The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-11
Dun Says Business is Better
in All Ways.
81 Per Cent More Men Employ :
ed Than Last Year in n. Y.
IRON TRADE BOOMING.
Santa Fe Road Orders IL, 700
Tons for Bridges.
Grain Export Only Limited by
Ship Room.

New York, Sept 11.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'s weekly review of trade in its issue
today says:
There is no halting in the advance.
Business grows better in all ways. A
steady increase in production, in work
ing force and in the power of the peo-
pie to purchase is the feature which
overshadows all others.
Reports of New York trade unions
show an increase since one year ago
of "a per cent in the number of men at
work. and a similar increase among
men in like positions throughout the
country would exceed $40 600, while every
weeks adds many establishments to the
active list. The coal miners strike has
disclosed such facts and brought to
light such differences that work will
probably be very soon resumed by
large share of the men. The farmers
are helped by higher prices for wheat,
and while western receipts do not show
that they have marketed one-tenth of
their crops, assurance of a handsome
profit to come prepares them to buy lib
orally hereafter.
Because of this and the increase of
hands at work, dealers throughout the
country have started to replenish
ent operating in manufactures and
trade, though distribution by retail
trade has greatly increased.
A gain of II per cent in one month in
the output of pig iron, from 165,378 tons
August 1, to S5.507 tons September 1,
with knowledge that half a dozen other
furnaces are preparing to resume and
that unSOld stocks have been reduced
IA, 400 tons weekly in August, indicating
a consumption of about 100000 tons
more, explains the moderate advance in
prices of finished products. Pig is a
shade stronger at Chicago, but the proof
that the advance is healthy is found in
the growing demands of consumers, es-
pscially for bars, with inquiries for 400,-
saf
tural work, including II, 900 tons for
Santa Fe bridges, for all sorts of car
material, including 10000 axles, and for
plates, especially for shipyards on the
lakes, so that most prices have adj
vanced 81 per ton. Copper is steady
and lead a shade stronger at $4.15, and
the production of coke has reached 124,-
tons, with 12,417 ovens in operation.
Wheat has risen cents the past
week, not in a furry, but in answer to
the daily increasing foreign demand.
Though reports of crops, now almost
wholly out OF danger, indicate a yield
neVeh surpassed but once foreign ac-
counts still strengthen the belief that
the deficiency abroad will be about 100,-
100000 bushels more than usual, and
meanwhile reports indicate that less
corn than was expected will be avail
able for export. Its prices has risen
about 5s of a cent.
While wheat receipts at Chica go have
been breaking records, receipts at all
the western points are for the week a
little below last years, but Atlantic ex-
ports, 9,77S,13S bushels, flour included
against 4270, 755 bushels last year, for
two weeks, with 5,579, III bushels of corn
against 3,57O,7O4 last year, indicate a
foreign demand apparently limited at
present only by ship room.
Since the small corner in August cot
ton has relapSed to ~ cents, no rurnorss
affecting prices much. Northern mills
are consuming very largely, with con-
tinuing demand for goods, which has
advanced the prices of many.
With enormous speculative sales of
wool, which appear to constitute most
of the market at Boston, there is also
more buying there and elsewhere by the
woolen mills, which are enjoying an
extraordinary demand for goods at
prices aVera ging not 10 per cent higher
than was paid early in the year. The
average advance for the week in Sc
curities has been Slip per share for
railroads and 10 cents for trusts
Failures for the week have been 215
in the United States. against 315 last
year, and 35 in Canada, against Al Iast
year.