The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-10
HIGHEST IN FIVE YEARS.
Bradstreet's Reports the General
Level of Prices.

New York, Sept. 10-Bradstreets
says:
Heat and holidays have impaired an
irregular appearance to speculative and
general distributive trade this week and
therefore to the bank clearing returns
more particularly at the east but with
the arrival of cooler temperatures, some
Improvement is reported at those mar
kets. Generally speaking, faVorab bic
basic features already noted still con-
tinue most in evidence, and the attitude
of quiet confidence in future good trade
is undated. Conditions in many lead
ing industries, but particularly in iron
and steel, and its various products, are
of continued and in some cases grow
ing strength.
The general level of prices of staples
is the highest reached for five years
past; railway earnings, favored by the
enlarged movement of wheat to market,
are showing larger gains than have
been recently reported, a good export
demand for agricultural and manufac-
tured products is reported, failures re-
main at a minimum, and reports of
poor trade are conspicuous by their in
frequency Less favorable crop reports
from abroad and good export inquiry
are reflected in a rather steadier tone
in wheat and in advanced quotations
for ocean freights. Corn continues to
experience a weather market, but
prospects Of yield are still regarded as
favorable.
Following the intense activity in the
placing of orders for iron and steel in
the past few weeks has come a quieting
IN the demand, but experiences of buy
ers and the very firm, and in some cases
the upward tendency of prices, point
to the conclusion that the luIl is due
almost entirely to the mills being al
ready heavily OversOld. Export bust
ness has certainly been checked by
the inability of American mills to de-
liver within time limits set, but orders
have been placed at the west this week
or a Ian LOT of ST. hal1-e for el1i
ment to England. Pig iron remains
strong in tone, and the firmness of
prices is a feature. Southern iron is in
particularly good export demand and
holders readily refuse orders where
anything less than the full market price
is offered. Talk of a further % cent adj
vance comes from Birmingham.
Unabated activity is reported at Chi
cago and dry goods shipments can not
be made fast enough. Small but num-
erOus advances in prices of different
classes of steel are reported from that
city and St. Louis. Railroads are re-
ported buying two to three months
ahead of time. Business is active at
Kansas City, Omaha, Cleveland, Louis
Vile and throughout the entire north
west. On the Pacific coast San Fran
cisco reports merchants interested in
developing trade with Hawaii. Healthy
activity exists in distribution at Port
land, Tacoma and Seattle Some check
to trade is reported in the lower Mis-
yellow fever and heavy rains on the
South Atlantic coast. Hot weather
and holidays checked business in dry
goods at New York, but cooler weather
has brought an improved spot demand.
Wooden goods have again fallen off at
Boston. Cotton goods are quiet, and
the demand for mems wear woolens is
not up to expectations.
Wheat shipments for the week, in
flour, aggregate 3,1OO, 2OS bush
els as against 3,7S7, O4O bushels last
week; 5,461, sos bushels in this week one
year ago, /, 699, al bushels in 1896, 1,S19.-
O39 bushels in 1895, and 2,789,000 bushels
in 1894. Since July l, this year, wheat
exports aggregate 32493 500 bushels,
against 80, 81. 1852 bushels during the
same period of 1897
Corn exports for the week aggregate
8. SIS, S69 bushels, against 1,661, 700 bush
els last week, 4,943.348 bushels in the
week of 1897; 2,265, 44S
bushels in 1896; S49, SOB bushels in 1895,
and $50 bushels in 1894. Since July
1, this year, the exports of corn aggre-
gate 2S, 407 $50 bushels, compared with
3 4O7, 7O7 bushels last year.
Business failures in the United States
number 142, against 1874 last week, 173
in this week a year ago, 3O8 in 1896, 213
in 1895, and 223 in 1894
Business failures in Canada number
II, against % last week, and 80 in this
week a year ago.