Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1906 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

“ More seasonable weathCIIIC3QO. er aids the progress of trade. Developments are conspicuous in the building lines, the heavy work bn hand being expedited owing tQ the rapid accumulation of new undertakings for this year, the latter including various large structures for mercantile purposes. Lower temperature stimulated a better disposition of heavy winter clothing, making retail stocks less burdensome. Other leading retail depart- ( ;ments report sales comparing favorably with those of a year ago, the buying being much helped by large numbers of visitors at this time. Country merchants made liberal selections in the wholesale lines, and bookings for early delivery have grown in the aggregate for dry goods staples, and there is some improvement in clothing, woolens and furniture. The general outlook for spring .trade maintains encouraging features, and this gives strength to the market for textile fabrics. Money appears to be in ample circulation in the agricultural sections, crop reports are good and mercantile collections reasonably prompt.

Commodity movements, as indicated by earnings of Chicago railroads, show no diminution in the tonnage volume, all classes of freight contributing. The total quantity of grain handled at this port aggregated 8,860,429 bushels, against 7,491,703 bushels last -week, and 5,463,826 bushels a year ago. Yearly comparisons show an increase in receipts of 40.3 per cept, and in shipments of 106 per cent. Other receipts gained, in flour, oats, barley, seeds,_ broom corn, lard, butter, eggs, cattle, hogs and sheep, but declined in wheat,corn, rye, wool, dressed beef and cheese. Hide arrivals were 3,270,414 pounds, agpinst 2,478,649 pounds last week and 37375,052 pounds in 1905. Total live stock receipts, 361,477 head, compared with 386,284 Lead last week and 321,377 head a year ago. Lumber receipts rose to 33,470,000 feet, a considerable gain as compared with the 29,864,000 feet last week and 24,231,000 feet in 1905. Bank clearings, $213,507,843, exceed those of corresponding week in 1905 by 6.9 per cent. Failures reported in Chicago district against twenty-five last week and twenty-four a year ago.—Dun's Review of Trade.

New York.

Reports as to spring jobbing trade are of a very favorable character

and more seasonable weather has stimulated some lines of retail trade. Shipments of finished products of manufacture are of enormoHs ypluine and mills are still pushed to fill orders previously booked. Railroad earning returns indicate that January was the most active month ever experienced by the companies, gross receipts showing a gain of 20 per cent over last year. Reports as to winter wheat are satisfactory as a whole. Against these favorable features are to be cited the disquieting influences of predictions and preparations for a general coal strike, possibly involving 500,000 men. It is also to be noted that the mild weather has caused an accumulation of retail stocks of heavy clothing, shoes and kindred products and eliminated reorder business from jobbing hands, though western reports speak of possible carried-over stocks being quite well reduced, considering weather conditions. Business failures in the United States for the week ending Feb. 8 number 204, against 228 last week, 207 in the like week of 1905, -202 in 1904, 217 in 1903 and 265 in 1902. In Canada failures for the week number 27, as against 24 last week and 26 in this week a year ago.—Bradstreet’s Commercial Report.