Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-24
BUSINESS FEATURES.

Business continues to move thru the
channels OF trade in immense volume,
and plans for the future are upon "a
large scale. Crop returns are such as
to produce cheerfulness. Dun declares
that day of thanksgiving for abund-
ant harvests is especially opportune.
Crops have largely surprised all rec
ords, and despite the rapid growth of
domestic requirements there will be a
liberal surplus for export. Producers
are additionally fortunate in the GER
tainty of profitable prices, which has
not usually been the case in years of
heavy production.
In Chicago during the past week a
sudden demand of considerable strength
developed for breadstuffs, and the
prices of wheat and corn We're forced
higher. the former gaining fully cents
and corn 5 cents. Export buying of
-four hardened. and millers closed much
new business a moderate advance over
last weeks quotations. The mills are
grinding almost to full capacity, and
product goes quickly into general con-
sumption. Oats are in fair request, but
fractionally lower. Eastbound ship
ments of grain have increased, and To-
cal supplies of the leading cereals APP
pear to be under control of prominent
operators. December options were free
~ sold, and the short interest seeking
to cover helped the rise in market quo
tations. Buying of provisions main
tains steady volume, both for domestic
and export account, and stocks in store
being light, values were forced upwards
and tend higher. Pork advanced so
cents, lard 35 cents and short ribs II
cents. All hog products are eagerly ac-
quired by distributors, and it seems
impossible under existing conditions to
add to present accumulat;ons. Receipts
of hogs and cattle are disappointing, and
porkers continue much under average
weight best suited for packing. Ship
pers were fair buyers of beeves, but
prices for choice grades show decline.
At Pittsburg In the iron and steel
market the feature of interest during
the week is the announcement that the
railroad companies will make strenu-
Gus efforts to relieve the freight con-
gestion which has severely interfered
with shipments in this section. No plan
of relieving the congestion has been an
nounced, but it is expected that the eff
forts of the railroad officials will tend to
materially improve the present poor
condition of railroad transportation
From the present outlook it seems that
the furnaces will not be able to deliver
all the pig iron contracted for for de-
livery this year, and that probably -four
months of 1908 will be taken to handle
the business left over from 1902.
In Philadelphia conditions in iron and
steel are not materially changed. There
is an active demand but lack of motive
power and scarcity of fuel causes com
plications in many cases. The present
condition of activity is expected by
dealers to continue and there is large
consumption in all lines. Machine
shops are busy and dealers in electrical
supplies report the market brisk. The
continued open weather has stimulated
demand for structural material. The
year which is drawing to a close has
been very successful In most instances
to the manufacturers, wholesale deal
ers and retailers of lumber in this city
Dry goods jobbers report business fol
the week quiet, and retail trade ha:
dropped off somewhat.
New Orleans reports that trade fol
the week is not so good as it was earlier
in the month, but the volume of bust
ness is fully up to the average for tn,
season. Retail trade has been quiet ow
| ing to the unreasonable weather. Their
has been active trade in cotton. Pur
| chases for foreign account have aver
aged between 1000 and 5000 bales pc
day and the market has scored Sigh
advance.
At Kansas City the feeling in all line
of business is one of satisfaction, alth,
| the unreasonable weather continue
and has caused some Interruptions t
both retail and wholesale trade.
! In st. Louis. while local jobbers ar