Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-11
LAST WEEKS BUSINESS.

| fleets the near approach of spring. and
| what is of greater significance. the
admirable conditions prevailing in the
winter wheat sections produce a more
! buoyant feeling III western trade cir
/ cles and the whole business situation
better because of unsettling influences
! prevailing in many parts Of the world.
! In Mexico and China in England where
! a menacing coal strike produces tenn
porary trade paralysis, and 10 much
| less degree in the United States where
an important election is pending These
| conditions tend 10 unsettle business
confidence. so that it is all the more
significant that a large trade move
ment is in progress in this country,
| with plain signs of expansion even
tho without any marked speculative
! discouating Of the future In other
words, there is a moderate forward
movement that seems healthy and con
sentative in spite of every adverse in
| fluence.
| In iron and steel there is a wider
demand. with an increased output of
pig iron and firmer prices in finished
products.
There is a continuance Of the recent
expansion in the dry goods markets
and in nearly every line in both cot
tons and woolens there is better
movement, with the labor troubles less
a factor.
! Leather continues dull. bat the trade
| is more hopeful. Hides are very strong,
! The coal trade now centers upon the
conferences to adjust differences be-
tween operators and miners. Copper
continues to advance. At the leading
cities a stimulative influence is the
/ breaking up Of winter This. especially,
| is expected to make the building trade
more active.
| Lumber has made some gains. Hard
! ware is moving well. Chemicals are
fairly active.
Money remains easier in this country
than abroad and some additional gold
| has been exported. Bank cleariags
! last week gained 200 per cent over
1911 and &c per cent over 1910; and
railroad gross earnings in February
/ Increased 7.2 per cent. The export
/ trade maintains its favorable aspect:
during the latest week exports from
1 New York were s17,235,507. a slight
falling off from 1911, but heavy gain
over 1910, and these were s2,346,S33
better than the imports. The total
commerce was s32,125.179 against s33,-
9G1 2s2 last year and s27 .sO3.528 in 1910.
/ The keynote Of the whole situation,
which is sounded by the weeks reports,
| is ap lain desire to move forward over
every hindrance, however big it may
be.
Light speculative operations were
the rule in the commodity markets and
price changes were generally narrow.
Cotton advanced in the face Of adj
verse labor news unfavorable weather
in the south acting as an offset. The
season is back ward in many sections,
but the outlook in Texas os the best
in a good many years. Exports are
unprecedented, and northern spinners
are buying more freely. Traders IN
wheat We're disposed to await the gov
eminent report on farm reserves Early
news was Of a depressing character
and gradual decline ensued, but a
! recovery followed when the markets
became oversold. Western receipts if
} wheat last week amounted to 2,274679
bushels against 2,091.396 last year,
: Uniteo States, flour included. Of L.
: 464465 bushels, compared with 1885,
4sO in 1911. Corn received setback
, thru heavy profit-taking and increased
} country offerings. Arrivals of this
2 cereal at primary points last week were
: 4,314.1O3 bushels against 4,171,923 a
2 year ago, and Atlantic coast shipments
r were f,969,447 bushels in comparison
t with 2.2Ss,24s in 1911.
l Liabilities of commercial failures re-
t ported for February amount to ST.
e 477,923, of which $11,245,11s We're in
manufacturing. $s,7s2. a06. in trading
t land $f,44ofi5O1 ia other commercial
, lines. Failures last week numbered