Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

j The absence of specuiaCulC3l]o. | tive operations is conspic- — Luous and is a testimony to the healthy basis upon which current business progresses. While net interest returns are too low for bond buyers, as contrasted WUb the present value of money, considerable investment is seen in reaity and Improvements, together with more activity iu local securities, indicating confidence in the stability of affairs. Bank exchanges invariably’reflcct an accurate approximation of the city's commercial activity, and, despite higher discount rates, it is noteworthy that the totals for both September and this week excel all previous corresponding periods. While prices for the leading raw materials are high and to some extent evince further hardening, the prevailing tone remains encouraging, conditions generally being strongly supported tire volume of forward demands, which assures steady employment well into next year. Retail traffic has made seasonable expansion. Fall expositions never before were more artistically presented by the State street stores, and with unusually brilliant weather their attractiveness drew enormous throngs. Many visiting buyers made good purchases in the principal jobbing lines, less diminution in sales appearing than was expected, considering the exceptional demands of last month. Satisfactory bookings occurred In dry goods, •clothing, footwear and woolens and the demand improved for furniture. Mercantile collections in the Middle West make a good showing, and country store trade is doing well in the lieavy lines and farm needs. Shipping rooms have remained quite busy, resulting in freight offerings surpassing all previous experience of the Western roads. Other freight movements, particularly of iron and steel, are unprecedented. Failures reported in the Chicago district number twenty-nine, against thirty-two last week and twenty-seven a year ago.—Dun’s Review of Trade.

Tj y ! While not so active as NSW IOrK. in recently preceding weeks, the volume of trade still exceeds expectations. Contributing to this are better reports from retail lines, necessitating reorders of seasonable goods, fall festivals, enlarging crop movement, and a continued immense turnover iu industrial lines. Undiminished activity is witnessed in the iron trade, demand for crude and finished products surpassing previous years at this period. Higher levels of future cost, particularly as to coke and ore, confront these trades. Collections for the country as a whole are good. Something like a downward swing in prices of agricultural products is iu evidence this week, a result of the pressure of new large crops of fine quality, which augurs for lower prices of feeding stuffs and cheaper cost of meat production in the coming winter. Wheat, including flour, exports for the week ending Oct. 5, are 1,072,642 bushels, against 2,064,932 last week. 1,105,928 this week last year, 2,378.722 in 1903, and 5,645,779 in 1002. From July 1 to date the exports are 17,099,375 bushels, against 18,548,711 last year, 42,676,084 iu 1903, and 71,525,492 in 1902.—Bradstreet’s Commercial Report.