Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1907 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

CHICAGO. Trade activity is seen to be steadily progressive, money evinces an easier tone and the seasonable weather affords the necessary stimulus to effect clearance sales of winter stocks in leading retail lines. The period is now entered upon when merchants from the interior begin to throng the wholesale districts, and it is noted that visiting buyers appear in encouraging numbers and operate freely, the orders placed making an excellent aggregate in lineps, cottons, notions, clothing, footwear and household utensils. Store stocks here-and throughout the West have undergone satisfactory reductions, and this has made the outlook more promising for the future. Manufacturing conditions maintain their strong position, and agriculturists being well situated financially and looking for another year of prosperous crops, there is much confidence among dlst ri outers. Production in the leading industries remains of unabated volume and outputs are more than the railroads can promptly move. Further notable tonnage is boQked for pig iron, and capacity of the furnaces for- the entire year is now almost engaged. The car shops and forges obtain additional heavy specifications requiring completion at the earliest possible time, rails are in steady request and plates and other structural shapes, wife, pipe and merchant iron disappear readily among consumers. The absorption of forest products, woodwork and leather continues upon a scale indicating-that activity is unusually extended at many of the factories, and the markets for raw materials exhibit no change in firmness of prices and general demand. .Building permits this month include business structures to a larger extent than the same month last year. This feature causes a further rush to secure materials needed for construction during the coming spring and adds to the feeling that cost may advance. Primary markets for foodstuffs liax'e become more animated, and there is a better demand for wheat, corn and hog products at higher prices. The total movement of grain at this port, 7.775,•804 bushels, compares with 0,945,333 bushels last and 8,205,890 bushels a year ago. Failures reported in the Chicago district numbered 24, against 22 last week and 3G a year ago.—Dun’s Review of Trade. NEW YORK. While weather conditions are still a bar to widespread activity in trade and industry, evidences of improvement in spring demand and enlarging shipments are a feature of the week. Additionally favorable items are an expansion in the grain markets, long stagnant, based apparently on better export inquiry, rather more cheerful advices from South Atlantic States heretofore reporting trade and collections backward, a decided easing of money rates with a resumption of demand for commercial paper, and good reports from the winter wheat crop. Colder weather South has helped retail trade, and that section, aside fftm a few. localities, has done well this year, tig had a next to record cotton crop, selling at good prices. Iu the Northwest heavy snows have cheeked ’wheat movement, and coal trains still have the right of way in that section— Bradstreet’s Commercial Report.