Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-09
BUSINESS FEATURES.

of peace in South Africa. Foreign in
dustrial markets will quickly benefit b.
the development of that country. Will.
a helpful influence in monetary circles
Owing to the present exceptional home
consumption, producers in this country
may not be able to take advantage OF
the opportunity Immediately, but ever
the indirect effects must be beneficial
Domestic conditions still have but the
one drawback of labor disputes, which
have reduced the earning power of a
large force. Additional profit sha1ins
and numerous advances of wages are
reported, but new controversies have
broken out elsewhere. Outside the linz
its of this influence there is little cause
for complaint. Orders are large, and
distribution is less Interrupted by the
shortage of cars. Railway earnings for
| May show an increase of 6.S per cent
over last year and la per cent over
| 1900 A stagnant stock market and the
holiday account for the decrease of 41.9
per cent in bank exchanges at New
York compared with last years figures,
but at other leading cities, where spec
ulative influences are less of factor,
clearings for five days were only 1876
1901.
| Contrary to expectations, the leading
| producers maintained their conserva-
tive position by making no advance in
the price of steel rails for delivery ir
1903. Notwithstanding the very material
rise that has occurred in pig iron. Much
new business has been placed during
the past week. altho consumers have
found difficulty in booking orders for
delivery in 1902 This is especially no.
ticeable as to structural material and
railway supplies. interruption to work
at blast furnaces was not wholly avert
ed, but the loss in output did not reach
large figure owing to prompt conces-
sioas on both sides. Practically no or
,ders were accepted for pig iron, how
ever, owing to the uncertainty as to the
extent of the strike. In tubes pipes
and kindred lines there is much activi-
ty, with quotations fully maintained.
Bituminous coal Is abnormally sti,mu-
lated by the anthracite shortage, and
the output OF coke in the Connellsville
region is establishing new record each
less than per cent of the ovens are
idle.
Aseasonable decline in quotations OF
commodities is shown by Dun's index
number of prices proportioned to con-
sumption, which was $101,16S on June
/. against S102,2S9 on May 1, and $lO1,-
5S7 at the opening of the year. The
larger supply of vegetables, fruits and
dairy products brought decline of 73
per cent in that class, while breadstuffs
fell about 3 per cent, but the effect on
the aggregate was partially neutralized
by the firmness Of meats and metals
Quotations of securities also averaged
somewhat lower, but without any ag-
gressive operations for the short ac-
count. The weeks aggregate of trans
for recent times. amounting to only
about a sixth of the sales in the CORE
spending week last year. The coal
strike apparently has more weight in
the stock market than the many good
influences in evidence, and there is a
distinct tendency to await a settlement
OF that controversy before undertaking
new commitments. Money was strong
early in the week because of the unfa-
vorable bank statement, altho time
loas on good dividend paying railway
collateral could be placed at about Az |
per cent.
Commercial failures, excluding all |
banking and similar fiduciary defaults, |
numbered 1850 during the month of
May, involving liabilities of s9,109.S40.
suspensions We're 2S4 in
and $3,993,934 in amount trad
ing bankruptcies numbered 1885 for
$3,952,540, and there were 61 other
commercial failures, not properly in
Guided in either of the two principal
classes, which involved liabilities of
81, 1896. In the corresponding month
last year there were S73 defaults for
crease This year, both in number ind
amount of liabilities. Liabilities We're
also much heavier than in May, 1899,
when the smallest total for any month
in recent years was recorded. Com
pared with any other May in the past
decade, however, the current year
makes gratifying exhibit, particular
Nv as to trading defaults. Eliminating
the few exceptional disasters for over
100000 each, 1t appears that the aver
age liability to each trading failure was
only $4,S32, the best showing since May
1894. The increase in number was
chiefly of small general stores and gro
GERS
IOWA OPINIONS AND NOTES.
The Keokuk Gate City thinks it is ito
the credit of Great Britain that the
generous peace terms it has granted the
|