Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

~ The new high level LulGflQO. genera] business has at- — tamed is strongly outlined by the current volume of bank exchanges. The latter for November exceeds those of the corresponding month last year, and a comparison of the twenty-four working days in November with the twenty-six working days of October exhibits an average gain of close upon two and a half million dollars daily for the month just closed. This present progress may be entirely credited to industrial efforts, the usual speculative channels being comparatively quiet. remains at the highest value this year, but there Is slight prospect of a cheaper rate for mercantile needs while railroad blockades delay grain remittances. The course of trade discloses no developments this week aside from further commitments which add strength. Prices display exceptional strength in both raw material and finished products. Chicago pig iron at S2O a ton and bar iron at S4O reflect an excess of demand over supply in this market. Other quotations showing advances appear in grain, provisions and live stock, while recent appreciations are firmly upheld in lumber, hides and leather. OperationsJn textiles are affected by disturbing estimates of cotton growth and high wool values, yet the interior buying for spring delivery compares well with a year ago. Seasonable weather gave an impetus to distributive trade, and the general demand again drew sharply upon shipping facilities. The absorption of household needs and heavy apparel has been large, and gratifying retail sales 2Sftsg..ln foqtwgav-and ChPlgjroaagoods. Failures reported in the Chicago district number 22, against 21 last week and 25 a year ago.—Dun’s Review of Trade.

Mild weather retarded New York. retail trade early in the week, except in holiday supplies, the wide-spread cold wave later offered a needed corrective and stimulus to the only lines hitherto backward. Weather conditions now are likely to bring the long continued season for outdoor work to a close, and especially affect the building trades, which have had the most active year in their history. Something like seasonable quiet is reported in many lines of wholesale trade, but it is noted that jobbers and manufacturers are still very busily engaged on holiday goods, some lines of which are already reported oversold, indicating that a record year’s business will be garnered. All reports as to spring trade are satisfactory, but hitherto mild weather and car congestion are responsible for reports of rather backward trade and of slow collections In the Northwest. Business failures for the week ending Nov. 30 number 185, against 224 last week, 184 in the like week of 1904, 239 in 1903, 183 in 1902 and 237 in 1901. In Canada failures for the week number 25, as against 40 last week, and 2G In this week a year ago.—Bradstreet’s Commercial Report.