Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-08
BUSINESS CONDITIONS.
Few Disturbances in Labor Market. and
Trade Is Generally Good.


New York, July S.-Trade is quiet,
but healthy in tone, and the past week
made moderate progress in the right
direction, despite the Interruptions OF
holidays and politics. Confidence in the
future is evidenced in many ways, en-
couragement being derived from fav-
orable crop reports and many COMPARE
sons showing that June produced much
better results than any month since the
setback last October. This was partic-
,larly noteworthy in the insolvency re-
cord, June being the first month or
1908 to supply smaller Liabilities OF
commercial failures than the corre-
spending month last year. Manufact-
uring returns show the customary mid
year curtailment of activity for inven-
tories and repairs, but resumption is
expected to be prompt, and many idle
plants started up on July l with fair
amount of business in sight, while
threatened controversies over adjust
ments in wage scales are not material
izing, labor leaders appreciatlng the
necessity of concessions in conformity
with reductions of prices.
Roston-Commercial and Industrial
development is slow and uneven. Estl-
mates of the advance purchases by
distributors of cotton fabrics do not
exceed so per cent of last years vol
ume. and at most mill centers efforts
for further curtailment of production
are being made. 1t has been a good
season for retailers, but dry goods job
bers are not having the demand for
goods that might be expected. Stock
Ent,o ri
aside from seasonable wash fabrics, are
still well stocked. Buyers operate very
cautiously and contract only for what
they urgently require. More activity IN
the raw material indicates that makers
of mems wear goods have received
more orders or have good prospects of
the same.
Observation-Disclosures slight I'M
provement is noted in the textile IN
dustries. and some machinery which
has been idle for the past six months
is now being put lin operation. Wool
maintains the recent Improvement and
in some descriptions a firmer tone IS
apparent The old supply of quarter
and three-eights grades has been
largely reduced and early shipments
Of fieeces, which are now arriving IN
some quantity, meet With fairly
prompt sales at current prices.
A moderate improvement is noted IN
iron and steel The demand for pig
iron is firmer, tho tonnage continues
small. Finished material is still rather
quiet and no large orders are reported,
tho there is some increase in in
quiries.
fSi.:. rio crnn
more encouraging exhibit. Seasonable
weather has stimulated various
branches. and, with the close of the
holidays there will be further re-
sumption in factory work and rail-
road shops, which will afford re-eln-
ployment for large number of work.
ers. Retail sales have been of graft
fying volume Stocks of merchandise
undergo much depletion here and at
interior points, the consumption being
fully equal to expectations, and there
is no pressure to get rid Of merchan-
disc, altho clearance sales have started
in some of the leading lines. Visiting
buyers attend the wholesale markets
in considerable numbers and operate
freely in fall and winter needs. Book
,ngs compare favorably with those at
this time last year in dry goods, food
products, mems furnishing and foot
wear.
nneapoMs.-Weather conditions
have been discouraging and merchants
withhold orders as much as. possible.
Agricultural supplies have been at
fected more than some other lines,
while only a normal volume of trade is
moving in dry goods and wearing APP
parel Hardware and builders sup
plies are moderately active. Collections
are SLOW Shipments of lumber for the
week were 2,640,000 feet.
Kansas City-During the past week
iobbers have been rushing out orders
accumulated while freight lines were
at a standstill on account of high wa
tel. Mail orders are plentiful and
there is quite an active demand for
cultivators and vehicles, with heavy
shipments of hay tools Of all kinds.
Weather conditions are good, and har-
vesting is about completed in large
part of this section. There is no mater
ial improvements in the flour trade.
Kansas City mills made $4,000 barrels
of flour the past week.