Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-03-31
BUSINESS FEATURES.


chandise having exceeded previous
seasons with well maintained prices.
March railway earnings show an in
crease of 4.6 per cent over last year and
14.4 per cent over 1900. No very serious
labor controversies are in progress and
the minor difficulties are in fair way
to be settled without trouble of a ma
ture disturbing to trade. No diminu-
ton of Industrial activity is noted. Ger
cal prices have ranged lower and wheat
exports materially declined, approx
mately a million bushels. Atlantic
but 1884 bushels, against 2,946.46l
bushels year ago. Liabilities of COM
mercial failures during the first three
weeks of March aggregated $6,11O,45S,
of which $2.794,105 We're in manufac-
turing, $2555933 in trading, and $780,
420 in other commercial lines. Failures
for the week numbered 2o5 in the Unit
ed States against 206 last year, and %
In Canada against 80 last year.
At Boston, trade has been active dur
ing the past week, and weather condi-
lions favorable. Dry goods jobbers re-
port the season the best in years. Con-
siderable machinery is idle at the shoe
factories and shipments are smaller
ic iof Int
at 4@4h per cent.
Philadelphia reports an active iron
market. with active industrial condi-
lions due to old orders. Considerable
complaint is heard Of lack of new
business, but as old orders are as yet
uncompleted the industrial situation
has not felt the change. Lumber has
fallen off in receipts and prices have in
consequence continued a steady adj
vance Building is active.
At Pittsb'lrg the bar iron mills have
business ahead for months and prices
are advanced. Tin plate manufactur-
ers have several months advance or
ders and the largest producer has taken
contracts for 100000 boxes within the
past month. Business continues good
in structural iron. The sheet mills are
engaged ahead for three months and
the window glass market remains prac-
tically unchanged.
At New Orleans general trade con-
tinues fairly active, and the movement
of merchandise is fully up to the aver
age. Early in the week a pressure to
sell caused decline in cotton, but
falling off in receipts caused renewed
buying. Rice is dull. and there is very
little doing in that cereal. Sugar is
quiet and In fair demand. Shippers and
growers of early fruit and vegetables
report the season backward owing to
climatic conditions. The movement of
grain for export continues moderate.
Cleveland reports machinists' sup
plies and machinery SO active that
dealers are, unable to supply their GUS
toners promptly. Machine shops and
foundries are having all they can do,
and labor,is we'll employed. Dry goods
jobbers report larger trade than they
have ever had and pleasant weather
has helped the retail trade. The cloth
ing trade Is improving and some deal
ers are having a much better trade
than last year. Considerable complaint
is made, however, regarding collections.
At Chicago the Easter rush at lead
ing retail houses and the closing spring
buying at wholesale, have caused
volume Of business in general merchan-
disc which surpasses all previous ex-
perience. The heavy selections of Wis
iting merchants have been largely sup
plemented by many mail orders for a
wide variety of seasonable goods. Gro
ceries and other lines connected with
this trade are in gratifying demand in
both city and country and the building
trade shows an estimated advance Of 81
per cent over last year
In st. Louis the weeks business has
been entirely satisfactory. There has
been a marked and general increase in
all lines. Collections are reported fairly
free and the outlook good for record
breaking business for 1902.
InNfA npiNInNS Ann NnrEs