Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Chicago.

Dun's weekly review of Chicago trade says: Apprehension as to the

tohrse of business during the ousuiug months does not appear reasonably warranted because of renewed labor unrest and disquieting crop reports. It is yet too early to determine to what extent agriculture may be adversely affected throughout the West, hut at present it does not appear that the leading winter wheat sections have suffered much deterioration. The week has witnessed the outbreak of several these are confined to limited forces of men, and arbitration measures are expected to insure early adjustments. Against the unfavorable features there are to be considered several encouraging indications.

The volume of bank exchanges surpasses that of the corresponding week of both last year and 1902, very good evidence that debility is not characteristic of the Industrial situation. Mercantile defaults disclose no tendency toward an increasing ratio, and, in addition to cheaper money than a year ago, there is added strength in leading products and distribution.

The improvement which sot In with the advent of seasonable weather has been well sustained. Retail trade reached the highest activity for the year thus far, aud there was stronger demand in the jobbing branches on more liberal orders from the Northwest and the Southwest. In the manufacturing branches there is steady employment, with gain in output appearing in steel, machinery and woodworking lines.

“Grain shipments, 1,794,172 bushels, are the best in the past few weeks, but are 40.03 per cent under those a year ago. Buying of breadstuffs has shown better within the last few days, and, while flour is weak, prices advanced in wheat 2 cents a bushel, oats fiveeighths of a cent and corn one-half cent. Live stock receipts, 321,553 head, compare with 285,201 head for the previous week and 244,953 head a year ago. Choice cattle were in best demand and advanced 15 cents a hundredweight. Heavy sheep reacted from recent high figure and shrunk 35 cents, while hogs declined 7% cents.

New York.

Somewhat better’‘retail distribution has followed improvement in tempera-

ture, but it came too late to recover any large part of the tardy season’s injury to spring trade. Quiet conditions are noted in practically all lines of wearing apparel, with the exception of specialties, such as tan shoes, that cannot be delivered with sufficient rapidity. The percentage of idle factories has Increased, especially in textiles and footwear, and a change in style has rendered unavailable much silk machinery. Structural work is increasing. Recovery in the iron and steel industry is again retarded by the unexpected dissolution of the Ore Association. Fuel conditions are unchanged, antnraeite continuing active, while coke and bituminous coal are dull and wCalc. ■ ' After last week’s exceptionally heavy transactions it was natural that the Western hide markets should become inactive. Prices remain firm, however.