The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-28
The BUSINESS WoRLn

A lew days more, and the first half Of
the year, will have passed. This will mark
the close OF six months of prosperity as
great as the country has ever known. Tt
mas been q time for the exploitation of
new plans, new enterprises have been
born, new business ventures undertaken.
while in the old established lines there
mas been general expansion It has
been a period of commercial aggressive
ness. of easy money affording opportunity
for the development of new country, the
enlarging Of industrial plants, for bet
terments by the railroads.
Railroad earnings, during this time.
have shown increases really surprising,
and especially so to the many who in
their most sanguine view had not hoped
that the roads would do much more than
maintain the high figures Of the preced-
ing year. The fiji st four months were strik-,
lngly free from anything of an adverse
nature. present or prospective, no.. was
there any change until the growing feel
ing of dissatisfaction on the part of the
labor element began to cloud the in
dustrial sky. ..->-
Two things there are in sight, either
Of which by a decided change for the
worse, could bring aon general setback.
One is the coal strike, the other the CROP
promise. TIE sixth week of the strike
has passed without change in the situa-
ton. There is as yet no prospect of a
satisfactory settlement. In the possi-
of hn NJ
other large trades and to the railroads
lies the one danger. The other, the crop
danger, is always to be reckoned with at
this time. Eliminate these two factors.
and there is nothing discernible that can
work adversely, there is an outlook as
favorable as could we'll be desired There
is no reason to look for anything bad.
These two things stand as factors that
might possibly develop into influences for.
evil, and are only worthy of considera-
tion in this way in any attempt to set
forth an extremely conservative view of
the situation. There is hope for salts
factory adjustment Of the labor trouble;
the crop outlook is at present very salts
factory.
AAO ouOSh lo1iOW4AS LIE SuuQSu an
nouncement of the serious illness of the
king. threw the British financial world
into state Of great nervous tension.
This found reflection in New York, where
the stock market gave way by moderate
declines under the pressure Of liquida-
tion.N Recoveries were made later on a
general return Of confidence. Tho alb
sence Of an active outside speculative in
terest, cuts the volume Of New York
! hank clearings every week. the last re-
The country on the whole decreased 8
per cent, while the centers outside New
York increase "a per cent. Against this
the returns for Minneapolis are highly
gratifying the city showing the best
relative gain Of the fifteen leading points
Of 25.3 per cent.
Commodity prices have been more ir-
regular in the preceding week. This is
ordinarily a dull time, yet the volume OF
trade in general merchandise holds up
we'll. Lumber prices are Arm. Woolens
and raw wool prices hold steady, textiles
| in general little lower, cotton stronger
| by trife. Iron and steel are firm as
ever with demand pressing and business
still being booked into next year. Cold
drawback to retail trade at country
| points.
| Wheat remains firm although on level