Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-21
BUSINESS AT LEADING POINTS.
Confidence and Trade Both Expanding
in All Lines.

Confidence and Trade Both Expanding
in All Lines.
| New York Sept. 21.-Gradual i'm
provement in the commercial situation
| Is encouraging, altho the volume of
trade has not expanded in proportion
to the growth of confidence. Re-
sumption of work at manufacturing
plants is the best evidence Of progress
the number Of unemployed steadily,
| tho slowly diminishing. Scarcity of
water is an adverse influence at sew
eral points, but early relief Is pre-
dicted. idle freight cars decreased 3d.
371 during the last fortnight covered
by the associations statistics. and the
number out of repair was reduced by
1862, making net gain of 3S,O33 cars
in the number in use. Yet railway
earnings thus far reported for Septem-
Der were 81 per cent smaller than
in 1907, indicating that there is still
much lost ground to be regained. Re-
tail trade in fall wearing apparel de-
velops slowly. but jobbers have had
a fairly good season and are now
shipping freely. Several returns for
the last week exhibited little or no
loss as compared with similar figures
for 1907. notably shoe shipments. flour
output, and bank exchanges at some
points.
Chicago. Steadier conditions are
seen in production and distribution,
altho new demands in manufacturing
include none of special Importance.
Meters Of pig iron are buying more
freely against future needs, prices be-
ing more inviting. Outputs of rails,
wire and merchant shapes run closer
to normal and there is a good de-
mand for light rails and structural
steel, but contracts for standard rails
and passenger coaches do not yet ap-
pear to the extent expected. Wood
working branches obtain fair amount
of new business and the general de-
mand for lumber maintains healthier
tone. There is wider activity in the
movement Of both hard and sort
woods, receipts here being now almost
NORMAL and prices generally arm at
the recent advance. Building opera
lions make seasonable progress, ana
new permits indicate unusual demands
for materials. Prices for stone, brick
and cement are flrmer and more hands
are employed in quarry outputs.
Leather is under steady absorption,
hides firm for available supplies and
the shoe, betting and novelty produc-
ers obtain satisfactory bookings for
future deliveries Electric shops turn
out increased goods.
pittsburgh Merchandise lines do not
show much Improvement and COM
plants OF slow collections continue,
Retail merchants report trade dull ana
make no purchases from jobbers IN any
volume. Dry. goods are inactive and
forward business is very slow. Mer-
chants are buying only for actual needs
and are still conservative as to the
future. The lumber market is quiet
and while hardware has shown some
Improvement, the trade Is still SLOW.
Machinery market is quiet. There is a
fair movement in coal and shipments
to lake ports continue fairly heavy. but
river operators have not been able to
move coal for number Of weeks.
Kansas City-Jobbers are well
pleased with the present volume of
business; hot weather retards some
lines. Retail trade is fairly good. The
ylelQ OIL hduSIS WlIiICL WiSoS ~ ~
Cos, 900 bushels, $4,000 bushels greater
than in 1907 with a fairly good quail
ity. A large corn crop is expected, as
much larger acreage was planted.
Southwestern mills are running very
strong. Kansas City mills turned out
"a, 400 barrels of flour. Very few export
sales were made. Wheat moved freely,
and trading was good. Corn and oats
are in good demand, but easier. Cattle
supplies are large and prices closed
lower and hog receipts are liberal.
Bank deposits increase but loans are
no better and most of the banks are
in the market for outside paper. Dis
counts are steady at to per cent.
Portland, Ore.-Retail business con-
tinues quiet, but jobbing trade is of
fair volume and buyers show more con-
fidence in the future. The crops are all
safe, and while not of record size, are
nearly normal in quantity and gener-
ally of choice quality. The resumption
of railroad building in several parts of
Oregon has done much to improve the
feeling in agricultural and commercial
circles Sales of new wheat to date are
estimated at so to 40 per cent of the ex-
portable SURPLUS rlue IeIIletlHucI VI lIlS
crop is held firmly by farmers. Wheat
shipments from Portland for the two
months of this cereal year are 56s,0S1
bushels as compared with 1882 BUSH
els, in the same period last season.
st. Paul-Retail trade in fall wear
ing apparel develops slowly, but re-
ports of continued Improvement in job
bling lines are general Dry goods sales
approach last years figures. Hat, cap
and fur trade makes satisfactory
showing, and there is an active de-
rnand for millinery and women's wear.
Footwear manufacturers operate full
time. Harness is in increased demand,
buyers showing some disposition to an
ticipate wants, and factories are fair
ly we'll employed. Rubber clothing and
footwear is steady. Hardware is in
we'll sustained demand, and builders
materials are fairly active. Sales of
wholesale drugs and chemicals make
favorable comparison with 1907 and
there is evidence of Improvement in
the jewelry and notion trade. Groceries
are active and firm. Collections are
more prompt.
Minneapolis results are
proving better than expectations in
many sections and while at some points
10 +,,rpc ora poor both as to u1lantityA