The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-25
Is the Gain in Some Branches
of Business
Say Il. g. Dun & Co. in Their
Review of Trade.
WITHOUT PRECEDENT.
Nothing Like the Commercial
Situation Ever Seen.
Prosperity Has Become Alarm
ing to Some.

| New York, Feb. 25.-R. G. Dun &
Cos Weekly Review of Trade says:
| The situation is without precedent.
| Business has never been better on the
| whole and in some great industries the
| gain is astonishing. Exports surpass
| last years as much as imports, though
the excess over imports then was heavy.
Failures are smaller than last year
| and smaller than in either Of six years
past. Stocks are stronger, the average
for the active railway securities being
a little higher and for trusts much
more, owing to the extraordinary ad-
vance of $4S75 in tobacco Payments
through exchanges show a greater vol
ume of business than ever before this
season and nearly one-half larger in
the best of previous years. The ourgo
of bread stuffs and cotton continues
heavy. But there are some who fear
that such prosperity can not last.
Popular impressions have to be reck-
oned with because they control events.
Yet at every point of danger except one
the signs are in every respect favora-
BILE. The upward rush of 16.5 per cent
in the prices of pig iron since January 1,
and 17.6 per cent in prices of iron and
steel products does indeed raise a QueS-
ton whether exports of such products
may not be temporarily checked, but If
they could be entirely stopped, as they
are not, the balance due this country
would still be large. The crush of de-
mand for finished products, at a time
when nearly all the works are crowded
by orders covering production until
July or later, causes many to refuse
to contract beyond that date except at
high prices, and rise under such cir
cumStanceS may prove the one thing
needful to sober buyers and to bring
into the list of producers other eStab-
lishments heretofore idle. While a fair
ly large capacity of production is still
in reserve, the demand now pressing
for cars, vessels, bridges, buildings and
T. i0:n 70
ed rise in prices. The best sign is that
the great producers appear to be anx-
ious to maintain their hold on foreign
markets, although just now unable to
take orders for future delivery.
1t was a sign of similar import that
the boot and shoe manufacturers just
at this time seek better markets by a
somewhat general reduction or 212 cent
in prices, although leather averages
slightly higher. The shipments from the
east have been smaller than in four OF
the past six years in quantity, and only
16, 756 cases larger than in 1892, and
having gained nothing during all these
years in proportion to population, the
eastern manufacturer naturally seeks
more business. The increase IN prices
of grain leather has not h1ndered mucn,
while a few large sales of hemlock sole
are not necessarily at quoted prices. A
great many factories have been out OF
work and sales at a reduction do not
cover all grades of goods.
Nobody can judge what the cloth1erS
may buy as yet and the wooden manu-
facturerS have a very uncertain market
ahead, but judge that there will be
heavy demand for goods before long,
and many of the smaller mills are look
ing for chances in the wool markets.
Little weakness is there SEEM, except
for fleece, and in quarter and three
eighths blood and cOmbing wool prices
are generally strong, with scarcity or
supply, but sales for three weeks have
been Il, 050 200 pounds, against "a, 753, 500
two years ago, with free wool, and H.
O06 200 pounds in 1892 The demand for
cotton goods increases, although there
is some hesitation regarding the price
of the material The urgent demand
for goods of all qualities stiffening the
prices of staples well as of fancy
dealers. Cotton has sold an eighth
lower, although the material decreases
in receipts and large exports still give
hope of an advance.
Wheat has gained only 13s in price,
although Atlantic exports, flour includ-
ed, have been 1861, 1854 bushels, against
2,08O417 last year, and including other
exports 1928, 765 bushels, against 1885,
793 last year. The exports have been so
heavy that many doubt their contin-
uance, and yet grain comes from the
farms and then goes abroad as if such
doubt has no basis. The western re-
ceiptS during the past three weeks have
been 9376,473 bushels, against 1885, 426
last year. Corn has gained but half a
cent with smaller demand for export,
although it's outward movement will be
quite beyond precedent but for last
year. In three weeks the exports have
been 6,915, 567 bushels, against 10,931,7
bushels.
in the United States against 233 last
year, and 40 in Canada, against 80 last
year.
Eoos an Henfa nozau