Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1907 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

CHICAGO. Favorable developments of the past few days are most conspicuous in money, the return of currency from the West being of increased volume, and the failure record' Including none of special significance. Leading branches of production started up promptly without an indication of diminished activity. *• 1 ‘ , ■ .In iron and «teel there i» tlie i>ressure - of an unprecedented accumulation of tonnage booked for deliveries-running well Toward late fall, pig iron and rails making an exceptional showing as to assured forward work. Specifications for structural shapes compare favorablyin extent witli those of a year ago, due to increased car and shipbuilding needs. • . - - A slight decline in quotations for hides is not accompanied by Jailing, off in demand for leather, consumers of which remain btisy, especially on footwear, belting and novelties. Improvement in receipts of" lumber is maintained, but prices hold firmly. Distributive lines are yet handicapped by difficulties arising from inadequate railroad facilities, and this may interfere with plans.to make early forwarding of spring merchandise. Cyders coming forward reflect a fair demand for the principal textiles, boots and shoes, clothing and hardware. Interior advices testify to enlarged sales effected last year. Country stocks are well reduced and the conditions satisfactory for liberal purchases of new goods. Leading retail lines in the city require colder weather to .make rapid January clearing sales. Failures reported in the Chicago district numbered 29, against 17 last week and 25 a year ago.—Dun’s Review of Trade.

NEW YORK. Quiet prevails in distributive trade, but industrial lines were never so active at this season. Post holiday and weather conditions affect both wholesale and retail trade, the latter line noting slackness in demand for heavy wearing apparel. Clearance sal s by jobbers have cleaned up stocks, which were at no time burdensome, and many Cities report retailers already h.-giilning to stimulate sales in winter goods by cut prices*.' Business failures in the UnJed States for the week ending Jan. 3 number 185, against 161 last veek, 220 in the like week of 1906. 278 in 1995, 292 in 1904 and 336 in 1903. Canadian failures for the week number 16, as against 18 last week and 32 <n 1406. Wheat, including flour, exports in the United States and Canada for the week ending Jan, 3, aggregated 4.255.270 bushels, against 2.494,832 last week, 3,839.941 this week last year. 1.411.947 in 1905 and 4,818,471 in 1902. For the last twenty-seven weeks of the fiscal year the exports were 97,923.504 bushels, against 69,020,020 a year ago, 30,175,274 in 1904-’OS, and 151,009,774 in 1901-’O2. Corn exports for the week are 1.074,599 bushels, against 1,000.008 hist week, 0,21 ’.5,333 a year ago and .3.186,532 in 1905. For the fiscal year to date the exports are 25,804,088 bushels, against 43.218.281 in 1905-’OO and 15,080,800 in 1904-’OS. —Bradstreet’s Commercial Report.