Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 133, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1904 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

p The weekly review Phipann of Chicago trade, pub- » lished by R. G. Dun & Co., says: Bank deposits and clearing-house exchanges are largely ahead of those a year ago, and for the first time in local history both simultaneously record their greatest volume. While official statements disclose ample cash resources, there are Indications that money is now working into better general demand, and the discount rate •soon may advance from its present minimum. Trade has fully sustained recent favorable developments. Heavy distribution of manufactures continued and freight tonnage gained but while the weather was good for shopping it held too mini for a satisfactory disposition of seasonable retail wares. Wholesale shipments of staples and holiday lines to Interior points made a good aggregate. Late buying has been well maintained for the country, and city merchants bought more freely, most of the demands including dry goods, millinery, men’s furnishings, woolens and food products. Demand for jewelry, silverware and smokers’ articles showed a moderate gain. Orders for reassortments were of limited extent, but discounting of bills purchased was frequent and mercantile collections generally were reasonably prompt. Operations in grain were influenced by poor outside buying and heavy Argentine shipments. Forwarding from this port was only 2,674,327 bushels, a decrease of 37 per ceut as compared with corresponding week last year. Values suffered a sharp decline, corn being weakest and closing 5 cents a bushel under a week ugo. Provisions were in fair request, but producers made liberal offerings and quotations ruled slightly under last week’s. ReI ceipts of live stock, 301,071 head, fell considerably short of those a year ago. Sheep brought an advance of 15 cents a hundredweight, while hogs and choice beeves both declined 20 cents. Failures reported in Chicago disTrict numbered twenty-five, against twentytwo last week and thirty-four a year ago. Bradstreet’s weekly NPV Yfirk re P ort 0,1 tra^e condlcountry says: Reports from the great basic industries are more favorable and wliole--1 sale and jobbing trade in holiday and [ spring goods displays a more confident i tone. Interior buyers appear more 1 willing to stock up, and are meeting with fair success, despite the fact that unseasonable weather, activity in fall i farm work aud some holding back by ! farmers retards retail trade aiul collections in the West and Northwest. Cold weather at the East and seasonable conditions at the South induce better reports as to distribution from those sections. Trade generally is showing gains over corresponding periods a year ago, and the aggregate year’s business in most lines will make better comparisons than at one time seemed i>ossible. Money displays remarkable ease, crop moving necessities are about satisfied and a return flow from the country is apparently in sight. Gross railway earnings show a tendency to increase lute gains aud to swell earnings for the year to totals above those of 1903.