Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1907 — COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL

CHICAGO. Together with steadiness in production and distribution there is a largely increased volume of payments through the banks and some decline in commercial defaults. These are encouraging r’turns in view of the continued scarcity of money. It is also gratifying that there is no evidence of less machinery and hands employed to indicate declining confidence in the business outlook. The government crop report this wtek showing smaller growth than last year caused unusual attention, but with ths assured ample supplies to meet requirements and their enhanced values it is clear that the most probable effect must be beneficial to trade, satisfactory marketings being almost a certainty. The markets for raw materials disclose no falling off in absorption, and aside from lower copper and minor metals, no change appears in prices of iron and finished products, wool, hides, leather and lumber. • Gountry merchants attend the markets in the greatest numbers this season, and their operation in fall and winter goods add tone to strength in wholesale activity. Retail trade is seasonably good, fall exhibits attracting buying which promises to develop satisfactorily. The total movement of grain at this port, 12,032,194 bushels, compares with 7,544,777 bushels last week and 8,220,520 bushels a year ago. Receipts of live stock were 286,038 head, against 303,076 head last week, and 302,884 head last year. Lumber receipts rose to 63,28u,0u0 feet, against 55,287,000 feet last week and 53,046,000 feet a year ago. -Other leceipts increased in flour, wheat; oats, rye, barley, broom corn, dressed beef, pork, cheese, butter, eggs and cattle, aid decreased in corn, seeds, lard, wool, hogs and sheep. Bank clearings, $242,951,602, exceed those of corresponding week in 1906 by 18 per cent. Failures reported in the Chicago district numbered 23, against 17 last week and 25 a year ago.—Dun’s Review, NEW YORKT Fall jobbing trade in dry goods and wearing apparel generally tends toward expansion as the ultimate outcome of leading crops becomes more assured and as evidences increase of higher prices offsetting small yields. From the northwest reports are of orders previously held back now coming forward and there is evidence also of more life in southern trade and of improvement in collections in that section as the cotton crop begins to move to market in good volume. Business failures, in the United States nor the week ending Sept. 12 number 172, against 130 last week, 164 in the same week of 1906, 188 in 1905, 167 in 1904 and 170 in 1903. Canadian failures for the week number 22, as against 15 last week and 17 in this week a year ago.— Bradstreet’s Report.