Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 110, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Chicaga |

An increasing move- - ment of commodities and heavier dealings at

tlie banks reflect larger volume of business. There are, however, Irregular conditions operating against the possibility of general activity, and it is unfortunate that these dominate the industrial situation, causing considerable idle capacity’ and loss of earnings. Notwithstanding the adverse effect of labor disputes, it is gratifying to find that retail trade is showing seasonable enlargement. Reports indicate that in botli city and country stocks of merchandise a steady reduction is going on, opening the way for early replenishment. The latter has been much stimulated in fall lines, buyers having appeared in greater number than during last week. Transactions covered a wider variety of goods, and while caution was exercised In the selections made, there were also many liberal orders, the aggregate making favorable comparison with a year ago. Recent unfavorable crop news does not appear to have adversely affected buying to the extent that had been feared. It is generally conceded that needs for the Interior are quite large, and merchants are consequently anticipating trade Improvement. Current transactions exhibit gain In the Important dry goods branches, in footwear and food products. The millinery and dross goods Season opened up auspiciously, and more demand is noted for high grade furniture, carpets and ware. Mercantile collections made a good showing on country bills and were a little easier locally. Farm products are being moved in heavy volume to market, but the high price to consumers has lessened the demand, and shipments from this poiut, 3,308,177 bushels, are 10.8 per cent under those a y r ear ago. Compared witli the closings a week ago, corn advanced Vi cent a bushel, but declines are seen in wheat % cent and oats % cent. Failures reported In the Chicago district number 20, against 28 last week and 20 a year ago.

Hey York.])

Further expansion in fall trade is noted at leading centers, and the

last week In August lias seen the largest business done since the opening of the season. Crops have made fair progress. Collections have been nothing to boast of—backward, in fact. Failures were more numerous in August than iu July in nearly all sections, and a few’ large suspensions of manufacturing concerns have swelled liabilities beyond those in August a year ago. Railway earnings show slight gains over last year. The industrial outlook is still unsettled. Efforts to revive tin* dying meat strike by extending it to independent bouses have caused some irregularity or uncertainty in the market for live stock and for meats, General price reductions of live animals are a feature. Some more resumptions of industrial operations are noted in different sections. The general tone of labor affairs is one of irritation. Business failures in the United States for the week ending Sept. 1 number ISO, against 185 last week, 1(52 in the like week in 1903, 133 in 1902, 1.(59 in 1901 and 154 in 1900. In Canada failures for the week number 17, against 20 last week and 18 in this week a year ago.—Bradstreet’s.