Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1906 — COMMERCIAL AN FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AN FINANCIAL

Chicago.

Trade returns indicate that the- turn into the new year was made with

little hiferfercn.ee to production. Anwcll advanced with brief loss of time, and the activities generally progress under the encouraging influence of a promislng-Tmtlonk: TTtces~of Ttll~Taw materlal sustain die high level recently attained, and bid fair to maintain continued firmness. . linportant .cbmmltmeuts already have been closed la manufacturing branches and new business structures, while inquiries show that lieavy orders impend in iron and steel departments, rolling stock and railroad construction. Wholesale lines have accumulated bookings of spring staples, which compare favorably with the aggregate a year ago, especially in best grades of dry goods, clothing, footwear and household needs. Interior advices reflect enlarged sales last year' stud satisfactory reduction of stocks, suggesting that replenishment will be upon a liberal scale. Retail dealings now arc .mainly confined to clearances, the more winterlike weatbel 8 inducing a fuller disposition of warm apparel. Mercantile collections continue to show up well, heavy defaults being unusually small In number. ‘ January interest disbursements reached the - ' largest total hitherto known, and this created much activity in banking circles. . The payments released a considerable volume of funds. With this ‘also appears increasing returns from the agricultural sections. These features favor increasing deposits here, hot the demand for money, lias not subsided, and the discount rate for all desirable loans is unchanged at 0 per cent, long datings being preferred; : ——------■■■ ■ ; ■ Failures reported in the Chicago district number twenty-five, against nineteen last week and twenty seven a year ago.—Dun's Review of Trade.

New York.

While unseasonable weather adversely affects retail trade and reorders.

from wholesalers ItTrt-the same time highly favors the leading industries and outdoor activities and facilitates railway transport. Spring trade really shows rather more than usual life, requests for prompt shipments being in evidence earlier than usual. Clearance sales are a feature of retail lines and the season as a whole in heavy wearing apimrel BSg been so fair fflsnppointing. Collections North and West feel this influence likewise. Bank clearings break all records for a holiday period, reflecting heavy end of the year disbursements and stock speculation. December was perhaps the best month of 1905 for the railways, with an indicated gain of 12 per cent over December, 1904.

Business failures in the United States for the week ending Jan. 4. 1906, number 220, against 212 last week. 27S in the like week of 1905, 262 in 1904, 336 in 1903 and 346 in 1902. In Canada failures for the week number 22, ns against 18 last week and 40 In this week a year ago.—Bradstreet’s Commercial Report.