The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-10-16
puN.s TRADE REVIEW

DuN's TRADE REVIEW.
In every section and in every branch
of trade activity in production and
distribution now prevails. It is not
able that in the principal trades. and
especially in iron and steel, actual
buoyancy appears. and the demand is
SO keen that it tests the capacity of
productive and Transporting facilities.
Shortage OF cars and labor, and in
some cases even shortage of plant
capacity are now the most embar-
RAISING problems confronting business
men, and besides these difficulties the
controversies and issues, which are
the offspring of depression, and which
not long ago seemed SO ominous, are
now viewed with diminishing concern
The enormous yield of the principal
crops, confirmed during the past week
by the latest government report show
ing record breaking yields of spring
wheat, corn, oats. barley and potatoes,
and big crops of other products, is the
basis, alike Of present Industrial and
trade activity and of the growing con-
| fidence as to the future. Even the out
break of war in Europe creates no
uneasiness on this side of the water.
In iron and steel the record continues
that of demand for prompt delivery
toutrunnning the capacity of the mills.
The railroads are buying heavily. for
their transportation facilities must be
expanded In order that they NAV be
able to move the unprecedented crops
and carry the traffic of thoroughly
awakened domestic commerce. Rail-
road gross earnings in the month of
September increased sc per cent, and
even this gain hardly represents the
actual expansion in trade. The bank
Eclearings more adequately show that;
in the current week they increased
] AS per cent over 1911 and ALB owe.
1910. Larger sales in dry goods, both
wholesale and retail, expansion in
THE shoe trade, and improving condi-
tons in other branches, supplying the
main daily wants of the people, are re-
ported in the adYices from the prin.
Icipal cities of the country. AS against
4
sumption and increased surplus OF
copper, according to the September
statement. It is noteworthy that
along with the revived activity in do
nestle trade, foreign commerce con-
tinues of large dimensions. The total
I commerce OF the port of New York in
f the latest week was s37,S2O. 500
against ss2.e04.132 last year, and of
this grain considerable proportion
vas in exports, which amounted to
4 sie,155.210 against s17,148,165 last
year
The most notable development of
the week was the extraordinary crop
report, the terms of which make GER
tain that the product OF the farms this
year viii snrpass, both in volume and
value, anything ever before witnessed
4 N any country and in any period OF
history Not only will the yield OF
corn be unprecedented, exceeding g.
o00. 000,o00 bushels, but oats, spring
wheat and barley all establish new
records, and other crops are in bount-
iful supply The nine principal har-
q vests are worth over 1900, 00O, 000-a
etupendoug addition TO the nations
wealth-and the other farm products
Will add another like amount. In the
speculative markets this week grain
prices were depressed by the official
returns, although showing strength
earlier because of the political situa-
ton abroad foreshadowing war. West
ern receipts OF wheat this week were
,209,s5S bushels against e,479,7s4 a
year ago, while exports from all ports
: of the United States, -four included;
of 4,o12,299 bushels compared with
3.o94,892 in 1911. Arrivals of 3.215..
, 247 bushels OF corn contrasted with
2,529,338 last year, but Atlantic coast
J shipments We're only 34,043 bushels
against 334,377 In 1911. Cotton broke
into new low ground for the present
J movement, good weather, large re
ceipts and the disturbance in Europe
being chiefly responsible.
, In the iron and steel trade the only
report possible is one of continuous
| expansion. The demand is rising
above the point of full capacity un
checked by advancing prices, and the
difficulty now Is to secure prompt
!. deliveries. The prevailing car short
age increases this difficulty. especial,