Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1906 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

IT; i Trade generally derived IfiiCilp: j added strength from tbe " 1 government report confirming previous estimates of an unprecedented corn crop. Production in the leading industries.exhibits no diminution, and the outlook is made satisfying by the enormous volume of accumulated forward work agyl well sustained current demands. Local construction „ shows seasonable progress, but new building enterprises exceed in value those-of a year ago, indicating that iimprovements will furnish much steady work throughout the winter. ■ 11l wholesale aud jobbing departments expectations are fully realized,-, the orders for staple goods being tbe greatest in both value and variety this market has ever known. High tempernatures caused interference with expanding retail- activity, but the aggregate sales have maintained favorable comparison with the volume <of corresponding week last year. Despite. increasing transportation facilities difficulty In obtaining prompt deliveries has become more widespread, but, while this drawback is annoying to shippers, it testifies to the remarkable expansion of freight offerings. Traffic movements by lake are seen to be of swelling tonnage, while the earnings of Chicago railroads run far ahead of those in 1905. Money rates have risen to the highest point this year, but does uot hinder legitimate business commitmeirts, and mercautile collectionsmake a good showing. Iron and steel producers have not yet reached a position which permits easing of pressure upon capacity, though structural mills can make more prompt (Tel: very than at any time this season. Surplus ore readily brings more than the contract price, and furnace product maintains the advance recently established, without any lessening of ..bookings for output during next spring, while fair tonnages are entered in rails, plates, merchant iron and wire.

Failures reported in the Chicago district number 25, against 17 last week and 18 a year ago.—Dun’s Review ol Trade. ~ ~j | Trade, crop and indusN6W York. ] trial reports are still almost uniformly favorable. An immense business is doing in the West and Southwest, Southern jobbingtrade shows-expansion, and inability to get adequate supplies of many lines of goods is the main subject of complaint at Eastern markets. September, like August, appears to be scoring heavy gains over the corresponding month a year ago. Official crop reports confirm previous public and private advices of very large if not record yields, but price and traffic conditions are a bar to free movement. Car shortages are no longer subjects of speculation, but are an accomplished fact, and terminal facilities are also unequal to the strain. Money is rather easier, especially at the East, where large gold imports on special terms have weakened rates. Collections are in the main rather easier, although a few south Atlantic markets note delay, due to cotton crop uncertainties.-—Bradstreet’s Commercial Report.