The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-16
TRADE TAKES A. REST.
Bradstreet's Says Sales Have Faller
kof and Rise in Prices Has
Been Checked

today:
The activity in staple lines of merchan-
disc is less pronounced than a month ago,
due to interior merchants having supplied
their demands for a time. gradual in
crease of the territory Included by the
yellow fever quarantine, the low prices
of cotton, tendency in the Missouri river
valley and spring wheat states to hold
wheat for higher prices and to farmers
being busy with fall planting.
Unreasonable weather has had an IN
favorable influence on the distribution of
merchandise throughout the central west
and at Chicago and St. Louis sales have
fallen off.
A well informed correspondent of Brad
streets. after personal Investigation. gives
a reason for anticipating a much smaller
receipt of cotton than the trade esti-
mates.
Advances are reported for Bessemer pig
iron and steel billets, but prices are firm
ly held. Some steel rail mills are not
able to keep up with orders. The domes-
tic consumption of pig iron last month
was extraordinarily heavy and promises
to greatly stimulate production.
With the slacl1ening in the rate of dis
tribution of merchandise the upward
movement of prices is correspondingly
checked and in this, the third week in
succession, the number of staples for
which quotations are lower is greater
than those which are higher or unchang-
ed. There are nominal advances for
lard and mems shoes, but prices for pork,
sugar, other forms of iron and steel than
those named, lumber. coal, copper. hides
and wool are unchanged.
Quotations are lower for butter, pota-
toes, wheat, cotton, corn, -four, beef, cOf-
fee, print cloths and lead.
Wheat exports, have again expanded,
the total for the week being among the
largest on record. The total exports of
wheat flour included as wheaD this week
from both coasts of the United States ag-
gregated 6.039. 40 bushels, against 1885,
641 bushels last week, 4.156,S17 bushels in
the week a year ago, 2.409. 900 bushels in
1895, 3192,OO0 bushels in 1894. 2.7O9,OO0 BUSH
els in 1898 and 3,270.OOO bushels in 1892.
Corn exports made a small total, being
2. PA, 900 bushels this week, against 2109, 900
bushels last week, 1,711,OOO bushels year
ago, 1,168,OO bushels in 1895. 1853 bushels
in 1894 1,123. 900 bushels in 1898 and 701, 900
bushels in 1892.
There are 1876 business failures reported
throughout the United States this week,
compared with 2S6 last week, 279 in the
week a year ago, 2S9 two years ago, 253
three years ago and $40 four years ago.
There are A business failures reported
throughout the Dominion of Canada this
the week a year ago and 81 two years
ago.
WHAT DUN SAYS.
R. G. Dun's weekly review of trade
says:
Foreign trade in September, the heavy
Increase in iron production and consump-
ton and the largest payments through
clearing houses ever known in October,
are indications which outweigh hesitation
ployment of labor has continued with fur
Their accounts daily of works opening, in
creasing force of hands, of raising of
wages, and at every point whose actual
production can be tested it appears
greater than ever before.
Efforts by the Bank of England have
delayed further gold exports, but with
the cotton movement rising, large ship
ments to this side are deemed certain and
not distant. More gold, however, means
less Just now than formerly.
Another contract has been taken by the
Illinois Steel company to deliver 10000
tons of steel rails for Japan and the
Pennsylvania company 5000 tons. Ore
shipments on the lake surpass all records,
and the Rockefeller company has con-
tracted for another steamer with two
consorts to carry 10000 tons. the largest
ever built for the lakes,
The cotton mills are producing as large
" as cheap cotton invites, and with mod
crate demands print cloths are low at
PA and some grades of other goods are
slightly reduced. Sales of wool for spec
uIation have greatly decreased, but man
ufacturers do not find that current prices
are warranted by their market for goods,
though it IS strong and advancing.
Sales of wool for two weeks have been
"A 9s1. 500 pounds at the three chief mar
ON IL il
and. while quotations are maintained,
large lots previously Withdrawn by con-
signors are offered.
The demand for spring goods is limit
ed, but the prices of some qualities have
advanced a shade higher. There is also
some quiet contracting already for heavy
weights.