The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-13
MUCH BUYING.
Colder and Stormy Weather
Gives an Impetus to Trade
Which Surprises Dealers All
Along the Line.
SHIP QUICK ORDERS
Are Pouring in on JObbers From
the North.
Exports of Wheat Nearly DOu-
BILE Last Years.
SHIP QUICK ORDERS

New York, Nov. 13.-R. G.. Dun 81
CO. weekly review of trade says:
Colder and more stormy weather, so
long needed to accelerate distribution
of winter goods, has materially helped
in some quarters, and the resulting
improvement in retail trade is men
toned in nearly every northern dis
trict this week so that orders to fill
stocks have been encouraging, and in
some branches the multitude of de-
mands for immediate delivery show
that the distribution to consumers has
already gone much beyond the eXpec-
tationS of dealers.
But this is not yet the general rule,
and with many complaints of delayed
trade from other quarters, there still
remains the extensive Shrinkage caus-
ed by fever and quarantineS in the
south.
1t is therefore the more surprising
that the volume of all payments
through clearing houses continue about
as large as in 1892, and 16.7 per cent
larger than last year.
Railroad earnings also nearly equal
those of 1892 for the first week of No
vember, and half the mileage in the
United States shows earnings in OctO-
Der of $50 304, ,496, or so per cent larger
than last year, and 2.2 per cent larger
than in 1892.
Speculative markets feel disappOint-
ment because prices do not rise farther
ducers and dealers that the experience
of some past years in that respect has
not been repeated. There is nothing to
cause general reaction, the purchasing
power of the people is gradually in
creasing and after the lull which fol-
lows extensive replenishment of stocks
trade should give ample evidence OF
that increase.
The output of iron furnaces NOven-
Der / was PIP, ,159 tons weekly against
200, ,129 October 1, a gain of 81 per cent
and unsOld stocks decreased 4S,S9O
tons in October, indicating a larger
consumption in manufactures than
ever before, even when the output OF
pig was pushed by swiftly advancing
prices to the highest point, 217.6S2 tons
November 1, 1895. Prices of iron pro
ducts rose that year 55-3 per cent, but
are now not per cent higher than
June g.
Woolen mills generally have orders
for three months ahead and are not
seeking further engagements. Large
sales of speculative lots of wool at
prices not stated suggest that 1t may
be lower before the mills need further
orders.
The decline in cotton and the slow
demand for goods, owing in part to
warm weather, have led cotton mills
to confer about curtailment of pro-
duction, and further reductions have
been made in brown sheetings and
drills. prints and by jobbers in bleach
ed goods. Cotton declined an eighth
to 5.87 for middling uplands and both
exports ana LaklnSS OF SplnneTS nave
been large.
Wheat dropped over 2 cents but has
since risen as much on heSVy buying
for export. Western receipts continue
heavy, in two weeks Il, OPS 907 bushels,
against 10, 581 1872 last year. while At
lantic exports, flour included, have
been 6,562, ops bushels, against 1921, ,231
last year.
An English authority reckons the
worlds yield at 161 million bushels
less than last year, which would mean
a market for all this country has to
spare.
Corn exports are again larger than
last year and the price has risen rs
cents.
Later prices of meats do not indicate
that farmers have as yet much in
ducement to save corn for feeding.
FaFilureS for the week have been 291
in the United States against 276 last
year and "A in Canada against 46 last
year
BRADSTREETS
BradStreet'S says: One of the most
significant features of the business sit
uation is found in the continued heavy
weekly totals of bank clearings, that
for six business days, ending Nov.
II amounting to $1,347 million, an in
crease of 10 per cent over the preceding
week and 13 per cent compared with
the second week of November. 1896,
when business began to revive sharply
in speculative lines
Railroad gross earnings show small
er gains as comparisons begin to be
made, with more nearly normal cOndi-
tions one year ago. Total October