Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-05-19
THE PROGRESS OF TRADE.

The settlement of the anthracite
coal strike and the resumption of traf-
f1c on the great lakes have improved
domestic trade conditions very mate
rally, according to Dun's Review for
this week, and now that the French
elections have passed without any Sc
rious outbreak the international out
look is counted good.
Foreign conditions are of unusual
Importance to business interests in
the United States owing to the pres
ent close relations of the money mar
kets. Prices Of secures have recov.
cred part of the recent loss, and heavy
rarily relieved the financial stringen.
cy. Manufacturing plants operate
close to their full capacity, with or.
ders in the steel industry already run.
ming well into 1907 and structural
work was never more active, Whole.
sale trade in fall and winter goods is
on large scale, but unreasonable
weather causes much complaint re
garding retail distribution Of mer
chandise, and retards work on the
farms in several important sections.
This element Of uncertainty as to the
crops tends to maintain quotations OF
staples at a high position. Dun's In.
dex Number Of commodity prices on
May / was $106,059, against $106,066 q
month previous, the slight decline be-
ing supplied by dairy and garden pro
ducts, but compared with the level OF
all quotations year ago there is an
advance of 81 per cent.
Liabilities of commercial failures
thus far reported for May amounted to
SO, 079,820, of which $1.7S6,75S were in
manufacturing. $1,261,954 In trading
and $31.10S in other commercial lines
Failures this week were 200 in the
United States against 1877 last year
and IL in Canada compared with 81 8
year ago.
Reports from various trade centers
for last week follow:
Chicago-Weather conditions were
mainly favorable to enlarged distribu
ton Of seasonable merchandise and
some lines report gains, particularly
retail dry goods, household furnish
ings and clothing. Wholesale deal
ings fully maintained normal aggre
gate for this period, and some recorders
appeared, involving urgent forwarding
to interior points. Mercantile collec
lions throughout the territory tribu
tary to this market are slower than
a month ago, caused to some extent
by the San Francisco disaster, and the
proportion of failures is somewhat
heavier than at this time last year.
Boston-Woolen and cotton mills
are well employed. Cotton yarn spin
ners are sold ahead, and prices are
strong. Dry goods jobbers report bus
mess about up to the average for this
season of the year, and hardware deal
ers are active.
Pittsburg-Ther is heavy demand
for lumber and prices are firm. Hard
ware is moving briskly and consum
ers are liberal in their demands.
Minneapolis Wheat seeding is
practically finished, and the acreage
is fully up to the average. Trade is
fairly active, but orders generally are
small Collections are slow, April
building permits amounted to 1898.
$50, making total of $2,629,275 fol
the first four months of 1906, as com
pared with $3,O75,625 for the cores
ponding period of 1905. Lumber ship
ments for the week were 7,280,000 feet
against 100000 feet a year ago.
Observation-Disclosures of shirts, col
lars and cuffs are busy, the demand
being heavy and business ahead Of
last year.
Makers Of fine gloves
continue busy, but the demand for
heavy goods is not SO active Makers
of ladies' long gloves, both silk and
kid, are having an unusual trade, but
are unable to meet orders. Banks re
port large loans due to liberal leather
purchases.
Philadelphia The wool market con
tinues quiet, and manufacturers are
sufficiently supplied for Immediate
wants. Stocks and assortments are
much depleted. Manufacturers of tex
tiles are well employed. The whole
sale dry goods trade is fairly active
Manufacturers are making active
preparations for large fall business
and many large orders have been re
ceived from men on the road. The
Il : 80 I