Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-11-30
BUSINESS FEATURES.

VIII meet apprOTal in sound hnance.
BUSINESS FEATURES.
Seasonable temperature and holiday
purchases stimulated retail trade. max
| ing results more satisfactory during the
| past week than at any recent date.
Improvement was most conspicuous In
heavy wearing apparel and kindred
lines that have remained dull because
of the warm weather Another encour-
aging feature was the resumption of
work at many mills, although there is
still much idle machinery, especially
In the textile and iron industries.
Thousands OF operatives are idle be-
cause of the shut down at a number
of paper mills. Few labor controver-
sizes are In progress, several settle
| ments having been effected. and little
Interruption is caused by the disagree
ment in the building trades. In view OF
the numerous wage reductions, there Is
noteworthy harmony between employ
ers and workers, indicating that labor
leaders appreciate the necessity of
sharing In the readjustment. Grain
shipments increased with the APP
preaching close OF navigation on the
lakes, and freight traffic was subjected
to the greatest pressure OF the season.
but there is less than the customary
complaint Of delay. Railways earnings
for three weeks OF November averaged
SO per cent larger than last year and
the stock market has ruled fairly
steady. More gold arrived from abroad
raising treasury holdings above $780,
100000, and sterling exchange declined
sufficiently to resume negotiations for
further imports. Foreign commerce a.
New York fell of for the last week,
merchandise exports losing s1.2s9,059.
and imports declining $1,45O.s7s in
comparison with the same week last
year. Mainly owing to smaller spec
ulation, bank exchanges at New York
were 27.S per cent less than in the same
week Of 1902, while at other leading
cities the loss was only 4.S per cent.
1t is at last possible to perceive an
improvement in the demand for pig
iron, due to the exhaustion OF supplies
by consumers. the extensive reduction
in output and the absence Of further
price concessions. Business is by no
means brisk. nor Is there any expecta-
ton of wholesome activity during the
remaining weeks of this year, yet
there is evidence OF returning conf
dence with the lapse of time. Makers
OF structural iron shapes are also look
ing forward to resumption OF build
ing operations that were demoralizsd
and discontinued because of conten-
tons between employers and wage
earners.
Textile manufacturing conditions
are without alteration. Demand for
cotton goods Is on smaller scale and
confined to immediate requirements,
while neither makers nor purchasers
appear inclined to undertake future
commitments until the question Of
quotations Is more definitely settled.
Colder weather stimulated retail trade
in woolens and worsteds but as yet
there is no improvement In piece goods
Sellers anticipate an early revival in
recorder business, however, especially In
light weights. Thus far the new con-
tracts are confined to woolens. Raw
wool remains quiet. little encouragement
being given by the London auction sale.
at which the competition was fairly
keen but prices generally loewr.
Grain fuctuates but little. yet prices
are too high to facilitate exports, and
other surplus nations are shipping
freely. While receipts at primary
markets are not heavy. there is much
accumulation Of wheat at country ele-
vators and railway stations. Total re-
ceipts of wheat for the last week were
7,762,943 bushels, against 7,149,3o6 last
year. and exports amounted to 1885,
$40 buhsels, flour included, compared
with 3.504,619 year ago. and 3.975,S19
in 1901. Arrivals Of 1.90s,S10 bushels of
corn compare with 3.103.s75, and At
lantic coast exports were 1,276,s12
bushels against 35s.477 last year.
Liabilities OF commercial failures
thus far reported for November aggre-
gate $12,502,Os0. Of which $4,58O,054
were in manufacturing, $6,257,562 in
trading, and sl,6S4.464 in other COM
mercial lines. Failures this week num-
bered 25s in the United States
against 213 last year, and IA in Canada
compared with 16 year ago.
A remarkable Cas-.
One of the most remarkable cases OF
a cold, deep-seated on the lungs. caus-
ing pneumonia, IL that Of Mrs. Gertrude