The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-04-27
A STEADY GAIN.
The Condition of Trade is Grad
ually Improving.
Cotton Goes Higher but Wool
Touched Bottom.
STRIKES NUMEROUS.
NUMEROUS.
Failures 24O This Week Against
179 Last Year.

New YORK, April 27.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade says:
Neither the rising speculative markets
nor the steady gain in industries has
ceased. and it is wholesome that there
are fewer signs of hesitation in the pro-
ductive industries than in speculative
prices. Wages strikes grow more nu-
merous and cause some trouble and re-
tail demand lags behind wholesale, and
iobbing purchases behind production
in some branches, but through many
conflicting reports the fact shines out
that the industries are gaining, not
with rush and whirl, but more safely.
1t is less clear that railroads are in
creasing their earnings or that over
production of cotton will be cured by
the advance of rs cents in price, or
that cornering short sellers of wheat
wiz help to market the large surplus.
But revival of activity in all these di-
rections helps confidence to take the
throne SO long held by distrust.
Cotton mills are getting more money
for goods and have quite generally adj
vanced wages. Consumption of north
ern spinners at the maximum would
be in eight months 1, $50, 600 bales, but
they har~ actually taken 1850, 900, and
haxe profit on 600, 600 bales controlled
of over 81, 900, 900. The consumption is
larger and advances seem to be war
ranted on production, stimulated be-
cause ore, coke and oil products were
to be dearer. On the whole new busi-
ness is said to be smaller than in Feb
ruary or March.
The structural demand for buildings
throughout the country was never
larger; the frenzy in oil has started
large demand for pipe and sheets at
slight advances. Rails are stagnant,
though shade better at Chicago; wire
for fencing nails and wire rods are SO
dull as to be scarcely quoted, and bar,
though lifted a shade, meets no in
creased demand. Bessemer pig is lower
and sales of southern pig in northern
markets have been large at 25 cents
advance Finished products are nearly
all at their lowest price.
Wool has sold at the lowest price on
record this week, 16 cents for Ohio and
cents for years Texas and offers to
clear old stocks before new supplies
come forward tempt manufacturers to
purchase beyond present needs. Sales
of foreign, SLY, 800 pounds in three
weeks of April, against 1922, 500 domes-
tic, make the total II, 4OG, 800 against
Is, COG, 100 in 1892 and less, of course, in
1898 and 1894. Demand for dress goods
continues large and improving, but I'M
certainty in mems wear goods con-
tinues, and is somewhat increased by
more numerous strikes. Cotton fan
nels are to ~ per cent. lower and an
auction sale is to be held and some
irregularity appears in prices for fine
fancy goods.
Higher prices for wheat, nearly
cents above last weeks trend to check
Atlantic exports which flour included,
were only 1,s6s,s7 bushels, for the
week against $500, 445 last year, though
for the previous two weeks about equal
to last years. Cotton touched cents,
receding to 500; 9,312, 300 bales had
come into sight last week and British
exports of goods were 100, 600, 600 yards
less in the first quarter this year than
last. With such facts the rise does nos
help to lessen southern acreage.
The failures for the week have been
24O in The United Sta tes, against 179
last year and 81 in Canada, against 30
last year.