Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-18
BUSINESS FEATURES.

merchants.
BUSINESS FEATURES.
Warm weather has made it possible
| for the retail trade to regain part of the
earlier losses in the volume of transact
tons, and the level of quotations for
staple lines of merchandise is Well
maintained. Wholesale trade in sea-
sonable goods is quiet, a,tho there is
more or less supplementary business,
i and jobbers report increased activity
| in several lines of wearing apparel,
Clothing manufacturers are busy on
fall samples, which are unusually late.
Furniture and harness factories are no.
taby we'll supplied with orders. and
there is no evidence of dlllness in ma
chinery or hardware. AT most points
there are indications Of Improvement in
mercantile collections, the favorable
progress of farm work having a good
! influence at the interior. While heavy
sales of fertilizers testify to the extern
sive preparation for large crops. In
dustrial conditions would be exception
ally encouraging We're it not for the
vast army of men voluntarily idle. The
numerous strikes exert more influence
direct effect on business and many I'M
dertakings of magnitude are being
abandoned or remotely postponed be-
cause of this uncertainty regarding the
/! future. Small gold exports are not
cause for uneasiness with the treasury
vaults holding about $643, 900, 900, and it
must be remembered that thus far this
year the outgo has been exceptionally
light. Railway earnings continue to
far surprising last years by 1874 per
cent and those of 1901 by 1913 per cent.
Bank exchanges at New York We're PHI
per cent smaller than in 1902 and 52.2
Hess than two years ago. AT other lead
ing cities decreases were only IL and
SO per cent, respectively.
|
iron in April was accompanied by a de-
crease in furnace stocks, testifying to
Vigorous consumption and wholesome
conditions in the steel industry. Textile
manufacturing conditions are extremely
| Irregular, some Improvement being
noted at wooden mills, while cotton
| spinners are in a bad position. More
business has been done in mems wear
woolens and worsteds than at any re-
having at last begun to appear Aside
from few exceptional cases in which
small advances We're secured there are
no alterations in prices. More idle ma
chinery in the worsted division curtails
| supplies and adds 1irmness to the tone
| Carpets opened at the expected advance
and met with a brisk demand. Cotton
mills are harassed by the phenomenal
Quotations for raw material, being I'M
from buyers Of goods, who only pur-
chase such small quantities as are re-
Iquired Immediately. Not only has there
been no advance in print cloths, but a
Especial sale at cents occurred. This
was not from producers. but was a re-
sale of goods purchased at a highe,
figure earlier in the season. Mills have
mot made any general reduction in out
put, altho the subject is under consid-
GRAFTON, and several concerns have re-
creased the number of active looms.
1t was to be expected after the re-
markedly heavy foreign trade of March
| that a more normal movement would
occur in the following month. Yet the
decrease of $22,551, 1928 in value of mer-
chandise exported appears disturbing
until the statement is examined in de-
tail, when it appears that no loss &C.
Cured in shipments of manufactured
products, and scarcely any net altera-
ton in foodstuffs, practically all the
decrease being In cotton. Doubtless
| excessive prices also had something tC
do with the loss in shipments Of pro-
visions. Imports in April We're valued
at $S,51S,733 less than in the phenome-
nal month preceding, but there still APP
peared a gain of $i1,S92,930 over the
corresponding month last year.
Liabilities of commercial failures fol
May thus far aggregated $3,21S,05S, Of
which $1,429,767 were in manufacturing
81 ,173,OSO in trading, and $615,211 ir
other commercial lines. Failures this
Hast week were 1876 in the United States
against 22S last year, and thirteen ir
Canada, compared with seventeen 8
lyear ago.