Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-10
BETTER AND BETTER.

With business in every line contin-
uing good and with prospect for a
good summer season, reports from the
different centers of business activity
show encouraging conditions. Good
times" Is the only expression that cor
rectly and fully explains the situation
as the following returns show:
Chicago large increase appears
In the number of visiting buyers and
this has added to activity in the mar
kets for staples wholesalers reporting
q strong demand in general dry goods.
suits and cloaks, mems furnishings
and footwear. Mail order demands
from the interior continue of salts
factory extent and country merchants
expect that spring trade will be as
good as last year. Farmers plan many
improvements and OUTLAWS for these
promise to be liberal. Mercantile col
lections continue satisfactory.
Grand Rapids-The furniture expo
sition has closed, and while sales were
not as heavy as in January, 1905, a
large volume of business has been
transacted. The lumber market is
firm, with advancing prices Unseason-
able weather has had depressing eff
feet on the grocery trade; sales are
not as large as usual and collections
are somewhat slow. Sales of light
rubber evvds have been fair, but the
demand for heavy rubbers is not up to
former seasons.
st. Paul-January sales make a very
satisfactory showing, new high rec
.ords being established in some depart
ments. The wholesale drug trade is
heavier than ever before, markets are
steady and sales for the month were
considerably larger than last year. Dry
goods sales exceed all previous rec
ords for the same period. The hats
tive and footwear manufacturers are
fully employed. Groceries and provi-
sions are in strong demand. Hardware
trade is we'll up to expectations and
harness manufacturers are busy.
Spring trade in millinery is satisfact-
ory and jewelry is fairly active. Col
lections are fair.
st. Louis-Distribution of spring
goods is now well under way, with dry
goods, clothing and millinery leading.
Mail orders and orders from travelling
statesmen are fair and collections good.
Boston-Activity in the mills and
factories is as pronounced as former
ly and the volume Of business in the
wholesale circles is satisfactory in
most branches Dry goods jobbers re-
port an active demand for prints, ging-
hams and all wash fabrics, retailers
buying freely and with confidence.
Philadelphia-Tra in iron and
steel continues strong with no abate-
ment in the demand, prices remaining
firm. There is a scarcity of pig iron,
but prospects for an improved condi-
ton are good. Consumption Is well up
to production. Finished products are
In heavy demand and large amount
Of work is on hand. Anthracite col
lieries have been closed during a part
Of the week on account of lessened de-
mand, but bituminous coal is active
and prices are steady. Machine shops
are well employed. The consumption
of wool has been active, but the mills
are sufficiently supplied for present
needs and are not buying for future
consumption. Holders are firm. Some
lots of unwashed feeces running large
" to quarter and low grade have been
offered at 291a and 80 cents, and the
weeks transactions include territories
and foreign and domestic fleeces on
private terms. Textile manufacturers
are we'll employed. and working about
full capacity. Wholesale dry goods
houses selling to the manufacturing
trade report business good with aver
age collections; those selling to re-
tailers find trade fair, and collections
satisfactory.