The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-20
LARGEST EVER KNOWN.
Shipment of Boots and Shoes Since
August 1.

New York, Aug. 2O.-R G. Dun & Co.
in their weekly review of trade says:
A war which brought no shrinkage of
business while it lasted has brought
with its ending a remarkable eXpan-
sion. Orders and purchases have in
creased in nearly all branches, few as
yet being of such nature that they can
be attributed to the material enlarge
ment of trade with the lately Spanish
islands which must come a little later.
1t is odd that the iron industry while
reporting declines in products shows
more surprising gain in business than
any other.
Business returns Of output August 1
show considerable decrease from July
1, but more than the entire decrease
is caused by the stOppage of two Shenan-
go and four MahOning furnaces under
agreement to force higher prices for
Bessemer pig. In all other states show
ing change output increased excepting
for one furnace in Virginia. The de-
mand for finished products expands
remarkably considering the enormous
orders prior to July, which crowd some
of the biggest works until December.
Structural orders include many bridges
and the drainage canal contract for
1900 tons at Chicago; plates and bars
are in stronger demand; nails have ad-
vanced cents and beams and angles
as much and bars 10 cents at Pittsburg.
Tin plate works which require 10000
tons per month have been buying $780,,
600 tons bar and steel works have
brought 125,000 tons pig, raising the
price to 5000, the price for gray forge
also advanced and pig at Chicago has
advanced rs cents.
There is a general advance in the
minor metals, copper to u cents for
lake; lead to "a O7Jb and while tin and
stronger. Shipments of boots and shoes
in three weeks of August are the
largest ever known, though but IA per
cent larger than in 1895, being 10 per
1.1r hnT Ia ct
cent larger than in 1892. In spite of
general refusal of buyers to pay ad-
vances asked, purchases are contin-
uous and keep works busy, many haV-
ing orders for a month or two ahead.
Leather has slightly yielded in some
grades, with scarcely any buying ahead
of necessities, and hides were a shade
lower last week and have not changed
There appears a gradual accommoda-
ton of prices of materials to the neces-
stiles of boot and shoe distributors.
Such an adjustment is needed in the
wooden industry, for some mills are
selling old stocks of wool, present
orders for dress goods not warranting
present prices for material. ct other
mills in equal number are starting on
different lines Of goods, and in dress
goods, instead of 80 per cent PLAIN a
large proportion of fancies has been
taken, though a, heavy auction sale just
announced may affect the demand.
OF the cotton mills also a few have
stopped quite as many have started
and the demand for staples is increas-
ing and in prints and ginghams as FAR
" good. The yielding in cotton to 51s
cents helps the mills and is not surpris-
ing. with present prospects of great
crop. Wheat has further declined
cents in spite of general holding OF bet
ter grades by farmers, which renders
receipts low and visible supply small
beyond precedent.
At 76 cents now, Atlantic exports for
the week have been 3,O59,9S bushels,
flour included, against 3,7O5,2 last
bushels. against 1874, 846 bushels last
year, making for three weeks 10; 10, 246
bushels, against 10,453,S32 bushels last
Corn exports are gradually declining
and prices are 2 cents lower, rather
larger estimates of yield being now
credited. -,
Failures for the week have been 154
in the United States, against 2Z3 !ast
year, and II in Canada, against 81 last