Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Chicago. increased volume of — bank exchanges, business activity has made good progress, notwithstanding hindrances due to very hot weather. Local trade conditions were much improved in the better demand for seasonable apparel, causing rapid reduction of stocks in leading retail lines, and the formal abandonment of the teamsters’ strike. The u-eek brought with it other developments of direct importance, notably the revival in buylbg of basic iron, together with a higher average cost in metals, lumber, building material, hides and grain. In none of these commodities is the supply under normal and advanced prices reflect expanding consumption.

Grain "transactions were lessened in the cash divisions, but futures invited more activity from the conflietifig nature of crop reports, and strong manipulation controlled the current option in wheat. Dealings in flour have been limited and millers defer definite plans to increase • production. The total quantity of grain handled reached 6,754,272 bushels, of which the receipts aggregated 3,882,390 bushels, against 2,520,015 bushels for corresponding week last year, and the shipments were 2,871,882 bushels, against 2,484,479 bushels.

The demand for provisions was well maintained and prices advanced. Receipts of live stock, 272,502 head, compared with 133,051' head a year ago, when the packing houses were affected by strike trouble. Compared with the closings a week ago prices are higher, in wheat o%c a bushel, corn l%c, oats 14c, pork 25c per barrel. Failures in Chicago district number 18, against 20 last week and 2S a year ago.—Dun's Review of Trade.

” r~| A widespread hot wave mV YOrk. bus retarded distributive ■“~~trade and interfered with manufacturing industry, but has stimulated crop growth and thereby strengthened the outlook for fall trade. Retail trade in summer goods has been benefited by the beat, as has also summer resort business. Wholesale and jobbing trade is of good volume, considering the weather, and compares well with a year ago. Confidence in fall trade is unimpaired, and there is a more liberal tendency in placing fall orders. Manufacturing is more active than usual at this time. Money has been remarkably easy for this season of the year, considering the nearness of crop moving requirements. Railway earnings are favorable, those for the first half of July showing 7 per cent gain on 1904. The industrial situation is on the whole very favorable, labor being well‘employed and especially scarce a$ the South. The Chicago teamsters’ strike has ended in defeat for the men, the cost in lost wages being $1,000,000, while the employers are said to have lost $12,000,000. Business failures in the Uuited States for the week ending July 20 number 165, against 106 last week, 190 in the like week of 1904, 183 in 1903, 178 in 1902 and 199 in 1901. In Canada failures for the week number 22, as against 20 last week and 10 in this week a year ago.—Bradstreet's Commercial Report.