Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-19

high priced articles continue IN mucn
demand. particularly in seasonable
wear and house furnishings. Stocks
are we'll reduced in most lines. "A
very large distribution is seen in mems
clothing and boots and shoes. Mail
mands from new territory where cat
alloys We're sent for the first time, and
their ordinary custom buying is large
compared with any previous January.
In wholesale and jobbing there is sur
prisingly good house buying and more
than the usual number OF country
buyers seek early deliveries.
At Pittsburg the iron market has
been considerably more active during
the past week, especially on pig iron
and steel billets. The independent
producers have been getting better
prices and are willing to pay more for
raw materials. Most of the Bessemer
pig iron has been sold for the first half
of the year at prices far in advance
Of what was obtained one year ago.
Boston reports that business con-
ditions continue satisfactory. Season.
able weather has helped the sale of
heavy goods in wearing apparel and
footwear, and retail stocks are cleaning
up well. Jobbing trade in all branches
continues good and the opening OF new
spring lines is satisfactory in point
OF sales. The general distributiye
movement Of merchandise is good,
when the car shortage is considered.
There is delay, Of course, as the rail-
roads are giving preference to coal,
the forwarding of which is made nee
essary by the demands OF the public.
Collections are reported as satisfac-
tory, and there are no serious financial
disturbances.
Minneapolis flour mills are selling
practically all their output. for domes-
tic requirements with prices holding
firm.
AT st. Louis the severe cold weather
had an invigorating effect on retail
trade. There has been some suffering
on account Of the shortage of coal
supply, but so far there has been no
trouble with manufacturers and with
large consumers. There is still con-
gestion Of coal on the east side of the
river. Chicago is drawing more heav-
lily than usual on the Illinois coal
fields. In jobbing lines merchants
have not been able to gain much on the
orders on file, as new orders are COM
ing In as rapidly as the old ones can
be disposed of. Spring orders are
fully IS per cent heavier than usual
at this season, and indications are that
they will be further increased. They
are especially heavy in dry goods and
shoes.
Omaha jobbers In nearly all lines are
very busy, and spring orders are ahead
of last year.
At Kansas City all jobbing lines re-
port orders much heavier than at this
season for some years, and some re-
port that delivery is asked for earlier
than usual.
At southern points retail and jobbing
trade is good. AT New Orleans trade
is fair in volume, tho the disposition
of a large number OF merchants thru
out this section is to delay operations
until the season has become far enough
advanced to permit of an intelligent
estimate of the prospects of the forth
coming sugar, rice and other crops.
At Portland, Ore, an unsurpassed
holiday trade has been succeeded by
an equally satisfactory January move
ment. which was materially aided by
good weather. The abnormally heavy
rainfall Of the fall and early winter was
followed by bright weather, and as
there has been no snow and little frost
crop conditions are excellent.