The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-11
RISE IN WAGES.
Gives the Best Assurance of
Good Business
In the Future Says R. G.. Dun
g. Co.'s Weekly Report.
THE PACE THAT is SET
By the Iron, Coal and Cotton
Industries
Must Be Followed by Others
That Have Reduced Wages.

New York, March 11.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade says:
BY far the best assurance of good
business in the future is found in the
general rise of wages. The general ad-
vance in earnings of cotton mill opera
tives, in most cases 10 per cent of iron
and steel workers generally 10 per cent
and tin plate and sheet workers from
to 10 per cent and of coal miners in
some large districts, about as much has
set a pace which most establishments
will follow which have reduced wages in
the past years of depression.
Those who fail to comprehend what
such a change may mean have only to
consider that a tenth increase in the
wages of all labor would put into the
markets a new buying demand, in
amount about three-quarters of the en-
tire value of exports to all countries.
The volume of business shows no signs
of decrease and for the first full week
of March has been about SIT per cent
greater than in the same week of last
1892
Nose people would not expect the pro-
duction of pig iron to be affected by the
weather. Yet in the Pittsburg district
alone the furnaces running are said to
have produced 1900 tons per week
less than their January output. so that
the decrease in weekly production of all
237 ,639 February 1, does not mean any
thing more than bad weather. The
shrinkage of supplies of iron in Feb
ruary just when increased supplies
were expected and needed contributed
much to the extraordinary advance in
I prices, rs in antracite February 1, ESQ
in bessemer pig at PittSburg and $2.75
in grey forge.
The unsold stocks were also reduced
in February 46,431 tons, so that the
apparent consumption was 977,979 tons
in the short month. Nearly all the
work done, of course, is at the cOmpar-
atively low prices made in the great
/ contracts three to four months ago, but
/ the few works which are still able to
/ contract for early delivery are charging
about what they please. and these quo
i tations appear in the published state
/ ments; in many cases 81 to So per ton
/ premium is paid for delivery within so
! days. Plates are in especial demand and
! higher, but in rails, bars and structural
/ forms the demand and the prices are
! not vet much changed.
Tin is firm at % IS cents, with con-
| sumption of $500 tons monthly. and
copper is scarce for spot at Sits with
lead weaker at $3.50 The trust refuses
quotations for tin plates. The demand
for coke exceeds the transporting ca
pacity for the Connellsville region, but
the output has been 16S,679 tons for the
week furnace being quoted at SLIGO and
foundry at 81 per ton
The wooden manufacture has been
| hampered by doubts about the price of
| wool. Now a big combination of worst
| ed producers has been formed, with sew
| eral other combinations proposed in
| goods of other kinds, but these do not
| encourage buying and the season con-
| tinueS disappointing In wool markets
! sales are barely equal to the ordinary
! consumption of the mills dependent on
| them. but prices are rather weak
Cotton goods have been advanced
| about per cent during the month and
/ are still rising, although the advance
! in raw cotton has stopped. From un-
/ seasoning belief in the highest crop ever
/ known the markets have passed to I'M
! reasoning belief in a smaller yield than
! usual, and men are reckoning that the
! supply is about exhausted. But there
! is probably enough cotton yet AVAILABLE
| to prevent any faLnines.
| Exports of wheat do not yet fall be-
! low last years, as many have for some
I months expected and the Atlantic eX-
/ ports, flour included, have been for the
week 1903, O92 bushels, against 2,S9OS73
last year, and Pacific exports SOB 10Y
| bushels against 12SO,61S last year, with
| other exports of 407, 500 bushels. West
| ern receipts were 4,071, OH bshels. against
J 1852 9IS for the same week last year,
| and the output from the country goes
far to check apprehension to de-
| ficiency of the crop. The price is about
| is about 1 cent lower. with western re-
| ceipts 1853, 404 bushels, against 5,4S7,-
| 203 bushels last year, while exports
| have been for the same week 3, 537, SS5
| bushels against 2,9577, 851 bushels last
| year.
Failures for the week have been 1872
| in the United States against 248 last
year. and 81 in Canada, against &c last
| year