Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

* The weekly revieAV of Chjrann Chicago trade, published * by R. G. Dun & Co., says: This period ordinarily is marked by lessened effort in production, stock taking, repairs and fresh plans involving most attention. Commercial developments, however, are seen to car-, ry encouragement upon which to depend for continued ImproA'cment. Reaction in retail activity after the rec-ord-breaking holiday trade was provided for, and its effect was made less apparent by the reneAved demand for seasonable goods induced by stormy weather. The depletion of stocks has been very satisfactory in heavy wearing apparel, household needs and footAvear. Wholesale trade was no lighter than expected, there having been good buying of Avoolens, blankets and men’s furnishings. Orders for spring shipments of dry goods, cotton goods and boots and shoes came fonvard satisfactorily, and country advices reflect steady sales and increasing consumption in staple lines. This makes a firm basis for future jobbing operations. Recent purchases have been discounted to a larger extent than formerly; mercantile collections remain steady, and are attended Avith a smaller proportion of defaults. Western railroad earnings make an improved exhibit over a year ago, and would be larger Avere difficulties of transportation less hindered by snowstorms and lack of cars. Manufactured products of the mills and furnaces are offered in enormous quantities for prompt shipment, and the movement of grain has doubled. Higher prices again appear for iron and steel and building materials show much strength, particularly cement, Avhich lias become dearer. XeAV demands aggregate satisfactory tonnage for rails, wire and pig iron, and railway commitments included many cars and locomotives.

Bradstreet's weekly reNew York. port on the general trade .. ' of the country says: Distributive trade generally is marking time, Avliile past results and future prospects are subjects of consideration. A period of marked, even unexpected, activity in holiday goods of higher than usual quality has bought to a closed a year Avhich, because of marked improvement in the last quarter, has ended Lvtter than- it began, and certainly in far better shape than seemed jrossible at the turn of the year. Wholesale trade is naturally of the lightest at this season of stock taking and Inventory, and stormy weather and the flurry in nnv cotton have been additional chilling influences. Rather less than the usual annual clearing sales have occurred because of tlie notable absence of stocks of finished goods prutsing for sale. Collections slioAv some effect from the recent heavy circulation of money in retail lines in enlarged receipts.

Business failures in the United States for the week ending Dec. 29 number 218, against 249 last Aveek, 209 in the like Aveek in 1903, 202 in 1902, 258 in 1901 and 229 in 1900. In Canada failures for the Aveek number 20, against 37 last Aveek and 18 this Aveek a year ago. ,