The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-11
Amount of Advertising
carried by the Twin City
Papers for September:
The Week in Business.

The Week in Business.
The country has passed through another
unsatisfactory week, the business world
patiently awaiting anything of new de-
! velopment, and ardently hoping for a
change for the better and the elimination
OF the unfavorable elements blocking the
path Of progress. At the close it cannot
be said that there is much Of improvement
in the general situation.
The future is bright with promise, and
there is everything in sight on which to
build the hope for prosperity even greater
than we have known, but confidence is
weakened and hesitation arises from the
continuance of the bad features, that ev-
eryone knows must give way ultimately,
yet remain to this time despite every eff
fort to dissipate them.
1t seems almost absurd that we should
have to turn to Europe for anthracite coal,
yet we are told that the Americans who
bought the entire available supply of
Scotch anthra cite in Glasgow, for prompt
shipment to America, gladly paid 25 per
cent more for 1t than the current price of
month earlier.
The mine operators estimate that all the
American companies now operating are
daily turning out a total Of about $4,000
tons. The bulk Of this is consumed along
the lines Of the various roads and not a
little by the coal roads themselves, a very
small portion coming upon the eastern
markets.
Meanwhile the strike has dragged along
into it's twenty-second week. 1t would be
discouraging to enumerate here the losses
that have fallen upon the men, the mine op-
orators, the railroads, and the various in
dustries dependent largely upon fuel. The
public is next in line. OF all desirable
things the settlement of this unfortunate
strike is most to be desired at this time.
Yet despite the failure of every effort to
effect a compromise, even that Of the pres
1dent himself, there is hope for settle
ment soon, since everything must have an
end and in this case the near approach of
cold weather has strained the patience of
the public to the breaking point.
The monetary situation shows improve
ment as compared with conditions ruling
by no means passed. and high rates have
ruled again this week in the east It is
true there is no scarcity of money in the
west, and that the western banks have
abundant funds for all purposes. But
these western banks have been drawing
down their eastern reserves and it is pre-
dicted that the return flow of money tc
New York will be later this year than US
ual. There are some different features
this year to the western situation, an il.
austration of which is found in the south.
west and central west There the corr
crop failed last year and in many localities
hogs and cattle were rushed to market
as feedstuffs had advanced to abnormally
high prices. This year there is one of thu
largest corn crops the country has eve
produced, probably one half of which will
be fed to stock. 1t is reasonable suppo
sition that farmers who cleaned out thei
establishments last year, will now re-stocl
and there will be late demand for none.
for this purpose which the banks mus
supply.
The movement of so much of this corr
as will be marketed will be under wa.
early in November which will mean !;
heavily increased railway tonnage, an
that which remains on the farms will
make heavy live stock shipments som
months later. This means good bushes
for the banks and railroads, increased &C
:, tivity in all business lines and finall
cheaper meats for the people. And it ais
foreshadows the car famine slowly creep
ing upon the railroads of the. west.
In the stock market the severity of tn
storm has probably passed, vet there ar
so many threatening elements still abroa
that caution Is not relaxed and conserva
tism is still the safe rule. Admitting full
the great prosperity of the community a
large, and the probability of it's continu
ance, the best authorities in the financia
centers still advise extreme cautiousnes
until the labor questions now pressing fo
settlement are in some way compromise
and the financial outlook clearer.
OF all sections of the country the north
west leads In the enjoyment Of prosperit
unalloyed, and business activity unim
paired by anything of an unfavorable ma
ture II we except the handicap occasione