The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-09-13
SUPPLY OF LABOR
CONTINUES SHORT
CAUSES DELAY IN HARVESTING
AND RESTRICTS OUTPUT.
FARM WORK LIMITS TRADE
TiIIers Of the Soil Are Too Busy at
Present to Visit the Stores,
Except for Current
Supplies.

New York, Sept S.-R. G.. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade says:
Money market Irregularities had no
Ill effect on legitimate business, and
prices of securities quickly rallied
when gold imports were arranged.
Scarcity of labor is much more i'm
portant trade influence, restricting
production of factories and causing
delays in harvesting of crops, while
structural work is also retarded. Fall
jobbing trade is making progress,
shipping departments forwarding
goods as rapidly as possible. Leading
centers are crowded by interior buy
ers, who place liberal orders, especial
ly for wearing apparel. Quotations
are well maintained and some i'm.
provement is noted in collections. A
seasonable increase appears in retail
trade at most points, although urgen.
cy of work on the farms limits bust.
ness in those sections.
Main Factors in Prosperity.
Wholesome reports from the iron
and steel industry and expectation of
large crops have developed tone of
confidence in the commercial world
that makes the outlook bright and en-.
courages new undertakings. Resump-
ton of work at window glass factories
has been deferred because of the large
stock on hand, but in most industries
there is more complaint on account of
inadequate supplies. Movement of
crops adds to the railway congestion,
and earnings in the month of August
were 14.5 per cent. larger than last
year. Foreign commerce at this port
for the last week shows an increase
of $2,327,S70 in exports and loss of
$379,S19 in imports as compared with
the same period of 1905.
Buyers Are Conservative.
Textile markets still show evid ences
of conservatism among buyers, al
though mills are busy and confidence
in the future is not impaired.
Only a seasonable amount of new
business has appeared at New Eng
land footwear markets. but the tone
is no less firm.
Failures this week in the United
States as reported are 1873, against
10 last week, 167 the preceding week,
and $50 the corresponding week last
year. Failures in Canada number
8, against Ia last week, "a the pre-
ceding week, and 20 last year.
Bradstreet's Report.
Bradstreet's report in part follows:
Trade and industry display more
snap, sales, shipments and outputs in
crease, and, later improve as cooler
weather sets period to the vacation
season and fall activities become
more pronounced. State fairs, special
traed displays and low rate excursions
help to attract buyers, who reflect con-
fidence born of good crop returns and
faith in a heavy future trade. Job
bers and wholesalers report business
active, buying free and shipments tax
ing facilities. Railroads return the
same report as to business offering,
and there are rather more evidences
of strain to operating facilities by the
heavy movements of crops, merchan-
disc and fuel. Crop reports, though
more variable, are in the main favor
able. The essential soundness of mer-
camille affairs is evidenced by the Au-
gust failure total being the hghtest
in any month for seven years, though
individual examples of financial dis
honesty swell liabilities of insoIvent
concerns. Collections are rather bet
ter than of late, western and north
western reports being most favorable.