Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-31
STOCK PAYMENTS
BIG in january
WALL STREET JOURNAL EsTI-
MATES INCREASED DISBURSE-
MENT NEXT MONTH.
New York, Dec, 2s-Bradstreet's to,

New York, Dec, -Bradstreet's to-
| day says:
Trade as whole has been quiet
and industry has slackened peroptibly,
but the financial situation mas eased,
except where, as in case of New York,
large end of year disbursements have
to be provided for Mild weather is
still complained of as affecting the re-
| tail trade in seasonable goods, such as
clothing, shoes, rubber footwear, and
kindred lines. At some cities the
usual January reduction in sales were
neld in December, in many instances
occurring before Christmas. The job
bling trade was quiet till a latter date,
when the usual clearance sales were
made, arousing fair amount of inter-
est. Wholesale business has been quiet
and both this line and the jobbing
trade note the receipt of many re-
quests to delay the shipment of goods.
Industrial lines are quieter, very
general shutting down for the holidays
being noted. and the textile trades es-
pecially have shown tendency to
further cutail. Iron and steel trade is
rather quieter also, and the first cuts
in finished steels are noted in the re.
duction of steel bars to the extent Of
50 ton.
Business Failures.
The business failures in the United
States for the week are GAG, against
161 in the like week in 1906. Canadian
failure are so, against Is this week a
year ago.
Wheat including flour. exports for
the week are 6,255,000 bushels against
2,495, 900 bushels this week last year;
for twenty-six weeks of the fiscal year,
113, $4,000 bushels. against 93,55S,00O
bushels in 1906-1907.
Dun's Report.
New York, Dec, 2s-Duns report is
as follows:
The holiday trade was very heavy
during tne last few days before Christ
) mas, raising the total for the season
above expectations, although the COM
parjson with last years figures are I'M
favorable at most points.
General business has been quiet as
is customary at this time, and the
manufacturing plans have increased in
the percentage of idle machinery. Dry
goods jobbers stimulated a trade by
special clearance sales.
readily for pay roles, but little i'm.
provement is recorded in mercantile
collections. More wage-earners are
unemployed than at any previous
time this year yet many factories and
mills announce resumption early in
1908.
Many Iron Plants Idle.
A. large percentage of the nations
iron and steel-producing capacity has
) closed down until after January l, and
in few cases quotations are lower
+. but there Is confidence in an early re
sumption of activity. Textile produc
!, ton has been curtailed still further
through the concerted action of the
New England cotton spinners, ant
the diminished output, together witt
the absence of any effort to force sales
has sustained quotations. No increase
I has occurred in the movement of new
I lines of woolens. and many descrip
lions are still held back. 1t is expected
: more interest will be shown after Jan
: uary /.
The year draws to close will
brighter prospects for spring business
I in footwear than has been seen TO
: several months. New business ha
been secured at the expense of values
: however, and quotations for most o
the varieties Of boots and shoes arr
> moderately lower.
Weekly Bank clearings.
il New York, Dec. 2S.-Tne total banl
: clearings, compiled by Bradstreets 70
the principal cities in the Unite'
l. States for the past week, were $1,822
s 991 900, against $2,816,999,00O in tn
corresponding week last year.