Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1907 — COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMEPCIAL AND FINANCIAL

CHICAGO. R. G Dun & Co.-, in their weekly review- of trade in the Chicago district, says: “The volume' of production in the leading industries is seen to compare favorably with that at this time last year, and an increasing supply of bank deposits affords more encouragement to mercantile borrowers to enter upon financial commitments. Satisfactory hba dway isma de in reducing re tnil stocks here and throughout the interior, although some heavy winter lines drag from lack of seasonable temperatures. “New demands for pig iron are the most conspicuous feature in manufacturing this week, spot supplies commanding a stiff premium and Ifeavy tonnage being entered for the closing months of this year. Contracts for rails have been liglit,- but this is rather a relief to the mills, the capacity of which is engaged further ahead than ever before. “Heavy factory construction involves consumption of an enormous quantity of structural steei and further demaud is noted for plates and wire. The carshops, forges and shipyards are less pressed with additional orders, but these lines now run to the limit of capacity and have forward business for most of this year. “Dealings in the hreadstuffs exhibit a slight gain in activity, prices making recovery from their late low level, while the market for provisions and live stock remain exceptionally firm. “Snowstorms in the Northwest have added to difficulties in transporting freight, making deliveries more complicated, and there is smaller marketings of crops, but rolling stock is constantly being augmented and making railroad facilities more ample in the West “ReceiptSsOf hides, 2,779,610 pounds, compare with 2,755,538 pounds last week and 3,564,067 pounds in 1906. Lumber receipts were 32,056,000 feet against 41,680,000 feet last week and 28,331,000 feet a year ago. “Railroad earnings still exceed those of a year ago. The total movement of grain at this port declined to 6,945,333 bushels, against 9,990,207 bushels last week and 7,998,945 bushels a year ago. “Failures reported in the Chicago district numbered 22, against 26 last week and 25 a year ago.”

NEW YORK. Retail and wholesale trade, industry and transportation alike feel the effect of varying adverse weather conditions, which retard or check activity and make the congestion visible some time ago in railroad matters even more acute. The comparative quiet now witnessed in many lines is not unwelcome to many, who have been jkept pushed steadily to fill orders. Relatively the most active line at present is that of dry goods, particularly cottons, which are strong and tending upward, with the mills heavily sold ahead. Collections are irregularly slow, feeling the weather conditions even more than new demand. Wheat, including flour, exports from the United States and Canada for the week ending Jan. 17 aggregated 2,636,460 bushels, against 4,073,110 last week, 3,448,862 this week last year, 1,138,974 in 1905 and 4,690,200 in 1902. For the past twenty-nine weeks of the fiscal year the exports are 104,633,074 bushels, against 77,237,654 in 1905-06, 38,015,198 in 1904-05 and 159,267,684 in 1901-02. (ftrn exports for the week are 1,906,873 bushels, against 1,296,187 last week, 5,944,571 a year ago and 3,186,529 In 1905. For the fiscal year to date the exports are 29,007,148 bushels, against 54,505,421 in 1905-06 and 24,705,409 ir 1904-05. —Bradstreet's Commercial Rfc port.