Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-21
BUSINESS FEATURES.

BUSINESS fERJUhCS.
Business is decidedly better than at
any recent date, and the Improvement
is not confined TO activity in holiday
goods, although the best reports con-
Germ those lines. Continued low tenn
sales, but jobbers are receiving sup
Elementary orders for seasonable
goods and collections are more prompt
Building permits issued during No
vember exceeded the same month last
year. railway tonnage is heavy. and
several manufacturing branches are
starting idle machinery. This nation s
international position was greatly
strengthened by foreign commerce re-
suits last month, and that the position
is being maintained is evidenced by ex-
ports for the last week. s2.14S376 larg-
err than a year ago from this port
alone. While imports decreased $1,000
1874. Gold came from abroad in large
bulk, raising treasury holdings to a
new high water mark. and the amount
of money in circulation is far beyond
all previous records. On the other
hand, there is no improvement of the
situation in the cotton industry. and
fuel producers are restricting output
while additional reductions in wages
make the total number affected fully
but, as a rule, there are few labor con-
troversies. Earnings of the railways
5.3 per cent larger than a year ago. but,
largely because of decreased activity
at the stock exchange. bank exchanges
for the last week at this city We're 20.f
per cent smaller than in 1902. AT other
leading cities there was a decrease of
90 per cent.
Confidence is increasing in the iron
and steel Industry, and the feeling is
becos,ing more general that prices will
moi be materially lower. except in some
departments that have not vet parti-
cipated in the readjustment. Grain
moves within narrow limits, and for
eign crop reports indicate fairly
heavy yield. although some cables are
less favorable than earlier conditions
promised. Western receipts of wheat
for the week were 5.691,269 bushels,
l02 bushels of corn compare with 81
S34.S36 in 1902 Exports of wheat, in
Guiding flour. amounted 10 3.lS0,341
bushels, against 2os7.os7 last year,
While Atlantic coast shipments of corn
were only 5o3,2l2 bushels. compared
With 1.352,900 year ago.
Exports during November were VAL
ued at s160.455,590. which surpasses
all other monthly records with the
single exception of October, 1900. and
the last two months exports far
eclipse any other two in the nations
history. But while November exports
were $S5,000,000 larger than the same
month last year. imports were about
ss,000.000 smaller than In 1902, max
ing the net balance in favor OF this
country ss3.3ss.7s4, compared with
s39.S14.44S year ago. Adding net ex-
ports of S3.D11.336 silver, and the heavy
net imports of s10,367,193 gold, this
country strengthened its international
position to the extent of $7e.537,927, a
truly remarkable record for single
month 1t Is, of course, a simple mat
ter to locate the bulk of the increase
in exports. Both as to quantity and
value the outgo of cotton was phe-
nomenal; 1,224,509 bales averaging 10.S
cents a pound, making total value of
s67,9S2.2s4. which far eclipses any 9th
er month on record.
Liabilities of commercial failures
thus far reported for December aggre-
gated s10,121,422, of which s5,4242O4
We're in manufacturing, $3,455410 in
trading and s1,241.s0S in other COM
mercial lines. Failures this past week
numbered 329 In the United States.
against 267 last year, and In Canada
twenty compared with sixteen year
ago.