arrivals. Although quotations are unchanged in the leather market. some improvement is noted. Failures number 225 in the United States, against 212 last year, and 1G in Canada, compared with 1G a year ago. 777 ~] Despite a poor showing LlliCdnO. of activity in breadstuffs, a I shipments of which fell to the lowest point thus far this season, the trend of business generally was satisfactory in the producing and distributing branches. New orders came forward in fair numbers, and while weather conditions were not conducive to enlarged retail trade, dealings included a gratifying disposition of furniture and’other household necessities. Wholesale vendors of staple merchandise report sales to have maintained a satisfactory aggregate, particularly in linen, woolen and cotton goods, and in clothing and footwear. The demand In grocery departments exceeded that of the previous week, and a fair aggregate of sales was reached in vchi-. cles, automobiles and sporting goods. Forwarding of general merchandise was not equal to the volume a month ago. although well sustained in hardware and farm tools. Agricultural advices complain of too much low temperature, but show pastures in good condition, and plowing and seeding progressing. The marketing of foodstuffs has continued somewhat restricted, ’due to bad state of country roads, yet railroad traffic presents a showing on western carrying. Labor troubles in the manufacturing industries makes a gratifying comparison with a year ago, those existing being few in number and confined to minor branches. Grain shipments, 1,808,2G5 bushels, are G 0.05 per cent under year ngo. Cash dealings were unusually light. Speculative influences wore freely used to maintain high prices, but failed to stop declining tendencies, and compared with closings a week ago quotations fell, in wheat 2Vi cents, in corn 1% cents and in oats IV4 cents. Receipts of live stock. 223,528 bead, compared with 321,731 head a year ago.