Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-25
OPTIMISM GENERAL
BOTH DUN AND BRADsTREET
SAY TRADE OUTLOOK is
ENCOURAGING.
Even Wall Street Admits That the
Present Prosperous Condition viii
Very Probably Continue for Some
Tme-orders Received by Factories

Time-orders Received by Factories
New York, Oct. 22.-Dun & Com
pany's review says today: The trade
reports are more encouraging each
week, while feeling of optimism re-
garding the future is becoming gen
eral. With its customary disposition
to discount commercial prosperity,
Wall street has lifted the average price
OF sixty of the most active railway
shares above par for the first time
since May last year. The manufacture
ing plants have steadily increased their
output, a particularly gratifying fea-
ture Of the week being the large ton
mage of steel purchased by railways,
and the advanced prices for pig iron
that suggests the depression in that in
dustry has run its course. The job
bling and the wholesale trade in spring
goods makes better comparison with
last years volume, and the current re-
tail distribution of merchandise is in
creasing. The foreign trade at this
port for last week shows q gain of
$2,15S.275 in imports over the same
week of 1908, but a loss of $1,14S,275
in exports.
A revival Of interest in finished steel
and practically all departments of the
iron industry has come so suddenly as
to excite particular comment although
1t is not surprising, considering the
enormous tonnage under consideration
for SO many months, held back alone
by caution of buyers who wanted to be
certain the market would go no lower
This new business is found in practi
cally every department notably those
pertaining to railways.
| The New England shoe shops are re-
ceiving a fair volume of orders fo1
spring shipment. Conditions are stead.
lily growing more satisfactory at the
wooden mills, except for great strength
Of raw material, and all sections of this
Industry are in sound condition.
Failures this week were 215 in the
United States, against 279 last year.
Bradstreet's Review.
Bradstreet's weekly Review of
Trade says: A good feeling in some
instances, closely approaching optim-
ism, dominates the general trade stu.
alton, but the undertone is withal one
OF conservatism, and there is general
desire to avoid overtrading.
| The last reports Of a good wholesale
trade are reflected in an increased
speeding of the wheels of the industry
The railway earnings turned the cor
ner in August, the roads of the coun
| try showing gain of fraction of /
per cent in gross and per cent
in net over 1903. Collections continue
to hold the Improvement noted last
week. The general jobbing demand
the country over Is most activeslin
staples, such as groceries, shoes, cloth.
ing, hardware and similar lines. The
better demand for pig iron, noted last
week, has gained in strength, and the
market reflected in further advances
| in prices.
The finished material does not show
| as much activity, but the railways are
buying material quite freely.
Hardware is active in all lines Other
metals are stronger; copper, tin and
lead being practically higher.
| Lumber is quiet at the east, but con.
siderable building is being done at
| the west.
Wheat, including -four exports for
the week are 1,066,000 bushels, against
4.285,000 last year, and from July to
date 20,972,000 bushels against 49,S07,,
900 last year. Corn exports for the
week are $4,000 bushels, against l..
100000 year ago, and from July /,
to date 9,S46,000 bushels, against IT,
051,0 900 in 1908.