Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1905 — COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL

' rue Business eondliicns have | uGlCdgO. been favorable, and less ’than the usual slowing up at the year end appears in the leading industries. New commitments do not equal recent high records, but there isa satisfactory volume of forward bookings and no diminution in current production and distribution. Mill, furnace and factory outputs exhibit increasing activity, due in part to an effort to overtake old orders. Receipts of iron ore have stopped for the season, but stocks obtained for winter consumption make the greatest tonnage ever stored here. More consideration was given to plans for future construction, and those adopted assure undertakings of unusual magnitude in railway, ship building and factory enlargement, involving enormous outlays during next year. Other encouraging developments appear in building Improvements for mercantile purposes. These factors impart further strength to the future course of trade and support the prevailing advanced cost of materials. Prices this week for raw and finished products were without notable change, except another rise in copper and a slight decline in packer hides. Smaller arrivals of corn affect the total movement of grain at this port, but other movements of commodities and increasing earnings of western railroads testify to a continuance of unprecedented traffic. Retail trade has steadily advanced, the buying being well distributed, and Christmas goods hitherto have apt been so freely bought, indicating that all former records will be largely surpassed. Mercantile defaults are fewer In number, and collections generally make a good exhibit. Bank clearings, $221,045,064, exceed those of the corresponding week in 1904 by 10.2 per cent. Failures reported in the Chicago district number 22, against 34 last week and 26 a year ago.—Dun’s Review of Trade.

Holiday trade has abNev York. sorbed attention this week —— 'and reports from all over the country are unanimous "that all records for this stage of the season have been surpassed. In retail trade proper there is §ome complaint of mild weather retarding sales of heavy clothing and footwear. Wholesale trade is quiet except where liberal reorders for holiday goods have reached jobbers from retailers, 'frhe usual end of the year inventories are being prepared for by first hands, while jobbers are making some special sales of goods adapted to the season. Spring trade reports thus far are satisfactory. Business failures in the United States for the week ending Dec. 14 number 216, against 203 last week, 239 In the like week of 1904, 239 in 1903, 225 in 1902 and 262 in 1901. In Canada failures for the week number 32, as against 31 last week and 37 in this week a year ago.—Bradstreet's Commercial Report.