Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1905 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

Chicago. 11

Bank exchanges, the measure of trade, usually are expected to reflect

some growth during December, but the total this week is doubly interesting in that it largely exceeds the corresponding week last year and makes a new high record for this city. This evidence of progress is not weakened by any present or approaching indication of diminution in activity. Iron and steel production shows unexampled cohesion; ore never before was more eagerly secured against future needs, and prices of both raw and finished materials have acquired exceptional firmness, notwithstanding the Vapidity of recent advances. This situation is not surprising when it is considered that the leading producers are away behind their orders and that capacity will be taxed to the limit well Into next year. Operations in the distributive branches continue to be of unprecedented volume. The lack of adequate transporting facilities has become a subject of greater anxiety with the close of lake navigation. Bank clearings, $236,116,527, exceed those of corresponding week in 19C44 by 12.7 per cent. Failures reported in the Chicago district number 34, against 22 last week »nd 25 a year ago.—Dun's Review of Trade.

[New York. |<

Holiday trade, begun earlier than usual, promises to break all records,

but retail trade in seasonable goods, reflecting the irregular weather, flucturtes in volume. The wholesale trade notes a quietness as the stock-taking >eriod approaches, but spring sales rontinue encouraging. Industries remain active, iron and steel and building in all its branches especially so. In the textile trades activity is still a feature. The recent large advance in rotton and talk of 15 cents for the balmce of the crop is a disturbing element in future business. Business failures for the week ending Dec. 7 number 203, against 188 last ivee, 231 in the like week of 1904, 241 in 1903, 247 in 1902 and 223 in 1901. (n Canada failures this week number !1, against 25 last week and 23 in this week a year ago.—Bradstreet's Commercial Report