The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-17
AFFECTS PRICES.
The Undeclared War in Europe
Upsets
Grain and Stocks Markets in
the United States.
IMPORTS INCREASING
While Exports Show a Falling
Off at New York.
Failures Less Numerous Than a
Year Ago.


New York, April 1z-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
An undeclared war between Greece
and Turkey has been more responsible
than any other single cause for the
changes in business this week. Actual
fighting with which facts seem to make
8. formal declaration of war by Turkey
inevitable have affected grain markets
much and stocks slightly.
The progress of the Mississippi floods
does not change the price of cotton and
settlement of the more important labor
difficulties has revived work suspended
last week. The temporary decrease In
exports and large increase in imports
at New York, POS per cent for the
month, caused questions about the I'm
aneial future which have not much in
huence as yet. The increase in inn
ports is 50, 800. 900, or over 100 per cent
from last year. and ST, 100000 or 28.9
per cent from February, if long cOntin-
ued, may embarrass some branches OF
business, but can hardly exhaust bal
ances remaining from the unprecedent-
ed excess of merchandise exports, $323,-
3S1,519 in nine months ending with
March ..
The wheat market after its decline of
cents last week. was prepared to rise
with prospects of European war and
increased purchases for export, and has
ports for the week are very small, and
for two weeks little greater than last
year, while corn exports continue over
three times last years, and for two
weeks 6.032, 015 bushels, against 1861
1913 last year, the price advancing less
than cent. Western receipts of wheat
are larger for the week and for two
weeks as large as last year, and the
government reports indicate a consid-
erably larger yield than that of 1896,
which was sufficient to meet an extra
ordinary demand
Cotton has scarcely changed during
the week of unprecedented floods,
though this years crop will be mater
tally diminished unless the water soon
subsidies. But there are numerous in
dicatiOns that in other parts Of the
south large acreage is being planted.
The output of pig iron increases. though
Is furnaces stopped in March as others
with larger capacity started, and the
weekly production April 1 was 1873
tons against 1853 1856 last year. While
80 per cent below the greatest ever
known, the output is 81 per cent larger
than October l, and stocks unsold m
creased scarcely any, though the larg-
est on record. The demand for nails
and wire continues heavy, and in spite
of large transactions in the past in
structural work and rails, is still fair,
while there is much doing in machinery
for export to Russia, Japan and South
Africa. But bars and most other nm
ished products are in narrow demand
ana EGSSEIIleI pig - 4ONGA at pow VI
less at Pittsburg. with Grey forge s. 60
there and only $5.75 at Birmingham
Delay in making contracts for Lake
Erie Tetards demand for products, but
hard ore has begun to sell at 81 40 for
Chaplin. Tin plate makers have agreed
upon $3.50 for full weight Bessemer
against $3.50 for foreign. Lead IS I'M
changed at $3.50 and copper at HE.
The great sale of 1900 pieces cotton
goods was considered satisfactory as
prices averaged but to per cent be-
low the current market and a better
general demand is expected Print cloths
sell slowly without change WOODEN
mills are doing little more though
much machinery is idle, and there is
scarcely any buying of qualities recent /
~ advanced. Speculation in wool turns
largely to foreign, and imports of 45,ll4
bales the past week, and 1926 the pre-
vious week at Boston alone, have not /
prevented higher quotations for the /
better grades of domestic. Sales at the !
three chief markets were 9.6O6,0OO /
pounds.
Failures for the week have been 207 /
in the United States against 222 last /
year and 80 in Canada against SO last 4
BRADsTREET's
Bradstreet's says: The most con-
spicuOus conditions this week is in the /
weather throughout the western and !
northwestern states Country roads I
are more passable. There is a better /
demand for building materials. espec- /
Tally lumber. In staple lines there is /
better demand at ROrLlanQ. Mime I
apOlis and St. Paul, Kansas City, Mo, I
and Atlanta, Ga, pointing to Irregular /
ity of the tendency to recover. job /
bers at Chicago, St. Louis, Omaha, Gin |
cinnati and Chattanooga report trade |
slow, or that demand is decreased. /
There is no sign of trade revival in the /
flooded regions where the danger point /
has moved southwark. If the water re /
cedes by May Is, one half of the cotton /
crop may be raised in Mississippi this !
year but the outlook is not promising. \
Demand for dry goods is slow, and /
some manufa cturers remain at work .
without profits, as the lesser of two .
evils. Demand for wool is checked as /
stocks are badly cut, but makers of /
WOOlens are as active as before. Shoe /
are working full time, !
iron and steel continue disappointing. /
with lower prices for BesSemer pig and !
billets, few, if any new orders. and a /
tendency to weakness rather than the
reverse.
A reverse movement is not in prices
for staples, those for wheat, flour In
dian corn, pork. lard, coffee, cotton and .
WOOlens having advanced Lower quo
tations are reported for sugar, petrol
cum and naval stores, in addition to
iron and steel.
Total shipments of corn amounting
2.S2S, 4S5 bushels this week form the
weekly aggregate in the cur
rent calendar The corresponding total /
last week was 4, 645, 900 bushels; in the
second week of April. 1896 it was /
O76,O00 in 1895, 778,000, 2O4O 600 in 1894 }
and 694, 900 in the corresponding week
of 1898.
Harness to Cost $1,000.
London. April IA leather firm in