Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-20
BUSINESS FEATURES.

! trade by the settlement OF the strike Is
| favorably commented on by Dun. The
strike had begun to have the effect OF
checking manufacturing and the con-
sumptive demand of the cour try, anG
presumably new impulse OF a quick
ening character will now be felt. The
chief restrictive feature remaining is
the inadequacy OF transportation facili-
| ties While crops ere being moved. How
ever, business is good and there is more
reason for rejoicing than complaint.
/ In Chicago the, stringency in money
has not adversely affected mercantile
slow, but country remittances are
prompt. No important failures appear
to disturb trade conditions, and the
process of distribution of merchandise
and manufactures proceeds smoothly
and in unexampled volume. Consump-
ton, as exemplitied by dealings at lead
ing retail and the mail order depart
ments, exceeds that of a year ago, and
better prices and choicer takings pre-
induced much larger activity in all di-
rections. The shopping district profit
ed largely and transactions increased in
wholesale lines. Seasonable goods of
all kind are in large demand. Building
material is in larger request than ever,
much heavy obstruction work being
now urgently pushed.
At Pittsburg, in the iron and steel
market the item of most Importance at
the present time is in regard to prices
for next years delivery of coke. During
the present year the blast furnaces
closed contract coke at 1925 ton. but
it is the opinion of conservative authors
tiles that contracts for next year will
run from rs cents to 81 above this
price, altho nothing definite has been
determined on this subject. The blast
furnaces in the Mahoning and Shenan-
go valleys We're better supplied last
week with fuel than for some time, and
number of furnaces that had been
compelled to bank were unable to re-
slight improvement in coke deliveries,
conditions are entirely unsatisfactory,
and the time of operation of the differ
ent furnaces is a matter of uncertain
ty.
In Boston the commercial and indus
trial situation shows little change eX-
cept that the feeling Is better, owing to
good weather for retail trade and the
practical settling Of the coal strike. All
this week business at retail has been
good in staple merchandise of seasonal
BILE variety. Jobbers of dry goods, foot
wear, etc, report larger sales. The
strong position of cotton goods is main-
tanned and sales Of print cloths at Fall
River have been heavy at full prices.
Mems wear woplens are firm and the
mills are fully employed and women's
dress goods are being literally con-
tracted for. The boot and shoe fac
tories are very busy, with an active de-
mand for seasonable goods, and deliv-
cries being rushed.
Minneapolis reports that all mills ran
to their full capacity last Week, and
broke all previous records for /; week s
output of -four turning out 443,tS0 bar
rels of flour, against 353,65O in 1901.
Some uneasiness is felt at the mills on
account of the low stock of wheat on
hand, and shut down may be neces-
sary. Cash wheat has been in good
/, AT st. Louis the weather during the
last few days has turned cool and fros-
ty. but has found both the business and
farming communities in good shape for
it, Reports from he country are to the
effect that the crops have generally /
been well taken care of. The farmers
are now laying in supplies literally, and
many of the country merchants say
they will have to replenish their stocks
much earlier this season than usual.
AT Atlanta manufacturers OF cotton
and woollen goods report a heavy BUSH
ness, with orders ahead for two or three
months.
In New Orleans the retail trade for
the week has been of normal proper
tons, the strike On the street car lines
lecturers report the movement of mer-
chandise as being fair
San Francisco reports that the ex-
port trade of the port by sea is show
ng up we'll. The September total was
over s5.0OO,0OO, ard for the frs half of
October the value exceeds $2,265,OOO.
Two mixed cargoes of grain and can
ned goods to England this month con-
tributed 100000. Steamers to China,
Australia and the Hawaiian Islands go
out heavily laden. The west coast
steamers are also better parronized.
The Panama steamer on the 18th took
81 800 gallons of wine in transit for
New York Three freight steamers are
now running direct between this port
and the Hawaiian Islands, and they are
cutting materially into the traffic of the
sailing vessels. The transports Rose
Grams and Egbert have been purchased