Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-27
BUSINESS At LEADING POINTS.

terms, but business feels the weak
ened purchasing power of the thou
sands still unemployed. AS it becomes
possible to make commercial loans at
s per cent, there is a disposition to
extend operations, many mills now
producing for distribution next fall and
winter. Retail trade in seasonable
been retarded by mild weather, and
that return little profit Buyers have
arrived in large numbers in the New
| York jobbing dry goods market, placing
| fair orders at the lower prices named on
some descriptions, and this forward
business was also liberal at other large
| tinue to improve, altho still backward
at many points. Industrial news Is
| slightly more encouraging on the
| whole but there is much idle ma
chinery. and the coal output has been
curtailed on that account. together
| with the hardness of winter. Mercan-
tile collections show shomewhat bet
| ter, and there is less apprehension as
to credits. January settlements having
brought increased failures and the
elimination of many weak concerns
/ Chicago exhibits an inn
proved tone, and renewed confidence
in the outlook becomes more general.
Activity at the banks is of the high
est volume in nearly twelve weeks.
Many borrowers requiring large
amounts expect to obtain cheaper ac-
comnodation in the near futura and
withhold commitments for supplies of
material until the conditions improve.
Not much effort appears toward in
creasing production, but some lines
work up slowly, and more machinery
and labor are employed than week
ago in iron, wood and leather
branches. A firmer tone in prices of
pig iron and more inquiry is thought
to predict an early addition to the
furnaces operated, and there is wider
variety to the orders booked for light
rails and miscellaneous steel shapes.
wire being still in comparatively good
request for spring shipment.
Boston-Reports from wooden and
worsted mills are unfavorable in re-
gard to the volume of business in
mems wear goods for the fall of 1908.
The wool market is waiting for goods
to sell and is generally quiet, tho
steady. At first hands the cotton
goods market is demoralized, price
cuts being made in the face of rising
raw material. Dry goods jobbing
houses report steady distribution of
spring and summer merchandise, but
with the volume of business far below
last years record at this time.
Louisvile.-General business con-
tinues to show a small but steady i'm
provement, buyers only ordering nee
essities. The volume of hardware
sales is % to 80 per cent less than
year ago, and the demand is only for
staple goods. Harness leather and
supplies are so and 35 per cent behind
last year and tanners are receiving
few orders.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. is consider
able idle machinery in the textile in
dustries, but some manufacturers re-
port a revival of trade and have
slightly increased their output.
Observation-Disclosures is slow, gro
ceries are only fairly active and prod
uce is irregular. The coal market con-
tinues fairly active, and the price is
unchanged on a basis of $1.15 to $1.20,
Pittsburg.
Cincinnati.-Retail trade continues
to the irregularity of prices, and bust
ness is moderate.
New Orleans..-Reports from job
hers and manufacturers indicate
general Improvement, but trade is only
fair and conditions are still unsatis-
factory. Collections are generally
slow Retail trade has been only fair
Kansas City-The retail trade APP
pears to be satisfactory Wholesalers
| report a gradual improvement.
st. Paul.-Continued mild weather
retards the distribution of seasonable
lines in wearing apparel and footwear
The recent decline in cotton goods
caused a tendency to defer buying, but
spring sales of dry goods are we'll up
to a year ago. In hats, gloves and
furnishings the demand equals eXpec-
tations, and millinery sales exceed
the corresponding period in 1907
Footwear manufacturers are well sup
piled with orders and there is better
demand for harness and saddlery
Wholesale drugs are steady. Jewelry
and notions are in fair request, gro
ceries are active and a good business
is reported in hardware. Machinery
and plumbers supplies are moving in
seasonable volume. Collections are
fair
Minneapolis-Re Retailers turnout the