Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 March 1907 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

CHICAGO. Commercial conditions reflect suttained strength and further progress appears in the expansion of activity which usually marks the approach of spring. Wall street’s troubles have not impaired confidence in the Industrial outlook. lfeir= wage scales indicate that labor cost keeps advancing, but apart from a strike which interrupts shipbuilding satisfactory agreements are reached, assuring peace throughout this year. Marketing of farm products again is notably heavy, -while the offerings of freight are the greatest ever known and transportation earnings steadily exceed the record made by Chicago roads a year ago. I' Statistics as to production and distribution in this district exhibit satisfactory growth in the leading branches. Weather conditions remain unusually favorable to retail operations. The demand for spring goods on State street proceeds satisfactorily, and reports indicate that country- merchandising makes headway under the influence of higher temperature. Outside buyers throng the wholesale lines in unprecedented numbers and the bookings surpass those at this time fast year in principal staples. Bank clearings, $249,637,316, exceed those of same week in 1906 by 23.2 per cent. Failures reported in Chicago district numbered 25, against 19 last week and 29 a year ago.—Dun’s Review. NEW YORK. Spring trade is making a most satisfactory comparison with the volume at this time last year, except in a few sections. where the weather is stiM unfavorable, and mercantile collections improve steadily despite the high money market. Leading industries have orders covering production well into the. future. Textile mills are producing at a remarkable rate without threatening any accumulation of stocks and advanced prices for cotton goods have not checked demands. In this division the statistical position is beyond precedent, mills being sold ahead for many months and purchasers readily accepting whatever deliveries can be secured. Premiums above regular quotations are willingly paid for early shipments. Most jobbers have now provided for all of the spring trade, but others Will not be able to meet the requirements of customers. This is especially the case with western jobbers, who still receive liberal orders. Little interest is shown by the export division, as prices are above the views of foreign markets, but producers need no support from abroad. —Bradstreet’s Report.