Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 114, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Chicago.

Dun’s Weekly review of Chicago trade says: The recently noted improved

tone has been well sustained, more confidence being drawn from the steadily increasing demand and widening consumption. A heavier movement appears in farm products and general, merchandise, while a larger output is being made in several manufacturing lines. In planning ’for future activity employers of large forces exhibit hopefulness, and, while many’ car workers are idle, full resumption In steel and packing industries added thousands to the ranks of wage-earnersL Money is cheaper than at this time last year, and an improved borrowing demand reflects a closer return‘to normal conditions among producers. Iron and steel Interests are booking more satisfactory orders and* many building Jmprevements strengthen the market for lumber, hardware and other material. A satisfactory volume is recorded in both jobbing and retail branches. Thermal conditions were favorable to continued reduction of stocks throughout the Interior. There was good buying of dry goods, house furnishings and footwear, dealings being re-enforced by numerous country merchants from various sections. New business closed In staples for fall delivery made a favorable comparison with a year ago. Markets for breadstuff's were again largely Influenced by speculative features, resulting in higher prices for wheat and flour. Compared with . the closings last week wheat advanced 6 cents, but the coarse grains show little change, corn being only fractionally lower. Grain shipments, 4-,191,731 bushels, are the largest this year, although falling short of a year ago, 9.4 per cent. Provisions disclose slight recessions in value, but live stock on improved buying became dearer, choice beeves advancing 25 cents and hogs 15 cents a hundredweight. Bank clearings, 8171,392,622, are 1-4 per cent over the corresponding week last year. The general demand for money has shown more strength, and few loans were negotiated under 5 per cent discount

New York.

According to Bradstreet’s, while there are diverse movements In do-

mestic and foreign trade, the tendency as a whole is for improvement along conservative lines. Buoyancy in the stock market, possibly largely manipulated, and the strength of cereal prices are factors stimulating to trade, but the advance of the fall season, with cooler weather tn some sections, and the prospect of 'good returns to the agricultural interests, despite the heavy shortage in the wheat yield, are all elements tending to encourage buying. The feeling in many lines is that as the season advances and the corn crop situation becomes clearer the need of additional re-orders will result in a fair volume of trade, comparing better with fajl business a year pgo than did last spring’s trade with the corresponding period of 1903. Business failures in the United States for the week- Sept. 15 number 167, against 144 last week, 170 in the like week in 1903, 182 in 1902, 158 in 1901 and 183 in 1900. In Canada failures for the week number 28, as against 14 last year.