Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Chicago. |

The weekly review of Chicago trade, published by R. G. Dun &.Co., says:

Business activity derived some stimulus from the improved weather in the last few days, and a closer approach to normal conditions has brought recovery in distributive lines; but the adverse effects of recent storms and unusually low temperattires-are seen in further lessened marketing of farm products and coal famine at various interior points. Grain and live stock receipts make an unfavorable exhibit, and, though there was much general freight and passenger carrying, railroad earnings present a smaller percentage of gain. These drawbacks, however, now are being rapidly remedied, and it is reassuring that the snowfall provided ample protection to growing crops, the position of wheat and rye being reported good. Leading retail trade quickly revived, and the buying was sharply increased in foodstuffs, apparel and household needs. Visiting merchants arrived in fair numbers, considering the discouragements of travel, and satisfactory progress was made in the jobbing lines, the bookings in dry goods, millinery, clothing and footwear indicating that country requirements for spring deliv-_ ery will be large. Frequent reorders appeared for urgent shipments to several points where winter stocks had fallen low and replenishment was imperative. The demand for groceries and collateral lines was steady, and hardware forwardings for farm use were large. The strike of teamsters having been settled and deliveries assured, trade at the lumber yards again became brisk, material for building purposes here and on the outside being in strong demand. *. Manufacturers had no trouble in getting necessary raw material and fuel, and plants were run steadily, some of them employing more hands. Pig iron sales remained quiet, but there was strengthened demand for rails and other finished forms. Some of the principal factories gradually are working into enlarged productions, and these have bought more freely of supplies. Grain dealings were largely speculative, spot transactions being limited, and aside from a manipulated rise in wheat valuees closed but slightly higher than a week ago. Receipts of grain, 3,059,003 bushels, compared with 4,345,378 bushels for the same week last year, and the shipments aggregated 1,740,748 bushels, against 2,101.679 bushels, the total movement exhibiting a surprising shrinkage. Failures reported in the Chicago district numbered 30, against 24 last week and 33 a year ago.

Ney York.

Bradstreet’s we e k 1 y commercial report says: Cold, stormy weather,

the most severe and widely distributed In some respects of the winter, has had a depressing effect on the trade at wholesale and retail and has disorganized railroad transportation in some sections, interfering with vhrious lines of Industry, such as coal mining,, coke and iron manufacturing and shipping, heretofore active. Relatively theyvorst effects on opening spring trade are noted in the Northwest and West. The result is a curtailment of the activities of salesmen over a wide area which, taken in conjunction with the occurrence of a holiday in ipany States, has reduced the week's trade to very small proportions. Business failures In the United States for the week ended Feb. 16 number 243, against 20" last week. 231 in tile like wegk in 1904. 188 in 1903, 22S in 1902, and 221 in 1901. In Canada failures for the week number 17, against 26-Last wek and 23 in this week a year ago.