Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-08-02
TINE GENERAL BUSINESS FIELD.


The reports to the great commercial
agencies and the weekly analyses OF
business conditions in the weekly is
sues of Bradstreets and Duns indicate
pdesen, and future Improvement of
business. While some alarm Is felt in
Iowa on account of continued rain
general business conditions seem to
have vastly improved over last year
with prospects of permanence.
Activity in iron and steel, continued
improvement in industrial operations
diminished idieness, quietcr labor
situation, a steady flow OF orders for
munitions of war, ease in money, some
Improvement II collections. fine crop
news and growth in optimism as TO e&-
cellent business this fall; stand out in
marked contrast 70 reports fmid-
summer quiet in trade circles and OF
sIackness in industries not depending
upon war orders. The crop movement
is later than normal and exports OF
wheat are still small.
The present situation, however is
strikfngly at variance with that wit
messed al this time last year. when the
beginning OF the European war was
dislocaring all markets. Although fall
buying has not really opened, some
northwestern centers report gains In
this respect. and within the next week
or two. when buyers will be in the
principal markets, house trade seems
likely to show a marked gain, for stocks
with country dealers are lish-, ano'
moreover, cereal prices have been ana
are at rernunerat.ve levels, being much
higher than year ago. Retail trade
helped in some places by clearance
=a,zs mas beer. checked ny wet weather
at the west and southwest and on the
whole IL is probably below normal
Activity in machinery Tor domestic ana
.o-e!gn accounts is reflected IN over
time work at p.ents, many OF which are
sold ahead, and like statement ap-
plies to those making mun:ti 9rs Of war.
Heavy French orders tor steel bars
higher prices for finished steel, large
h3vine of track supplies, and better
| prices for pig iron. cha-sItcTi7e con
| ditions in an industry tina. IS usually
deemed 10 20 barometer OF general
trends, and shutdowns eor the not
spell seem TO be out of he question.
Al the moment the labo- situation
Is relatively qr;e1, and wAils strikes
have been sa..led on IN, basis u
higher pay, indications 3nS ses- ina.
labor in war order lines is PINNED 10
get all it can. Lumber in soIna parts
Of the country is picking up after pro-
longed dullness, hut the situation in
the far northwest is still dull.
The industrial south is feeling the
influence Of foreign orders, many OF
them for countries outside the war
zone, and in the agricultural sections
farmers are careful about falling into
debt. Railway passenger traffic,
especially to the Pacific coast, con-
Itinues heavy. Gradual improvement is
noted in demand Cor steam coal. and
mining operations show slight in
crease. Furniture manufacturers are
doing a little better than heretofore
Raw wool and goods made therefrom
are higher. the Belgium government
| has placed large orders for military
cloth and the signs indicate the clos
| ing OF heavy foreign contracts fol
blankets and mems wear.
Western country banks are buying
commercial paper, and deposits in ma
tional banks in Chicago are at high
water mark Stock market movements
reflect speculation in war order stocks
aparent absence Of concern over in.
ternational political matters and
isteady undertone in railway stocks
There is, however, disposition to dis
courage speculation in industrials
Bank clearings exceed those OF this
thine last year and the year before that