Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-26
BUSINESS FOR the WEEK.

| BUSINESS is getting petter out IL IS
not getting better fast. seems TO be the
verdict of the commercial reviews for
| the week just assed The fact that
| labor is in a position to dictate better
terms for itself in many lines OF in
| dustry bespeaks more activity there for
labor always strikes when the orders
are congested and the fact that COM
modify prices are rising would indi-
cate more active markets in many
| lines
/ Duns Review says:
| Apart from the development of fur.
/! Their labor controversies. the general
! situation maintains its favorable as
poets. Recent settlement OF the trou-
! bles in the building trades in the west
=, has been followed by the adjustment
/ of the local clothing strike, but fresh
disturbances have arisen elsewhere,
notably at the oil plants in New Jersey.
Differences between employers and
! wage earners, however. are not yet SUI
iciently widespread 10 seriously inter-
! fere with the progress Of manufacture
! and distribution. altho the unsettled
! conditions make for increased conser-
walton in some directions 1t is not the
season for the tide of business TO rise,
but there are indications Of we'll
sustained volume of transactions in
various commercial and industrial
lines. Not the least significant OF
these is the steady upward trend OF
commodity prices, advances in the list
of SO quotations regularly compiled by
Dun's Review having ouenunbered de-
dimes each week since around the mid
die Of May. Most products are gaining
in value because of urgent foreign de-
rnands. bur in some instances domestic
consumption is also broadening.
Duns also reports increased activity
among buyers for mercantile establish
r,ents. saying:
Altho there has been a large atten-
dance in the primary dry goods mar
keis, forward trading is of a conserva-
tive character. Extensive and varied
displays are noted Of cotton wash fab
RIGS costly goods being shown in
greater quantities because OF the shut
ting off OF imports. Owing to the de-
cline of the raw material, buyers o: ,
cotton goods anticipate lower values,
hut sellers look for only minor re-
visions Wide sheetings have already
oeen priced for new season on the
basis OF last sales while print cloths
show slight advances for contract de-
liveries. Mems wear lines for spring
were opened al rise Of from cents
TO 80 cents q yard on low numbers.
Footwear manufacturers are we'll en-
gagged on fail and winter runs and, fol-
lowing the departure OF visiting buy
ers from the New England market.
liberal mail orders arc expected. The
bulk OF t!,a current demand IS for
STAPLES and apparently the freak styles
that have had an unsettling effect on
ths trade for some time are on the
wane AS a result OF the continued
strength OF hides and leather. produc-
ers Of shoes claim that an advance in
prices Of their product Is inevitable
The domestic demand for leather IS
| improving with the market for heavy
stock exceptionally strong.
Bradstreet's finds growing demand
for steel ard lumber and money, say
ing:
Further better7le nt Is reflected IN I'm
ishe5 steel: pig iron, late 20 fall in line
is frmer: everything III the nature OF
war supplies IS exceptionally active,
gagged in making munitions are being
converted 70 that purpose At the
same time labor Disturbances. all of
them based upon a desire for higher
Wa ges or shorter days work are more
in evidence, and the general DISPOSE
ton seems 70 favor granting Of the
concessions requested. Even lumber is
looking up. foreign demand for hard
woods being good, and If better ship
ping facilities We're available. this trade
would show noteworthy growth. Money
is in somewhat better demand, require
ments for crop-moving purposes are
readily met. and even the south looks
forward with equanimity TO the season
fer shipping cotton. In the southwest
wheat growers are tncliaed 20 market
their grain in a conservative way so
as TO reap the adyantag es TO be OBJ
tanned from remunerarive prices. Com
rnercial paper sells freely IN re west
and bank clearings for the ~ ntry as
a whole excel those Of one and two
years ago.