Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-05-25
BUSINESS FEATURES.


Weather conditions and the labor
situation are the dominant influences in
the business world. Unseasonably high
Temperature at many points, especially
in the east, stimulated retail trade in
wearing apparel and ether summer
merchandise to an unusual degree but
had a most unsatisfactory effect upon
vegetation, which was promptly re-
fected in diminished orders for sup
| plies and in some cases mere We're can
icellations. More conservatism was also
shown at the interior, where agricul-
tural progress met with a check, and
while no serious injury to the great sta
pie crops is yet reported, the delay to
planting induces caution among dealers.
Ion the whole there are fewer wage
learners voluntarily idle, yet the spirit
of unrest has caused thu abandonment
OF some new enterprises and the post
ponement Of others. which means less
| demand for structural materials and
time often being asked where formerly
| cash transactions for q slight discount
were the rule Aside from these two
adverse factors the trade situation is
favorable. and with average weather
and industrial peace there is every
prospect of continued prosperity thru
out the country. Manufacturing plants
are generally well occupied. especially
in footwear iron and steel. Traffic on
the railways is heavy, earnings thus far
reported for May exceeding last years
by 25.7 ger cent. Speculation in cotton
has been very active, reaching the
highest prices in many years, but In
creased dealings in securities brought
lower average quotations. Gold ex-
ports have continued heavy without
Icausing any stringency in the money
market, this country's international po-
sition being strengthened by the liquid
ation of foreign Indebtedness. Bank
exchanges for the week at New York
We're lie per cent largAIs than a year
ago and 22.2 per cent smaller than in
1901, while at other leading cities there
were gains of 10 and Go per cent re-
spectively.
Advances of about PER cent in wide
sheetings indicate that the cotton goods
market is beginning to respond to the
higher raw material. A still more en-
couraging sign is the greater interest
displayed by purchasers, altho this has
not materially increased business owing
of sellers. Print cloths are firmer, and
while there is no demand for regulars,
odd goods are sought freely. Reduced
output of worsteds has strengthened
the tone, and the recent advanced prices
for carpets have not prevented large
transactions There is no sign of re-
ments from Boston for the year thus
far exceeding the movement in 1902 by
100000 cases, and prices are fully MAIN
tanned.
Cotton has made more new high
prices for this season, spot middling up
lands SURPRISING the i2-cent record
touched during the manipulation in
January, 1901. Statistics OF supplies,
receipts and exports are no longer con-
sidered, nor do the prospects for the
S! uleID 'uonueRe eA!eoeI doIo Meu
fairly we'll sustained by irregular
weather conditions. Wheat is marketed
at the interior less freely than year
ago, 1,29S,341 bushels, comparing with
1,49S,494, while exports from all ports
of the United States were 4,672,9SO
bushels, against 3s63,56S d year ago.
Correspondents of r. G. Dun & Co. in
the corn belt report the crop very late.
Planting is being pushed as rapidly as
possible, but weather conditions are I'M
satisfactory, altho large acreage is be-
ing devoted to this cereal.
Liabilities Of commercial failures thus
far reported for May aggregate s4,S33,-
0S7 of which s1,s32.756 We're in manu-
featuring and s1.9S2,7oa in trading.
Failures last week were 191 in the
United States, against 1872 last year, and
fourteen in Canada, compared with
twelve year ago.
Half Rates to Annual Meeting of Ger.
man Baptist Brethren at Belle
fontaine, Ohio,
Via the Northwestern Line. Excur-
sion tickets will be sold at one fare for
round trip June LIST, limited for return
until June 9Th, inclusive. Apply to
agents Chicago & North Western Rail-