The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-25
STATE OF TRADE.
Labor Situation Is the Only Cloud in
the Business Sky.

New York, May 25.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade says:
The labor situation is the cloud hover
ing over the business world, but the diff
culties are not sufficiently widespread
at present to seriously interfere with
the progress of manufacture and dis
tribution. Some settlements of strikes
have been effected during the week and
others seem probable at an early date.
Meanwhile. prices held firm, the capac-
ity Of producing plants in the leading
industries is well employed and crop adj
vices are satisfactory.
A feeling of confidence in the per-
manence of values appears to have set
tied in all divisions of the iron and steel
manufacture. To this may be attrib-
uted the decrease in orders for distant
delivery, purchasers merely contra citing
for their requirements for one to two
months in advance. Tranquility re-
garding the future is undoubtedly due to
the action of the large combination
which has made no effort to secure ex-
orbitant prices but manifeStS an 1nten-
ton to maintain quotations at the cur
rent level. Independent producers show
a disposition to work along the same
lines and the net result is less ScraIn-
bling to get orders placed, but no indi-
cation that the actual demand is any
smaller Notwithstanding much talk OF
dullneSS in pig iron, beSSemer is firmly
SIG at valley furnaces. Foundry irons
are somewhat easier. All lines of finish
ed steel are crowded to the limit Of pro-
ductive capacity and machinery houses
at Chicago are granting nachlnists' de-
mands rather than risk delay.
Although slightly smaller than in the
two preceding phenomenal weeks, ship
nentS of boots and SHOES from the east
were more than 100000 cases, and far
in excess of the same week IN early
years
Textile fabrics still exhibit the least
animation. and conditions at Fall River
cotton mills are far from encouraging,
further reduction in time and possibly
in wages being under discussion. Woolen
mills exhibit a little more activity and
buy raw materials
correspondents report the winter
wheat outlook steadily improving, and
there is every reason to anticipate an
abundant harvest. A few sections have
slightly reduced acreage, and losses by
droUth in Texas may amount to about
half the original area planted The pro-
duction in this state, however. IS never
sufficiently heavy to be an important
factor in the total for the whole coun-
try. The most encouraging feature is
the decreased amount of harm done by
Hessian flies, which earlier in the season
threatened to be severe. In the face OF
better domestic crop prospects quota
lions continue firm, injury in Germany
affecting foreign markets Atlantic ex-
ports have been large for the past week,
including flour, amounting to 3.6Sz,415
bushels against 2,173,356 bushels in the
same week last year and 1,646,624 in 1893.
Speculation in May corn has quoted
down but the general level of this
cereal continues far above normal prices
and more liberal receipts have been at
tracted to interior cities; Tor the week
667. 042 bushels were received against
/. 1894. 1856 bushels last year. On the other
hand foreign buying is restricted, Allan
tic exports being only 1,436, 500 bushels
against 3, 534, 673 bushels a year ago. Com
parative quiet prevails as to cotton. Re-
ceipts continue liberal; spinners are
buying little. and there is a steady i'm
provement in reports of the current
crops condition.
Failures for the week numbered $50 in
the United States, against 1876 last year.
and % in Canada, against 20 last year.