Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-29
TRADE. CONDITIONS ARE GOOD.

Viewed as whole, the business
conditions over the country, to the
east and west, north and south, are
good. Reports from the leading bust
ness centers all agree upon this point
and they even go farther, indicating
that the encouraging conditions will
continue indefinitely. Future orders
are large and travelling men report
good business in all lines. Reliable
reports from Chicago and Philadelphia
show the following facts regarding
business In those two trade centers,
eastern and western:
Chicago-The improved demand for
money is maintained. Trade condi-
tons exhibit further Strengthening
from new demands and there is heavy
consumption Of commodities. The
weather is seasonable and this has
permitted much outdoor work. Retail
trade is excellent and Easter sales
make favorable comparison with a
year ago. The movement Of raw ma
terial has largely Increased with the
opening of lake navigation and rail
road traffic shows no diminution Com
pared with the corresponding week
last year grain receipts are IS per cent
larger and shipments have almost
trebled Arrivals Of live stock and
hides were heavier. The markets for
food stuffs have been active and val
ues for provisions. hogs and sheep
turned lower. Packing was on large
scale and the liberal offerings stopped
the recent rise in pork and ribs. Mer-
camille collections for both the city
and interior are reasonably prompt.
Merchants report country trade larger,
and there is more cash buying than
formerly. Dealings in the jobbing
Road salesme en- forward good orders
for warm weather staples and reas-
sentiments are frequently called for in
dry goods, clothing and footwear. The
demand has been good for groceries
and collateral lines, and sales have in
creased in drugs. tobacco, paints and
hardware Receipts Of lumber were
43,268,0O0 feet against 46,236,000 feet
last week and 28,352,000 feet year
ago. Shipments to the interior were
increased, and dealings at the yards
exhibit unusual activity, the demand
having advanced for both building and
manufacturing purposes, with prices
unusually good.
Philadelph.a.-Texti manufacture
ers are doing fair business, except in
upholsterers' trimmings and material,
in which line trade continues unusu-
ally dull, with but little prospect of
improvement during the present sea-
son. Manufacturers have been COM
PEELED to revise their calculations.
There are repeated instances of mills
coming back into the market for wool
after they had purchased their sea-
sons supply, and this demand iG still
strong, with light supply, and the new
clip commanding considerable in
crease over last year. Cotto, goods
are firm, with stronger tendencies,
partly due to steady foreign demand,
and the mills are fairly busy. Whole
salers in dry goods. clothing and wool
ems report satisfactory trade. and the
improvement is also marked by pro-
nounced activity in incidental lines,
such as tailors' trimmings, etc. Foot
wear sales are hea7Ty and prices tend
to advance, the prize of leather and
demand both favoring.
Coming closer to home, jobbers and
manufacturers in Iowa report a
healthy condition Of affairs. In OF
t,lmwa, though just at present the
weather is bad, business in both re-
tail and wholesale lines Is very sub
stantial and the better qualities of
goods are being purchased. AS spring
opens, it becomes evident that Ottum-
wa is to experience continuance of
the building boom which has improved
Ottumwa's appearance during the past
two years or more. Tomorrow work is
to begin on the preparations To-, the
erection Of a modern six-sto-J Office
building on the principal corner of the
city. The outlook, at home and
abroad, is an encouraging one.
WHEAT CORNERS.
John W.Gates, by losing in his great