Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Chicago. —■ ■

generally maintain encouraging features. Pro-

duction is steady at the highest volume, but surplus supplies of raw and finished material are not in evidence, ahd values exhibit the greatest j strength of recent years. Overtaxed freight capacity testifies to unprecedented distribution of commodities and confidence in the future course of business is seen in the enormous accumulation of forward orders and extensive additions to manufacturing plants in this district soon to be started. Heavy outdoor work makes' rapid headway, and this draws upon labor and material to an upusual extent, the lumber trade and planing mills especially feeling much pressure of needs for prompt delivery. The absorption of iron and steel, machinery, electric— equipment, hardware and farm implements shows healthy expansion, while the demand for leather and fqotwear reaches large proportions and tanners, make liberal shipnients, which cause depletion of stocks carried. Hides continue in exceptional request, and the packinghouses employ augmented forces. November has shown less quiet in retail activity than is usually looked for during that month. Weather conditions remained favorable in the leading departments,! and the buying of winter goods and 1, Christmas novelties has made fine progress. Country reports have a satisfactory tone, general merchandise being freely bought and liberal investment made in farm improvement. Mercantile defaults again are seen to be small in number and amount, and Western collections occasion little comment. Failures reported in the Chicago district number 21, against 27 last week and 24 a year ago.—Dun’s Review of Trade.

“TJ y r - ’ NBI I DTK.

Mild, open weather favors in a higli degree the precedented activity in

all industrial lines, but unfavorably affects retail trade in wearing apparel and retards collections, which also feel the adverse influences of country-wide freight congestion. Evidently, in an effort to avoid trouble from this latter source, holiday trade at wholesale is active beyond all preceding years. In wholesale and jobbing lines the backwardness of retail trade is reflected in slower reorder trade than expected, but confidence in the general outlook is evidenced by the liberal orders reported for spring goods. Perhaps the most marked evidence of confidence the future is found in the metal markets, which display a strength of demand and of prices not usual at this season. Business failures for the week ended Nov. 23 number 224, against IDS last week, 193 in the like week of 1904,' 167 in 1903, 182 in 1902 and 189 in 1901. In Canada failures for the week number forty, as against forty-one last week and forty-one in this week a year ago.—Bradstreet’s Commercial Report.