Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1906 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

~~ ’ The general course of trade maintains an en—'couraging tone, the leading industries exhibiting well rounded activity and the distributive branches having increasing demands for the .principal seasonable, staples. Special efforts are made to rush new construction, tbe accumulation for this year being unusually extensive and assuring . much continuous employment. Factory production is better distributed than, a year ago, this condition causing a heavier drawing upon raw material and prices of tbe latter maintained firipness, although the average of cost stands high, particularly in the metals and wood. Retail trade has made a satisfactory aggregate and less apprehension is felt as,,to the extent of heavy wearing apparel to be carried over. The wholesale markets are largely attended by 'buyers, the number froin the interior being much ahead of last year. Dealings in staple goods have moved forward to a large aggregate and all indications point to the heaviest trade ever done in spring merchandise. Personal buying is strongly supplemented by heavy nmtt orilers' goods, footwear, men's furnishings, and headwear and there Is also steady buying of-hardware, and carpets. Shipping departments are doing extra work, many of the bookings being marked for early forwarding. Advices from the country create a good impression as to business conditions. Fann reports show winter wheat and rye to be well protected and there are prep--arations under way -for - the early resumption of cultivation. “ Failures reported in Chicago district number twenty-nine, against twentytwo last week, and thirty a year ago.— Dun’s Review of Trade. y rTj ~ ’ Springlike weather i NOV YOFu. stimulates jobbing distrf- ' ~ bution, including a larger vSfiime of house trade and also helping retail business in spring and summer fabrics. Shipments on orders are heavier than ever beforl, and no complaints of freight congestion are heard. At practically all points an early and long spring season Is predicted. At the same time there is an air of conservatism as to the more distant future, due mainly to the larger stocks of winter iroods carripfi ovpr miri alko Hpcauap of the recent drop in raw cotton, making buyers for next season cautious in placing orders. Like conditions are noted in the leading industries. Business failures in the United States for the week ending Feb. 22 number 185, against 208 last week, 220 in the like week of 1905, 200 in 1904, 185 in 1903, find 204 in 1902—Bradstreet’s Commercial Report. *