Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

~ Dun’s weekly review of ClllCap. Chicago trade says: Agri- — cultural advices generally have shown agreement that crop conditions improved very satisfactorily and the outlook thereby lost much of its uncertainty. This has induced a more confident feeling and stimulated activity throughout the interior, where merchandising had been sluggish. Local developments were somewhat mixed. The tie-up of lake commerce and x partly suspended building operations, both due to labor controversies, occasioned some interruption. Shipments of grain, 2,019,456 bushels, are the largest in the past three weeks, but are only one-half the total at this time last year. Demand improved for flour without changing price, and, although export needs were light, there was better demand for the coarse grains. Compared with the closings a week ago oats gained seveneighths of a cent per bushel. Wheat on liberal offerings declined 1% cents, and corn lost one-fourth of a cent. Live stock receipts, 239,345 head, compare with 248,381 head a year ago. Trade in choice sheep showed moderate recovery and an advance of 10 cents a hundredweight. Heavy cattle were in lessened request and declined 10 cents. Hogs suffered a fractional loss, although the supply was diminished. Failures reported in the Chicago district number thirty, against twentyone in the previous week and eighteen in the corresponding week of 1903.

"7 „ , Special dispatches td N6V IOFK. the International Mercantile Agency indicate that general trade is picking up throughout the West and South. Eastern business also has been stimulated except in the New England States, where depression incident to the general closing of cotton mills is having marked effect. Most of the improvement is ascribed to more seasonable weather and the belief that underlying conditions are sound, with prospects of good fall orders. Territory adjacent to Omaha shows strong jobbing trade, with good restocking orders and excellent demand for spring goods. Although mindful of the possible setbacks of a Presidential election year, merchants are buying with confidence, wholesalers reporting a normal gain compared with last season. Farmers are generally encouraged over the outlook. Receipts of lumber at St. Louis have been large and railroads at that center report improved business during the week. Winter wheat in the Southwest has been helped by more favorable weather. Too much rain in the Northwest has retarded the planting of spring wheat and conditions east of the Mississippi reflect serious damage in the Ohio Valley district, where only half the average yield is expected. Loss of acreage, shown in the government report, is not surprising. It may still be reclaimed if the weather continues good. The St. Paul district reports a larger spring wheat acreage than usual. ...... The outlook in the iron industry is still modified by the attitude of the railroads, which will not buy • under present conditions. One Western system is said to have held back an order for 10,000 cars until after election.