Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-25


ports Of much idleness. numerous mar
kets say final distribution is equal to
and in some Instances better than at
this time last year. Road statesmen
are beginning to feel the results of
cheerfulness. Industrial operations are
increasing, with stel plants working at
a slightly better rate, copper mines
are resuming. Pacific northwest lum-
Der mills are reopening, running time
at coke ovens has increased, automo-
bile factories are graduating expand
ing outputs. plants making motor
trucks for Europe are busy. southern
cotton mills are working full time,
some coal mines have enlarged pro-
duction, prominently located shipbuild-
mand for vessels, railway traffic is
growing. and western shipments of
corn are of record volume for this time
of the year. Lumber shows unmis-
taxable evidence of Improvement, al
tho progress is slow. Southern mills
have made larger shipments to north
ern points. and inquiries at Pacific
northwestern centers are more numer-
Gus, but absence of Australian demand,
as we'll IS hardness in railway buying,
is keenly felt. While demand for shoes
has increased, manufacturers do not
deem domestic trade as being up to
expectations Where snow or cold
weather prevails shoes. rubbers and
heavy wearing apparel are in good de-
mand. Even southern advices are more
cheerful, thanks TO higher prices for
cotton, but growth in actual orders is
not so marked as is the gain in OPP
timism. Requests for extensions are
numerous in the south. but improve
prices for corn stimulates sentiment in
the southwest, and reports from Texas
Indicate that the cotton of that state
is being sought because of its fine
quality. Southern advices indicate
that the cotton acreage Will be reduced
and that less fertilizers viii be used,
but that planting of food crops are to
be enlarged Money is easier, and de-
mand for commercial paper is good.
Collections are slow in the south, ir-
regular 10 fair in the west, and good
in the cereal producing sections. Re-
ports show from four TO eight inches
of snow turnout the winter wheat belt
Reports to Bradstreets from leading
business points justify optimistic eN-
pectation so quote:
Minneapolis says orders for spring
are equal to and in some Instances
stocks in the hands of retail daexfizti
exceed those of this time last year. and
cold weather operates TO deplete winter
stocks in the hands of retail dealers At
st. Paul spring business is good, and
trade in all linesis satisfactory. Duluth
says cold weather aids retail trade.
Chicago reports small gains in leading
lines and that retail trade equals last
years. Milwaukee reports chose TO nor
NAL trade. AT Omaha sentiment is
optimistic. while snow and cold wealth
er stimulates heavy wearing apparel,
rubbers, shoes, groceries and hardware.
st. Louis reports better feeling, i'm
provement in collections, more trade in
dry goods, shoes. drugs and clothing,
as we'll as larger orders for spring.
Horses and army supplies are in de-
mand. Kansas City notes moderate i'm
provement with optimism and a better
movement of dry goods, shoes and
drugs. A large foreign order for
I. saddlery is reported. Tardy improve
ment is displayed at Cincinnati, some
1 revival is evidenced at Detroit, and
4 optimism. with more or less gain il
! trade and betterment in sentiment, is
indicated at Louisville. Cheerful sen
timents are manifested by the Pacific
northwest and coast cities. Eastern
centers quite generally report that un-
employment is much less than it was
in December, improvement in trade has
taken place.