Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

The weekly review of PhjMnn Chicago trade, published a by R. G. Dun & Co., says: Business conditions exhibit steady progress toward greater activity. Snowstorms early in the week interfered with traffic, but this had slight effect and was quickly overcome, especially in holiday merchandising, sales within the last few days having attained unusually l»rge proportions. Other branches exhibit increased distribution, and in some lines extra effort in production is necessary to meet growing demands. Larger deliveries appear in grain, and railroad earnings reflect further gain in operations. Bank clearings maintain a high average, money is in more extended use and mercantile settlements remain satisfactory, while commercial defaults again make favorable comparison with those a year ago. Current buying is most active in heavy wear goods, boots and shoes and Christmas novelties. Late requests indicate that there has been gratifying reduction of both country and city retail stocks, and it is notable of present buying that discounting of bills, is of frequent recurrence. Western advices generally report favorable prospects for the jobbing interests, factories being steadily employed, and the farming classes able to spend freely foi their needs. Breadstuffs closed under revived demand, although export buying was very moderate. Wheat advanced 1 cent a bushel, but corn declined I’/y cents. Provisions were in lessened foreign need, and values suffered a slight decline. Live stock were in ample supply, and reached the highest average values this season. Bank clearings, $200,985,634, are 12.8 per cent over those of same week last year. Failures reported in the Chicago district numbered 26, against 25 last week and 31 a year ago.

Bradstreet’s report on Nev York. the general condition of 0 the country is as follows: Crop and industrial conditions are mainly favorable, and with seasonable activity in retail and holiday distri button in most sections the year is drawing to its close with a decidedly cheerful tone in most lines of business. Cold weather has stimulated , heavy dry goods, clothing and footwear and helped reorder business with jobbers Railway earnings for November show gains in gross exceeding 9 per cent, following an increase of 4 per cent in 1903, and rendering certain the prospect that the early small decrease shown in gross receipts for the calendar year will be turned into an increase. Business failures in the United States for the week ending Dec. J 5 number 239, against 231 last week, 239 in the like week in 1903, 225 in 1902, 262 in 1901, and 262 in 1900. In Canada failures for the week number 37, against 23 last w’eek and 22 in this week a year ago.