Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-22
TRADE CONDITIONS.

points but disappointingly slow at 9TH
ers, and collections are undoubtedly
backward. On the other hand, early
crop indications are excellent, soil con-
ditions facing spring are of the best
industrial operations continue to mend
and the wants Of foreign nations en-
gagged in war impart activity to a
| number Of industries.
In the west the larger lines tend to
| improve, some betterment is noted in
the southwest, northwestern advices
indicate more or less quiet, southern
reports are poor in parts Of the far
west distribution is inactive. in the
east there is much irregularity, while
on the Pacific coast business is slim
ulated by the exposition.
Poor cuntry roads, almost impassa-
BILE in some sections, following the
slow melting Of snow. restrict interior
buying. Thus far Easter trade has
not appeared in satisfactory volume,
and even where there is an uplift con-
servatism prevents far future buying,
counsels frequent small-lot purchases
and disposes merchants to work on
confessedly light stocks until uncer-
tainties are eliminated.
Besides war materials, farm machin-
cry for domestic use Is active and in
dustrial operations appear to be on the
slow mend. with idleness decreasing
and considerably less being heard Of
the problem Of unemployment. Silk
out foreign orders are working to ca
pacity or over. Automobile factories
are speeding up, there is slightly more
doing in lumber, barb wire for export
is active, foreign inquiries for finished
steel, covering the potential wants OF
months to come, are feature, and rail-
way buying Of machine shop supplies
is factor.
On the other hand, coal mining is
duly, the liquor trade is depressed and
tewelry manufacturing is very slow.
Railway freight traffic is heavier in
the southwest. while lighter elsewhere,
but the passenger movement to the
Pacific coast is heavy. Trade with
South America is growing, both in dry
goods and in iron and steel. Money is
easy and funds are superabundant
Foreign liquidation Of American bonds
| ha q
fleets recessionary tendencies, but with
ensuing dizziness, the situation in this
respect being aided by the vagaries OF
European matters.
In reports to the commercial agen-
cies Of Dun and Bradstreet, Chicago
notes that South American orders are
being filled by local houses. Under
wear manufacturers and linseed Oil in
terests at Minneapolis are busy, but
otherwise manufacturing is quiet. Poor
country roads hamper trade as Kan
sas City, but nevertheless the tendency
is upward. Marshalltown, Omaha, Lin
coin and Dubuque complain Of the re-
| tarding influence Of bad roads, and a
similar complaint cmes from st. JOS
eph, but the dispatch from the last
named city makes the significant OBJ
servation that moisture from snow is OF
! inestimable benefit to growing wheat
and soil conditions generally. Cleveland
says trade in steel and iron Is 10 per
cent better than month ago. Some
concerns making tools and light ma
chinery report capacity operations.
Four machinery plants at Milwaukee
are working night and day shifts. In
Iowa factories are Increasing outputs,
and in the city named, farm machin-
cry is active. st. Louis says machin-
cry and machine tools are in slightly
better demand, particularly from man
ufacturers of automobiles.