The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-12
REVIEW OF TRADE.
Business Good in Everything But
Textiles.

New York, Jan. 12-R. G. Dun & CO. 5
Weekly Review Of Trade says:
Only in the textiles is special hesi-
tation shown. Staple products are firm,
iron and steel prices are held without
trouble, boots and shoes and wool are
steady, and all with fair demand. SO
that manufacturers are busy. In tex
tiles, however, the Improvement which
seemed to be promised with the new
year is still delayed and in cotton goods
stocks are growing in some quarters,
though still not oppressively heavy any
where Throughout the country dis
tribution Of merchandise continues on a
good scale and collections are unusually
prominent
Construction of bridges and build
ingS, together with contemplated track
elevation, crowds the capacity Of all
concerns making structural shapes OF
iron and steel Orders for locomotives,
cars, rails and all forms of railway
equipments are also abundant. and
there is no sign of reaction in the in
dustry. Plate and sheet mills have
large business and merchant steel is IN
brisk demand: Competition IS keen;
however, and increased operations fail
to affect prices. New schedules are
promised in the near future and lower
freight rates are anticipated. Stocks
decreased slightly in December. but
there is fear of accumulation, ana quo
tations at Pittsburg and Philadelphia
have declined during the past week
Investment of Wall street capital
was rumored as supporting cotton ana
wheat, but the effect was not perma-
nent. Cotton advanced temporarily, on
~ to react when Liverpool cables failso
to respond Traders express widely OIL
verging general opinions as to the size
of current crop and its sufhciency
Meanwhile port receipts continue TO
largely exceed last years figures at
prices 80 per. cent higher. Wheat WAS
a Tod NV f1f .
May option and for a time exhibited
strength sharp reaction folloWe1,
holders parting readily with their cor
tracts. Despite the advance of about 10
per cent over the price a year ago, At
lantfc exports show an increase to B.
255, 053 bushels, -four included, agains-
,315,588 bushels in 1900. Even more re
markable is the comparison as to corr.
Of which shipments abroad amounted to
4.543 149 bushels, against 3,40S.793 las:
year, while the quotation is nearly Is
per cent higher Wet weather is inter-
rupting the movement from the farms
and there is still much complaint of low
grading at Chicago.
Wool has ceased to decline, and sales
. at the three chief eastern markets IL
creased slightly to 3,30S. 700 pounds,
against 3.121 900 in the week preceding.
A year ago sales were considered re
markably small for that season at s.
100. 600 pounds Manufacturers purchase
with extreme caution and domestic
deeccs suffer by Increased competition
of cheap wool from Australia and Chi
ma. Makers of boots and shoes insist on
full prices, and as a result shipments
from Boston have declined $3.50 cases
for the week. Jobbers in this vicinity
are doing well, and Wholesalers orders
are urgent Sales of leather increase.
with hemlOck sole fairly held although
concessions are made in upper stock
While the hide market at Chicago is IN
changed, the tone is irregular.
Failures for the week were 324 in
1p TTv1if Cd al ,cf
and 81 in Canada, against % last year.
Bradstreet's says: Business is still
of a betW cen seasons character in most
lines, but a ivening up of interest in
several trades has been noted this week.
Relatively best reports come from the
iron and steel, lumber. leather and drug
trades, but there has been some en-
largement of wholesale distributive
trade on spring account in the south
and west. Spring trade in dry goods is
just opening up, and it is noted that a
heavy shipping movement on orders is
now proceeding at the west. Some gain
in wool sales is noted at eastern mar
kets, but weather conditions have not
been fvora.bIe at the east to business as
a whole except as stimulating the retail
trade in shoes and rubber goods A
special feature is the general good tenor
Of reports. as to- collections from all
western and southern points, from
which 1t is inferred that trade relations
to retailers must have been quite good.
Summed up briefly, the situation is one
of widespread confidence in the general
business outlook.
Cereals have given a further exhibit
ton of life this week, partly on light
northwest receipts and advices that Ar
gentine shipments will not exceed 3d.
600 600, or about half those of a year
ago, but largely on the unquestionabiy
heavier volume of Wall street money
seeking an outlet in the grain market.
Fluctuations have been wider and it has
been essentially a traders market. with
net changes for the week small
Corn is slightly higher in sympathy
with wheat and small receipts Of COR
tract.
Inquiry rather than active demand
is a leading feature IN iron and steel
ted in Bessemer pig iron and billets at
Pittsburg and in plates at Chicago. No