The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-09
Record of advertising of
Minneapolis papers for
July, 1902. ..... p COILS.
Journal, Il issues 944
Tribune, 81 issues gl
Times, 81 issues :. I'll
THE WEEK IN BUSINESS

Minneapolis has the distinction this
week of leading every important city III
the United States In the matter of rela-
tive increase in volume of business over
last year. Bank clearings OF ll,oe9,ilz
show a gain of 27.4 per cent, while the
average gain in fifteen leading centers Is
under 7 per cent, and the country IN 1ts
entirety gains 2.S per cent. This is the
Immediate effect of good crops in the
northwest.
The week was marked by gain In all
western railroad traffic and an increase
In the volume of west bound tonnage.
This means the beginning OF the period OF
active buying that, has been predicted
ever since it became evident that this
would be good crop year. In the north
west the harvest Is practically made, ano
ervativeness and hesitation through
fear of possible eleventhhour calamity
are giving way to confidence and oeslre
for further business expansion. The west
has begun buying heavily and Is taking
full share Of luxuries. The unusually
large proportion Of high-class freight
carried, with it's wide distribution, IS
highly gratifying to western railroad
management This western prosperity
has been the keynote in everything OF
comment upon the general business in the
country at large.
Some 800 locomotives were added to the
equipment Of the Great Northern. North
ern Pacific and 500 roads during the
year. The facilities for handling the
northwestern crops are materially In
creased over last year, yet even with this
there is more concern lest the roads be
unable to handle everything with prompt
ness usually demanded by shippers
There will certainly be more ton
mage this year than ever before and there
is the opportunity for abroad earnings.
in the northwest surprising every prev1-
Gus record by far.
The country is still importing iron In
considerable quantity. The pressure upon
domestic producers, for delivery is as
great as ever. Foundry iron IS higher
with business being booked at the ad-
vance for delivery in 1903.
In the eastern centers Of textile manu-.
facture conditions are satisfactory, al
though Boston reports more quiet turr
in some lines.
Speculation dragged through the earl!
part Of the week with increased activit!
later and advanced in some leading
specialties on the New York stock ex
change.
The banks have not yet gained enough
from the interior to Offset the earlie
drain, and the money situation is beinl
carefully watched.
Rumors of more railroad combination
were the incentive to activity in western
railroad securities.
The grain trade is waiting for an es
Innate of the northwestern wheat yield
Wheat prices, meanwhile, have been O.
sharp decline under influence of the ia
vorable crop news. Looking over tn
whole field, everything in sight at pres
ent, seems bearish. Statistically ther
are some things favorable to wheat an
while they are naturally ignored at th1
time, they may be important later. Fc
one thing, the worlds visible supply {
wheat now stands at only 47,376,0O0 bush
els A year ago at this time it was Il
100000 bushels; two years ago, 89,S88,0(
bushels, and three years ago, 90,192 OF
bushels. .-,<. ...,. =. g.. .- I'D,