Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

The weekly review of Chicago. Chicago trade, published —— by R. G. Dun & Co., says: Bank exchanges, although of smaller aggregate than those during the preceding weeks, present the largest comparative gain recorded this month. Another gratifying feature is found In the commercial mortality, the number of failures and total liabilities being smaller than a year ago and the lowest with one exception within the last quarter. These factors encourage confidence in the business outlook. As expected, severe cold and snowstrorns interfered with the distribution of commodities and complaints nre frequent of delayed deliveries and difficulty in marketing grain, but Western railroads thus far exhibit little decline in earnings. Manufacturing has made steady progress in tire output, and new demands in lending brunches provide much work for future completion. Impovemeut has continued in the orders for heavy machinery, hardware, electric and brass product. Ralls and oars were again contracted for to a large extent. Furnace production has been augmented to meet pressing needs of melters, but there is no appreciable accumulation of supplies, and current commitments represent a fair tonnage, mainly for delivery in the third quarter. Woodworkers obtained further orders and furniture makers report better export trade. Lumber dealings were active at very firm values. Receipts reached 31,207,000 feet, a large gain over those of both last week and a year ago. New construction plans Involve the consumption of building materials in greitt quantities and prices are strengthening. Distributers of general merchandise report the markets well attended by early buyers. Mercantile collections in the Middle West occasion little adverse comment. Bank clearings, $177,977,140, are 12.6 per cent over those of a year ago. Failures reported in Chicago district number twenty-four, ngainst thirtyone last week and twenty-eight a year ago.

Bradstreet’s weekly reNev York. port of the country’s gen———u -J eral trade conditions is as follows: Inclement weather has retarded distributive trade, railway traffic and some forms of production throughout a wide area. The result Is some Irregularity in the reports from different sections. The Northwest sends relatively the best reports in advices that spring business Is in excess of a year ago, and It is to be noted that the Northwest shows an improvement over recent rather depressed conditions. The cold weather, however, has accentuated the dullness at the South, growing out of lower cotton prices, nnd brought business and collections down to a low ebb as compared with the exceedingly prosperous conditions ruling a year ago at this time. The Eastern seaboard has felt the chief force of the storm in interrupted railway and street car traffic and reduced nfrTvals of country produce, and caused a partial suspension of coal mining and shipping. This is a seasonable visitation, however, and has been rallied from quickly. Business failures In the Unite! States for the week ending Jan. 26 number 228. against 304 last week, 242 in the like week last year, 230 in 3003. 303 In 1002 and 238 in 1001. In Canada failures for the week number forty-three,as against thirty-seven last Week and eighteen in this week a year ago.