The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-13
IRON LEADS
In General Improvement in Bust
ness and Prices.

ness and Prices.
New York, Aug. 13-Bradstreet's says
today:
Changes in general trade and bust
ness this week have been very general
ly toward Improvement. Notable in
this respect has been the iron and steel
trade, which has passed from the stage
of promise to that of fulfillment on in
creased demand and marked advances
in values. From all the leading iron
centers east and west come reports of
more or less improvement in tone, de-
mand or prices, especially prominent in
the latter particular being steel bllletS
with an advance of 81 per ton, steel rails
have had advances ranging from 25c to
81, and sympathetic advances are like
wise noted in eastern pig iron, wrought
iron pipe, steel beams and other Struc-
tura1 material and steel plates.
Further encouraging features have
been the accumulated demand on for
eign account for wheat and corn, which
is reflected in advances for those ce-
reals in spite of a rather more faVOra-
BILE than expected government report of
possible yield, Popular estimates tend
to allow of an underestimate by the
government in wheat fully equal to
that of last year, and point to a total
crop of not less than 700 900, 900 bushels.
Effects of the holding of wheat by far
merS for better prices are found in the
reduced volume of bushels of grain car
ried by railroads during July, with some
complaints of interfered with collec-
lions.
Price strength is also feature, oats,
lard, beef, coffee, lead, rubber, copper,
and cotton, in addition to those men
toned, are advancing this week Cot
ton prices are higher and contrast with
the government report of an unchanged
condition as a result of July weather
but this is partly due to complaints of
too much rain since August 1, the date
of the government report. Signs that
eastern markets are about to expert
ence some of the improved demand re-
ported at the west are among addition
al favOra BILE features.
Evidences of increased business at
the east are beginning to appear. Bus
mess at the west is, if anything, more
active than last week, dry goods, cloth
ing, boots and shoes, groceries, hard
ware, lumber and hats and caps all
sharing in the swelling fall demand. On
the Pacific coast business is relatively
best in Oregon and Washington.
Cereal exports are of a satisfactory
volume and are still ahead of last sea-
sons liberal movement.
Wheat shipments for the week, includ-
ing flour as wheat, aggregate 4,3S6, 533
bushels as against 4, III, 312 bushels last
week, and compared with 4, $50 $40 bush
els in the corresponding week of 1897;
2 635, PIG bushels in 1896; 1924, 62S in 1895
and 2,979, 1924 bushels in 1894 Since July
l. this year, the exports of wheat ag-
gregate 1912. 65T bushels, against &c.
lis, 543 bushels during the same period
last year. Corn exports for the week
aggregate 8, 51S, 952 bushels, against O.
SAG 523 bushels last week, 8, 275, 652 one
year ago, 1857, 535 in 1896; 944, 546 in 1895
and 166, PCS in 1894. Since July 1, this
year, exports of corn aggregate II ,O32,-
344 bushels, against Is, ,858 bushels
last year.
Business failures still incline toward
a minimum, numbering only 157 against
189 last week, PA in this week a year
ago, 25S in 1896; 1856 in 1895 and 254 in
1894.
Business failures in Canada for the
10 na1-
81 in this week a year ago, 35 in 1896,
% in 1895, and 40 in 1894.