The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-02-08
OUR HOME COMMERCE
VOLUME LARGEST IN
HISTORY OF COUNTRY.
Greatly Increased Activities In Iron,
Steel and Copper Industries Par
ticularly NotabIe-Much Grain and
Fuel Shipped.

The aggregate volume of internal
commerce during the year 1905 was
undoubtedly the largest for any cor
responding twelve-month period in the
history of the country, according to
reports received by the department of
commerce and labor through it's
bureau of statistics. The greatly in
creased activities in the iron, steel
and copper industries were particu-
larly worthy of note, having caused
iron production, according to reliable
commercial sources, to advance 40 per
cent, and copper nearly Is per cent,
over similar production in 1904. AS
natural consequence, fuel consump.
ton was strongly augmented, SO that
coal and coke were heavily increased.
important Staples
Other movements of important
staples, such as the receipts and ship
ments Of grain and live stock, also
presented, in the aggregate, heavy
gains, while lumber production and
shipments in practically all sections
of the country, including the southern
and gulf states, the Mississippi and
Wisconsin valleys, and the Pacific
slope, were far in excess of what they
were in 1904. Add to these facts that
the value of imports and exports dur
ing 1905 showed a combined advance
of $318,890,956, and some idea may be
obtained of the scope of the increase
in commercial activities which seems
to have permeated the whole industrial
fabric of the country. Under such
circumstances it is not remarkable
that nearly all the great railroads
should report a marked Improvement
in both gross and net earnings.
Live Stock Receipts
At the markets of Chicago, Kansas
City, Omaha, ST. Louis, St. Joseph
and ST. Paul live stock receipts dur
ing the month of December aggregated
1881, 657 head, of which 741,736 head
were cattle, 36,469 calves, 1,S03,358
hogs, 636,996 sheep, and 33,O9S horses
and mules. The similar total inbound
movement during corresponding
month in 1904 amounted to 3,O53,719
head, and in 1908 to 3,173,175 head.
Similar receipts at these markets dur
ing the year 1905 aggregated 38,201,-
261 head number over two and one
half million head greater than that
for the like period in 1904, and more
than three million head heavier than
that for 1908. The 1905 movement
was divided into S,S07,S16 cattle, 721
951 calves, 17690,24S hogs, 10,515,677
sheep, and 465,569 horses and mules
AS compared with the 1904 figures
gains were made in the arrivals of al
five of the classes of animals specified
the gain in hog receipts amounting te
over million head.
Grain Receipts
The total grain receipts at twelve
important interior primary markets
during the month of Decembel
amounted to S0,S74,o40 bushels, o
which 23,670,63S bushers were wheat
27,571,635 bushels corn, 19,O74,20'
bushels oats, 9056,290 bushels barley
and 1,501,271 bushels rye. A tota
corresponding inbound movement a
these cities during the similar mont
| in 1904 aggregated 6S,695,58 bushels
being over 100000 bushels less thai
the 1905 receipts, due to increases il
the latter year in arrivals of wheat
oats, rye and barley.
During 1905 receipts of grain a
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