The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-24
TRADE THE COUNTRY OVER
Dun's and Bradstreet's Comments on
the General Situation.

the General Situation.
New York, Nov. PAR G. Dun & Cos
Weekly Review of Trade says:
with reasonable promptness business
is recovering both activity and tone and
fortunately without the sharp rise in
general prices which was seen in the
spring and which was followed by
sudden and serious transition to a more
natural range. Manufactured goods are
rising in response to a better demand
from distributing sources, helped at the
end of the week by the more seasonabie
weather. Business is not yet what it
was on the top of the wave of Industrial
prosperity, but this working force is fast
increasing. The ordinary measures of
business reflect operations at all points,
but the textile markets are at the point
of least response to the improved under
tone of trade.
Recital of conditions In the iron and
steel market has become monatonous
repetition. Each week there is the same
record of activity so generally distribu-
ted that everything from the raw ma
terial to the finished product enjoys a
share. There is also the same freedom
from speculative accumulation in antic-
ipation of fancy prices that has been for
weeks the most encouraging feature
Railroad companies compete for rolling
stock. Export orders in some lines are
filled with difficulty, owing to the unuS-
uaI domestic demand for. all forms of
iron and steel products but in no quar-
ter is there any unreasonable imitation
of prices such as was seen during the
meteoric ascent last year. In a few de-
scriptions prices on export orders are
shaded to hold the business.
Two factors initiate strongly against
activity and strength in wool and wool
ems. Mild weather has been the chief
adverse influence, reducing sales far be-
low a normal volume in this vicinity
IlOIIfQafinn al h.
Germs threatens to throw a considerable
quantity on the market al forced sales
In the light Of these disquieting fea-
lures 1t is not surprising that sales of
wool at the three chief eastern markets
declined to $3.50, 331 pounds, against g.
352. 900 pounds in the week preceding and
l9.ofo,SS2 pounds year ago: Hides con-
tinue to rise, regardless of the largest
arrivals of cattle at Chicago in many
years.
Leather has ceased to follow the ad-
Vanclng hide market, and most grades
of boots and shoes are at the prices pre-
vallipg two months ago, except for a
gain or 212c in mems satin shoes and
split and kip boots. Considering the
advance of over 10 per cent in hides
in these two months, the gain in the
finished product is Insignificant but
every attempt to secure higher prices
ends negotiations for sales, and it is
necessary to take orders at old rates or
close the shops.
s'Undaunted by recent reverses spec
about $35 a bale in ten days Receipts
have been in moderate volume, but the
size OF the current crop can not be ap-
proximated by any ordinary system of
averages this year, owing to the ample
funds in the hands Of planters enabling
them to hold back much of their crop
Estimates have fallen below 10 OOO, 900
bales because of the slow movement,
and this fact together with last months
record breaking value of exports, form
the basis OF present prices. October
shipments are unlikely to be equalled
again while sales of next September's
options at cents do not take into ac-
count plans for a large increase in acre
age next year Consumption decreases
on account OF the high price, northern
spinners having taken 150,0OO bales less
than last year to date, while British ex-
ports of cotton cloths in October were
Is per cent less than in 1899, and of cot
ton goods SO per cent smaller
New York, Nov. 24.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: Unsettled weather
conditions have operated to curtaiI and
jobbing distribution this week. and i'm
parted a quieter tone to several lines
indirectly associated Herewith. Stock
speculation, too, has been less rampant,
and last weeks record of bank clearings
has. therefore, not been eQualed. There
is, however, little or no apparent loss
of basic strength, and. indeed, the gen
eral level of staple prices has been
Inent is most notable in the iron and
steel trades, in raw cotton and to q, les
ser degree in the cereals and some hog
products.
Business failure in the United States
for the week number 215. against 227
last week, 202 in this week a year ago,
1872 in 1888. 233 in 1897 and 296 in 1896.
Canadian failures for the week number
81, as against 20 last week 33 in this
week year ago, 81 in 1898, "a in 1897
and 2e in 1898 -