The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-20
Manufacturers in Many Lines
Decline Orders.
With Large Increases in the
Working Force
THEY CAN'T KEEP UP.
Output is the Greatest Ever
Known.
Great Business is Looked for
Next Year.

New York Nov. 2O.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review Of trade says in its
issue of today:
All markets and all industries are
working towards the period of Thanks
giving, of stock taking and Of holidays.
Colder weather has done much to ac-
celerate retail trade, so greatly de-
layed in many lines by unusually mild
and open weather. The producing
force increases on the whole, and many
manufacturers are unable to take all
the orders offered, while others are
committed as far ahead as they are
willing to be. The output in several
great industries is considerably the
largest ever known and the conf
dence of great business next year is
una bated.
Hesitation in speculative markets is
seen because an immense capital has
been turned from them to investment
in productive enterprises.
Wheat has advanced a cent during
the week, and small fluctuations have
been due to reports about Argentina
rather than to the heaviest exports
ever known. Atlantic exports, flour
included, have been in three weeks of
November $780, $50 bushels against g.
052 106 last year, and thus far over sc
million bushels, while the western re-
ceipts have been in the three weeks
21,213, $50 bushels against 14,796, ,8S8 last
year.
Corn exports have been 7,1O1, ,O14
bushels against 6,441,01 last year.
Cotton declined to 5.S1 cents, with
heavy receipts, but closed at 5S7, with
better foreign demand and with frosts,
which have lessened the prospect OF a
heavy movement later.
Iron products have changed but
slightly in price, with wire nails and
rods a shade lower, and while the con-
sumption of pig is the largest ever
known, works in some branches are
q
while others have orders SO far ahead
that they are unable or unwilling to
take more
There is less activity in bars at the
east, but a healthy demand at west
for manufacturing car building and
other uses, and rails are in larger de-
mand there, while some eastern works
have recently taken orders for months
ahead.
Sheets are active and competition re-
duces the price of tin plates a little fur
ther. Grey forge is slightly lower, with
eastern and Chicago prices unchanged
Notwithstanding the great output, and
stocks are being further reduced The
coke output was 15O,5Sl tons for the
week, with furnace selling at $175 for
the rest of this year.
Anthracite coal continues weak,
with sales at 81 net here, the produe.-
tiOn in October having been 5,120 900
tons. Tin is sustained by large con-
sumption, lead is a little lower at $3. IS
and a break in spelter has reduced the
L
The wooden market is embarrassed
by the delay of winter weather,
which retards orders from clOthiers,
although most works have enough for
some time ahead,and while cold wealth
er and active retail trade would quick
ly bring a change, prices of wool are
so high that some mills have stopped
part of their looms. Cases are men
toned of mills which could realize a
profit of $780, 600 to $500, 600 by selling
the wool they hold, but can expect none
by manufacturing at current prices
Wool markets have become stagnant
and sales are almost wholly to realize
speculative profits, amounting at the
three chief markets to only 4,213,000
pounds for the week. Cotton gO0ds
continue weak, as raw material de-
clines, and goods are rather lower.
Failures for the week have been 267
in the United States against 334 last
year, and 30 in Canada against 40 last
year.
BRADSTREETS
Bradstreet's says:
There is a moderate Improvement
in staple prices and in distribution of
wOOlen goods, shoes, hats and hard
ware in the region tributary to Chica-
go, st. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha
In South Carolina, Tennessee and Lou
isiana jObbers report moderate re-
vival of demand from interior
merchants which represents some of
the business delayed by yellow fever
quarantines. Trade reports from GeOr-
gia and Texas are quite irregular. Some
cotton planters are compelled to sell
cotton at a loss to meet advances made
earlier in the season and have little or
no surplus with which to buy merchan-
disc. Others, notably in Texas, con
trive to hold cotton, which delays mer-
camille collections and in some sec
tiOns has an unfavOrable influence.
Colder weather northwest and in the
central Mississippi and Missouri river
valleys has helped retail trading;
manufacturers of iron, steel, agricultu-
raj implements, railway cars and wool
en- goods report an active demand and
large output, although the appearance
of speculative steel has resulted in
weakening the price of billets and a
like tendency on Bessemer pig iron.
Higher prices are recorded for wheat
corn, oats, syrup hides, leather, shoes
and for turpentine.
The reaction in steel and iron is like
ly to be followed by an advance if the
present rate of consumption continues
Lower prices for wheat, flour and pork
are expected to recognize the advances
on wheat and Indian corn. so that low
er prices for copper is practically the
only important decline in the week.
Wheat exports show a heavy in
crease alike over last week and last
| year, and, with one exception, that of
| the second week in September, is the
| largest single weeks total record.
The Most Magnificent Cars Ever Con-