The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-08
On the Volume of Business
Wholesale and Retail.
STORMS AND FEVER
Give a Marked Check to Bust
ness in the South.
Iron Industry is Still Making
Great Strides.


With the exception of some parts of
the south, where heavy storms and yell
low fever with the resulting quaran-
tines check distribution, a very large
business appears to be doing, though
complaints of a narrow margin of prof
it are well nigh unanimous. While
the bank clearings of September point
to a Slightly smaller business done the
country over than one year ago, this
weeks figures point to a, fair gain over
last year. The volume of distribution,
as a whole. is well up to or above that
reported a year ago in most sections,
and therefore far in advance of recent
preceding annual periods
As for some time past most activity
is perceptible on the west and north
west and on the Pacific coast, particu-
larly at Puget Sound and Columbia
river points 1t has been a carnival
and fall celebration period at a number
large distribution, both retail and
wholesale, is reported. At leading east
ern markets recently favorable reports
are fully maintained, with business in
textiles, particularly cotton and wool
en- goods, least favorably situated
Signs are not wanting that the spread
of yellow fever in some sections of the
south with resulting ouarantines has
sharply checked trade in the lower Mis-
sissippi valley, while heavy storms on
the south Atlantic coast have operated
to arrest distribution and reduce the
rice crop.
The general Industrial institution is a
very favorable one. Marked activity
continues to be a feature of the iron and
steel trades, but the immense rate of
production at present, in the absence of
immediate new demands, has caused a
shading of some few grades of pig iron
and steel billets. Movements in an up
ward direction, however, are reported
from the west. The situation as to
prices generally is one of sustained
strength, wheat being prominent in this
respect, while the most important re-
duction is that growing out of the re-
fined sugar war. To the exceptional
strength of ocean freights is charged
some of the falling off in exports from
southern points. Business failures are
still down to a minimum, numbering
163 for the week. against 166 last week,
237 in this week a year ago, and 238 in
1894
Active demand for the actual wheat
and unprecenentedly smaller stocks for
start with constituted a balance for
generally estimated maximum worlds
yields and recent considerable increase
in stocks at home and abroad. In the
face, therefore, of a gain of million
bushels in American and European
stocks last week, prices influenced by
the small net gain in the worlds stocks
in September-15,5 500 0O0-have ruled
frmer and higher. Bradstreet's month
ly report of wheat stocks shows a total
on October in this country and Can
ada of %, 528, 600 bushels, a gain of 10
$4,000 bushels for the month, against
r. TAG, 900 bushels a year ago. while Eu-
ropean stocks on like date are given
at 100000 bushels, a gain of only s.
100000 bushels, against IA 200. 900 bushels
in September a year ago. A combined
gain is here indicated of only Is SOC. 900
bushels, against $1,000 900 bushels last
year, and 100000 to q 900 600 bushels
gain in 1895 and 1896. Stocks in this
country and Canada east of the Rockies
on October 1 are the smallest reported
at that date since 1882.
Prices of leading staples as reported
to Bradstreet's while showing rather
more irregularity, are in the main well
held.
Warmer weather early in the week
checked buying of heavy goods at Ca
madam cities, but better conditions Ia
ter have favorably affected distributive
trade. Toronto reports heavy north
western buying with farmers in that
section still depositing wheat in eleva-
tors. Deliveries are more liberal, al
though prices are still above an export
basis in Ontario. American lumber
men are reported hiring large numbers
of men for work m Canada this winter.
Canadian failures this week number
%, against % last week, as in this week
a year ago, 81 in 1896. 81 in 1895, and 81
in 1894.