Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-01
BUSINESS SPEEDING UP.

The trade ana lHuuSSIidi 81 e"AN ~
running fuller and in some cases Is out
of its banks. Warm weather Is
| drawback temporarily to retail trade
| the country over, but helps the dryins
| of corn and the threshing OF wheat
now much delayed. Jobbing trade Is
more active, and industry shows
/ etiu speedier pace, with some hitherto
tagging lines. such as lumber, espe-
cially at the south, naval stores, c"e'
jewelry and shot manufacturing, re-
! ported making better progress.
Features of last week as reported in
Bradstreet are increasingly cheerful
reports from the south despite de-
cline in cotton; enlarged shipments OF
wheat at the northwest; better collec-
tions at the south, northwest ana
southwest; increased recorder business
for fal! indicating past overcautious
buying: expansion of railway traffic
east. west and south: growing evil
dence of congestion of railway cars.
motive power and terminals at ana
near New York: increased scarcity OF
vessel tonnage; continued activity in
the stock market despite enormous
realizing on home and foreign ac-
count: the booking of the largest sin
gle order for wooden cloth for exporD
in the history of American manufac-
ture; the largest sales of wool in many
months at Boston; the expansion OF
demand for steel beyond the ability of
mills to readily produce, and renewed
weakness of foreign exchange, which
feels the pressure of an export mer-
chandise movement surprising all pre-
vious experience.
Even at this date it is evident that
October will see set up new high-rec-
ord totals for bank clearings, iron and
steel production, railway tonnage, ex-
port trade in a myriad of lines, ex-
cesses of exports over imports, and
sales of speculative securities, the end
of the month seeing shifting of ac-
tivity in the latter line from war
stocks TO railway shares.
Past overcautious buying. as result
Of which dealers are forced to place
hurry calls for essentials, is noted, and
this in turn throws a burden on first
hands. Shoe factories display increas-
ing activity, shipyards are doing an
exceptionally good, If not a record.
business, and at the other extreme, as
it We're, is activity in diamonds, while
some fine laces are in demand and
trade in musical instruments is picking
up. Manufacturers of clothing, cloaks
and suits are very active.
Perhaps the most cheerful reports
come from the south. even tho prices
for cotton have receded. Industrial!
centers are exceptionally busy, pay
rolls are expanding, unemployment
continues to dwindle lumber is look
ing up, sawmills long idle, are resum-
ing or preparing to do so. improve
ment in naval stores is noteworthy,
and collections are better.
good reports. tho mild weather has
checked retail trade, but, on the other
hand, it helps farmers to finish their
work, and as prices for wheat are high,
future trade is bound to be big. Tho
the movement of grain is heavy, which,
by the way, has aided collections, far
mers, nevertheless. are inclined to hold
much Of their wheat for higher prices.
Activity in flour milling does not
abate, and linseed oil factories are
working to capacity. In the west the
story, except as regards a compare
lively few places, is one of uninter
rupted progress, large and increasing
activity in dry goods. improved de-
mands for money, the heaviest railway
traffic in years, and better collections,
with steel mills reaching the point
where orders may have to be refused.
Mention is made of the fact that
powder mills are drawing heavily on
supplies of corn, as well as of cotton
oil. with which to make glycerine.
Activity rules in the southwest.
money is plentiful, coal mining is i'm
proving, shoe factories are working
full time and collections are better,
but retail trade has been retarded by
| warm weather