Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Chicago.;.

Dun's weekly review of Chicago trade says: The business situa-

tion generally presents additional evidence of reviving activity, collections show improvement and the defaults are of slight Significance. Gold exports and heavy operations In Wall street stocks attract some attention, but are devoid of direct bearing upon financial conditions here. While money is in ample supply to meet local demands, the maintenance of the prevailing cost Is diie to normal causes, most commercial banks being well loaned up and awaiting requirements of the approaching corn movement, which will involve employment of considerable. funds. Weather conditions were more favorable to steady sales throughout the retail trade. Wholesale dealings maintained the recent large aggregate. There was better buying of cotton goods, carpets and furniture, other selections being well distributed among the seasonable lilies. Heavy distribution on country and city orders for prompt shipment of . necessities and more discount sales are features of the current transactions in the jobbing district. Industrial concerns busy on present demands are steadily increasing in number, while new business is making headway, although there is no pronounced rush for requirements, except materials immediately wanted in the construction of new buildings, many of which are now being pushed forward to early completion.

Nsv York,

Bradstreet’s weekly report on the general trade of the country la

ns follows: Cooler weather has helped retail trade at the West and South. This Is' reflected in some reorder busle ness from jobbers and wholesalers, whose trade while steady, and bette* than fast year at this date, is not entirely up to expectations. This is possibly due in a measure to the close proximity of election, which is credited in a few reports with holding hack some business. The industries give quite satisfactory reports, iron In its cruder forms leading, with active demand at advancing prices. Seasonable conditions help the coal industry, but lack of water' In the coke regions and the same trouble In eastern streams tends to restrict some manufacturing operations. Collections as a whole are classed as good, being relatively best at the South. Railway earnings for the first half of October will run over 0 per cent ahead of those of 1903. There still appear unmistakable signs that caution and conservatism have not lost their value as yet, and that these qualities still weight the teudency toward optimism noted in recently preceding weeks. Features in this week’s dispatches arc the good reports from leading Western centers ns to retail trade. Eastern shoe manufacturers are well employed on late fall orders. Leather is firmer, and some upper leather has been advanced one-half cent per pound. Boston reports demand for cotten goods at first hands retarded by the .recent drop In raw material. Woolen goods have not sold as well as expected. Raw wool is less active at the East, but firmly held for what supplies are available. Anthracite coal is in rather better shape. Bituminous also Is picking up.