Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-01-14
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHT
While Retail Trade Conditions
Have Been Irregular Pros
poets are Generally Good
MANUFACTURERS ARE BUSY
Confidence is Warranted by the Mum :.
Der of New Orders and Deliveries on
Old Contracts are of Satisfactory
voIume-FaiIures Have Not In
creased-Trade News.

New York, Jan 14.-R. G.. Dun ~
Co.'S weekly review of trade TO-DAY
says:
Erratic weather produces irregularity
many points and southern business is
quiet, because of the depression in cot
ton. but tae general outlook is consii-
cred very bright.
Manufacturers report that confiden ,e
is warranted by the number of new or
ders while deliveries of old contracts
are of satisfactory volume. The best
news comes from the iron and steel in
dustry, while footwear factories ere
busy, wooden mills in exceptionally
good condition, and activity is assured
among tae Cotton Spinners' Assoc "a
ton as the raw material market he
comes settled.
Failures for January thus far COM
pare very favorably with last years
returns. Railway earnings increas ed
SIS per cent over those OF 1904, and Tor
eign commerce at this port compared
with last week shows gain OF 3d.
615,S67 in imports and loss Of only
$9S1,933 in exports.
Altho business is distributed some
what irlegularly owing to local coiIdl-
tons as to supply of fuel and other
materials, the iron and steel industry is
moving steadily forward. Statistics OF
pig iron production and consumption
at the opening of the year testify to
even greater prosperity than was an
ticipatei Nor is stability threatened
by speculative nation of prices as yet,
altho that is danger that us,! ally
MANAGES any revival of industrial &C
tivity.
Coke ovens in the Connellsville re-
gion are producing at maximum capac-
ity, and there is no handicap to pro-
gress in Pittsburg, but storms and
strikes still affect fuel supply at some
other points. Railways are pl;.cing
large contracts for all forms of equip
ment, and the demand for billets and
bars Is so urgent that premiums above
list prices are recorded on some ans
actions.
Failures this week numbered 1924 in
the United States against 324 last year
and Is in Canada compared with "a a
year ago.
New York. Jan. IA. Bradstreets
today says:
Activity in industry, partic 1larly
iron and steel and allied trades fur
nishes contrast to conditions In dis
tribution, in which there IS some ir-
regularity with seasonab;e qute tness
predominating In all but a few sec
TONS The undertone of the p resent
situation is one of strength, the poten-
tial demand is thought to be- very
light and the feeling is one of conf
dence.
Midwinter quiet rules wholesale
trade in most lines and specula ion in
securities and staples is quiet TO dull
at generally steady prices. Generally
speaking, manufacturing industry, hav-
ing three to four months business
booked ahead, is running very full and
displays more surface activity than
does new business. The season for
clearance sales in recall lines is we'll
under way and large distribu ton is
being. stimulated by special prices and
seascnable weather conditions In most
sections A notably quiet. trade at
present is that of cotton goods which
feel the effect of recent price declines
in the raw material in backward buy
ing.