Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-17
GOOD TRADE outlook
Distribution Of Merchandise Pro.
ceedins on Z Steady and Sat.
isiactory Scale.
The Crop Outlook Is Better.
Owing to More Favorable
Weather.
Healthy Growth in Earning, Of
the Railroads. The Country
Prosperous.

Weekly Review of Trade today saws:
The distribution of merchandise has
proceeded this week on steady ane
satisfactory scale turnout the east and
IN the west and southwest the RELIEF
from the long drouth and heat is begin
ring to be reflected in a larger retail
trade, SO that for the quarter promise is
held out of larger business than last
year. Crop conditions in the territory
most affected by the recent drouth are
improving, and the weather has been
mighty favorable in nearly all districts
east of the Missouri river, tho rains
nave interrupted the spring wheat har-
| vest.
The steel strike has affected prices ex-
tensively, particularly on sales for inn
mediate delivery. In plates the advance
has been greatest, while hoops, sheet
and billets are sold at premiums. Con-
idence is steadily shown by placing of
distant deliveries at regular prices.
Consumption has undoubtedly been fur
Their curtailed this month, but a revival
OF exports tends to prevent accumula-
| ton.
New England boot and shoe factories
are still actively engaged. and the sta
bility of prices remains feature.
New York and western shops are
equally pussy, jobbers complaining of
slow deliveries.
Leather sells freely, but withou.
change in price, while Slightly lower
bids for hides will probably secure large
\ lots. Wooden mills have full employ-
ment. as rule, and the increased con-
sumption Of raw material tends to
harden the tone of the wool market, al
tho no quotable change is possible.
| Official figures of crop conditions were
tar more hopeless than even the most
pessimistic anticipations, Indicating
only about 1000, 100000 bushels of wheat
! and corn together. Inflated prices
brought out receipts for the week of O.
359,7O5 bushels, against 2,032,193 vast
year. and reduced Atlantic exports to
631,506 bushels, compared with 1882, 335
year ago. Wheat also advanced sharp
ly, but there is sound argument for
strength in Atlantic exports during the
last two weeks OF 13,579,034 bushels
against 4,37S,901 in 1900.
Cotton prospects have materially inn
proved ard with average weather dur
ing the next few weeks there is reason
to expect yield equal to If not larger
than the one preceding. Picking will be
about three weeks later than usual, and
the high wages and scarcity of labor
may cause some loss. Financially the
south is in better position than ever
before, planters have mortgaged less of
their crop than usual. and the banks
will not draw on New York as heavily
as heretofore.
Bradstreet's Review.
New York, Aug. 17.-Bradstreet's to-
day says:
An improvement alike in tone and in
demand is noted in trade circles this
week, and fall trade may be said to
have opened actively. While the most
optimistic reports come from the north
west. several large markets in the corn
belt send more cheerful reports, based
partially upon a still further improve
ment in crop conditions, but likewise
the result of the growth Of feeling that
| while the yields of most crops will be
smaller than last year the prices paid
for the same will be higher and the pur-
| chasing power of the agricultural COM
munity as whole will be little i'm
paired. Advances in wheat. corn, oats
and hog products support this view,
weather and crop conditions in the
northwest combine to give that section
specially generous yields and to stimu-
late the jobbing demand in nearly all
| lines. Good crops in the Pacific north
west are also reported and the outlook
for fall trade in that section is cheer
| full one, the only flaw at present being
| the strike confronting the shipping in
| terests at San Francisco. Fresh vegeta-
bles and fruits and country products are
scarce and high in prices, and canned
goods also tend higher. Southern trade
advices are marred by damage inflicted
by the severe storm of Wednesday and
Thursday, which papers say have hurt
the Louisiana rice crop severely, but 1t
| is not thought to have hurt sugar or
cotton very much. Timely rains have
improved cotton in the mississippi val
ley and advices from the south Atlantic
states are of heavy yield.
In textiles it is to be noted that the
talk Of strike with the necessary cur
tailed production has not strengthened
print cloths, which are 3-1s cents lower
or the week. Wooden goods appear to
be better situated than those of cotton,
and in raw products the low and fine
grades Of wool are firm with some tend
ing upward, while raw cotton is with
out change. The iron and steel strike
shows little change, but an interesting
fact that, despite the lowered copsump-
tion growing out of the strike, stocks of
pig iron are smaller than they were a
month ago on comparatively trifling
decrease in production. Chicago iron
interests are getting much business di-
| verted from eastern markets by the
strikes Finished products affected by
the strike are very high, and the posi-
| ton of canned goods manufacturers, de-
mand from whom is active, is rendered
uncomfortable by the scarcity of tin
plates. Sheets and bars are likewise
firm. In other lines, notably structural
materials, large business is going for
ward, and a heavy demand for light
hardware is reported the country over.
Boot and shoe manufacturers have
booked good orders. Leather is active
and hides are firm. The strength of
white pine, supported as 1t has been by
small stocks at leading markets. is no.
table. Considerable advances have beer
made at eastern points to meet earlier
/ price advances at the west.
Wheat, including flour, exports for the
week in the United States aggregate 81
/ 039,761 bushels, as against 8,832,199 las,
week and 3.113,64 in the week last year
1 Wheat exports. JuIv to date. aggregate