Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-22
BUSINESS FEATURES.

The trade situation continues very
encouraging. The jobbing business is
active and retail trade is improving. AS
noted by Dun, high rates for money
have failed to check Industrial opera
tons ore to unsettle confidence. The
stringency is only temporary and relief
is already in sight.
In Chicago, aside from a moderate
falling off in packing, due to lessened
supplies of live stock, general business
presents unusually active indications in
all important branches of industry, and
in the aggregate volume has not hither-
to been exceeded. The railroads carry
enormous quantities. of manufactures
and products to and from the west, and
demands for more cars are repeatedly
urged, not only in the grain and cattle
interests but also by many jobbing and
factory concerns, which are pushed in
large, prompt shipments More orders
than We're expected are placed for im-
mediate forwarding of staple merchan-
disc. and many producers of finished
materials for heavy construction, ma
chinery and mill and mining equipment,
are distributing much tonnage for use
in both home and foreign enterprises Of
magnitude. A pronounced scarcity of
hard DIAL has made a stronger call for
soft coal, and quotations are marked up
about 20 per cent, with smokeless fuel
finding a ready market. National banks
are closely loaned UP. Several have lib
eral reserve funds which will be drawn
grain moving purposes.
At Pittsburg the condition OF the iron
and steel markets has not materially
changed The matter of railroad trans
portation is still causing much concern
to the shippers. and during the past
week the merchant furnace men in the
Shenango and Mahoning valleys have
been put to great deal of inconveni-
ence by the lack OF sufficient fuel.
caused by poor railroad facilities. 1t is
currently reported and not denied in of
fetal quarters that considerable foreign
Bessemer iron has been shipped into
the Pittsburg district at S19.75 per ton,
exclusive of freight rates, which would
make the price of delivery at Pittsburs
about $21.5O per ton. In the steel rail
the structural market considerable new
business is being booked, and the mills
are sold up for months ahead. During
the week about $4,000 tons of new bus
mess has been booked at existing quo
tations In mercantile lines the gen.
eral condition of business is reflected by
the uniform statement that trade con-
tinues good or is taking an increased
activity.
ST. Louis reports that while weather
conditions have been variable and for
!, the most part unseasonably cool and
| decidedly unfavorable to the late corn
/ and to tender vegetation, both of which
have been damaged by frost, general
business conditions have changed but
little. They could scarcely be more ia :
yorab1e. There has been some loss to
sthe farmers on the late crops, but the
| Weld and quality of the earlier harvest
have been so satisfactory that this Is
| goods the strong feature.
| From Boston comes the statement
that reports from the retail dealers
| thruout New England are satisfactory,
with healthy demand for seasonable
ogods the strong feature.
| At San Francisco the export trade is
showing up well, averaging $221,O0O per
each business day this month, includ-
| ing one cargo manifested at $347, 900.
| This ship cleared direct for Liverpool,
taking the first cargo of canned goods
for the season, including $500 cases OF
canned fruit and 25O56 cases of Alaska
canned salmon. Three other ships
are loading similar cargoes for the same
destination. Salmon cslrgoes are arriv-
| ing freely from Alaska, ten having re-
| ported to date with over 100000 cases,
all but one this month. The Alaska
Packers Association reports large in
crease at Alaskan points over the phe-
nomenal pack last year. but the heavy
decrease in the Puget Sound pack will
| more than offset the gain. There will
be no fall packing in Alaska.
I In New Orleans the movement of
merchandise In all lines has been COM
paratively large. Cooler weather has
materially stimulated retail trade, col
Elections are fairly good, cotton has been
active, sales of spot cotton have been
large at advanced quotations, and
| prices have been maintained. The
movement of rough rice has been large:
all offers are being readily taken at
satisfactory prices.
Reduced One Way Settlers Rates Dur.
ing September and October.
via Iowa Central Railway. to points In
California, Washington, Oregon, Mon
tana, Idaho, Utah and British Column
bia; stopovers allowed. See local tick
ct agent or address A. e.. Cults, G. p. &
T. A., Minneapolis.