Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 July 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

"Tj v . Reports to the Internarl6W I Ola. tional Mercantile Agency from commercial centers throughout the United States indicate greater activity in general businesi, especially in the Southwest. This applies to most branches of dry goods, with a good demand for men’s and women’s apparel In light-weight garments. Wholesale houses In the Chicago district report heavy buying for fall delivery, with clothing, dry goeds and shoes In best demand. Advices to that center from tributary points suggest fair interior trade and a promising outlook. These conditions are modified, of course, by disturbances in certain centers where jobbers announce a decrease compared with last year’s orders. The volume of business in the North and Northwest is materially below that of 1903. Here, as elsewhere, the approach of a Presidential election, with the feeling that general trade had slackened, have been effective In restricting operations In various industries. With the generally hopeful feeling about the crops, distribution of merchandise has been expedited affifl sentiment materially improved. Collections are still slow, and in the neighborhood of Baltimore they show a falling off ter the week. In Pennsylvania the same tendency has been felt - St Louis territory shows up well, with active dry-goods trade and heavy orders for fall deliveries. Boots and Bhoes are also in demand, with best qualities selling well. A large business has been done in hats, caps and millinery during the week.

—— R. G. Dun & Co.’a Chicago. weekly review of Chicago —— trade says: The season la now In evidence when trade currents are expected to move more slowly for a brief period. Factory repairs have to be attended to, entailing enforced vacations among workers, and there are labor disputes which require prompt treatment, but there is nothing to indicate that general business will enter upon the last half of the 1 year In any way seriously Impeded. The week’s developments have been important in steel product and jobbing sales, buying in both these branches exhibiting wider activity based upon confidence in the outlook and prospects for increased activity. Crop conditions appear to be most encouraging. Harvesting is rapidly extending with satisfactory results, good prices are readily obtained, and there has been heavier forwarding of flour and provisions. Grain shipments, 2,385,959 bushels, compared with 2,413,942 bushels the previous week aud 4,040,044 bushels a year ago. The absence of demand has been notably apparent, but nevertheless prices disclosed little change, the closings compared with a week ago showing a gain in wheat of 1 cent * bushel and a fractional decline in oats, while corn was steady. Provisions sold freely for both domestic and foreign consumption, and prices again closed hlg«r, In pork 55c a barrel, in ribs 40c ai»Un lard 2714 c. Live stock receipts, 211,727 head, compared with 275,585 head the previous week and 821.890 head a year ago. Failures reported In Chicago district number 10, against 26 last week and 28 a year ago.