Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1908 — THE FOMAMCOAL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FOMAMCOAL

CHICAGO. While the curtailment of production in various industrial branches continues, there are evidences of a fajprable nature for steady improvement to take place Soon. With the banks now virtually back to specie payment and discount operations extending, it is net surprising that the volume of business, as reflected 1 by bank exchanges, makes the best exhibit in nine weeks, the comparative decline being the lowest in that period. Following the extra time taken to make necessary repairs to plants, resumption became general and quickly reduced the number of workers made temporarily idle, and the indications now turn for the better at the furnaces, mills and forges. Some substantial bookings appear in iron, steel and wire, and fair orders come forward in furniture, boxmaking, footwear and vehicles. Little change is expected in prices of finished products, but a feeling that costs may be lowered is to some extent causing hesitation where much capital is involved. Weather conditions advanced the January clearance sates in retail lines, stocks undergoing satisfactory reduction, and a r conshlerabTetnci‘eased number of visiting buyers attended the wholesale markets for staples, textiles, boots and shoes, clothing and food products. Mercantile collections throughput, the West are irregular, some sections remitting promptly, While at others t|ie defaults indicate weakness. Failures reported in the Chicago district number 36, against 28 last week and 26 a year ago. Those with liabilities over $5,000 number 7, againstllast week and 8 in 1907.—Dun’s Review of Trade. NEW YORK. Financial affairs show further and marked improvement, and money is'more plentiful and easier to obtain, bift the gain in trade and industry proper is still" largely one of sentiment, because business is quiet, the country over, railway earnings and -bank clearings are below a year ago, collections are slow, though better than a month ago, and industry is as a whole on short time, with the larger centers reporting a great number of unemployed. In trade lines the general report is one pf backward business. Mild weather is still if bar to the widest activities in seasonable goods North and West, and retailers are stimulating lagging demand by reduction sales. Southern trade w shows little more life than a week ago. Some lines report after-holiday collections as better than those of December, and in some cases better than anticipated, but they in few cases are better than slow to fair. Business failures in the United States for the week ending Jan. 9 number 434, against 345 last week, 283 in the like week of 1907, 286 in If XX), 295 in 1905 and 313 in 1904. Failures in Canada this week numbered 63, against 27 last week and 24 in this week a year ago.— Bradstreet’s Review.