Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-08-18
'|A[ TRADE OUTLOOK
Order For the Fall Trade Espe.
cially Good in Drygoods,
Groceries, Etc.
Expansion Of the Fall Trade q Fa.
vorable Feature Iron Prices
Weak.
nem and Fnr r avn Materials Not so
Demand For Raw Materials Not Sc
Good-Dun and Bradstreet
Reviews.


notably the break III structural IRON
New York is welcoming buyers from
all over the country in larger numbers
than for many years at this season, in
dry goods, groceries in jewelry and
hardware, and ii contracts are not
placed to as large a volume as ex
pected by this time it is because of the
conservatism of those Who think they
may compel some. further shading of
prices. Except steel rails, all forms of
iron. from the ore TO the finished prod
uct. are being sought more eagerly and
with less effort to secure further con-
Hcessions in prices. The first effect of
the official report of wheat conditions,
total crop of only $685.,
eco bushels. was To strengthen prices.
but when the secretary of agriculture
was reported as predicting dollar
wheat before the end of the year, the
market showed an inclination to dis
agree. and the September option fell
below S06cents at New York for the first
time in two months"
Bradstreet's today says:
Among the favorable features re-
ported this Week are adNices of further.
Expansion in the fall trade distribution
lat leading Western celiiers, a rather
better distribution of dry goods by job
bars at the east. tirmer tone and a
perceptible growth in confidence, ac-
eumpanied by heavy buying in some
classes of steel and iron, and a DISPOSE
si0il 10 believe that an average wheat
cfe,s5 and much more than the average
corn and oats crops are assured. The
list of unfavora BILE elements in the
trade IN backward demand for spring
Woolens and the slow demand for the
RAW material. the restriction in produc-
tipn of some makes OF cotton goods. the
duiness in building materials, notably
iun,bSr, and the backward inquiry for
boots and shoes. Speculation in nearly
AN lines, and especially N foad prod
5ucts. as at low ebb, and What price
changes are noted a1e mainly in this.
Wheat (includilg nour) shipments for
ire week Mere 3,1l3,64l bushels against
a.e40.sg0 bushels for the corresponding
week of last week From July ] to date
!. xYorts Were u. ool $50 bushels, against
e, It's, O69 bushels last season. Corn ex-
snorts for the week aggregate s.ol7,Os9s
bushels. against ;.58i. to5 bushels in this
corn exports are 24.ssl,l14 bushels.
egainst s2.52s.sss bushels last season.
Business failures far the Week were 16s.
iveai. ago. Canadian failures number
Week q al. ago.
chicago Iron and steel Markets.
-: 4 t1,szl
o.a.Gn of the western iron trade, says.
today:
without developments that can be
eafled decisive, the iron and steel mar
kets have the appearance of improve
imert The conditions this week in
clutse healthier inquiry for all kinds
IL - ass,nabie goods. III no one branch
/ has here been a ranetition of the sharp
taetiNity lately seen III bars. but the
general buying is notably better. There
lis only one product that has the posi-
i.bilities Of an early duplication of the
lbar activity and that is pig iron. A
HEAVY buying movement in pig iron Is
lsmcraily sure. just as soon as buyers be-
l.iieve that the lowest prices have been
touched, for there are large needs to
he provided for. Purchases would have
occurred TWO or three months ago I'M
1 der ordinary circumstances. To pig iron
| therefore TIE trade must look for its
next spectacular effect by way of
4 heavy buying. 1t may arrive in the
Inear future.
"Of considerable interest was the re
lduction on Wednesday, this week OF
structural material. Beams, channels
|large angles. tees and ices We're uni
4 farlnly marked down IS per ton. New
lconstruction work had been holding of
4 in anticipation of an event of this kinc
flor shapes We're relatively higher thar
many other products of iron and steel
1.-The reduction should help to stimulate
1 the revival of the building industry
looming as it does conformity with thu
4 Unreliable end Of the building trade.
Istrike at Chicago.
4 lin finished steel there is this week {
fairly good trade. Plates are favorit,
d and boilermakers and other moderate
4 lusers have atslast begun to buy In tn
usual way, and not as for many month
past in a piecemeal fashion. Sheets ar
il coming into line as "a seasonable prod
: uct and buying is easonablg large. In
!. Etermediate holders of stocks Acquires
!. six months ago seem willing to let g
:. at a margin Of profit based on pur
!. chases and not on the present highe
q range. and. this gives to the trade al
!. appearance of weakness. Makers ais
!. REPORT a quite fourishing demand Fo
!. merchant steel there is a fatterinl
= prospect. Consuming manufacturer
: lhave contracted for enough tonnage
give the market a much firmer tone
!. and some producers have withdraw
. lrecent quotations.
|. ut has been demonstrated within
( several weeks that the late torpid stat
. Iiof trade was due chiefly to- a lack o
/. lconfidence III prices, and not to any Sc
!. rinus diminution of the needs of con
.. sumers. From the producer of crud
4 material to the ultimate consumer, in
: Guiding row of possibly half doze
E lintermediate manufacturers and mer
5 lgchants. there has been varlabl
amount of inactivity, all from one an
!. the same unbelief in ruling quotations
Z The elimination Of suspicion from tn
:. entire mass means radical change Ii
? both the spirit and volume Of trade.
4 some lines there remains visible hest
/. tation. but they are becoming only &C
!. casfonal spots upon the broad surfac
|. OF commerce.
THE downward trend OF prices seem
!. to be still further checked this wee
and 1t is questionable IL the advance