The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-04
CAN'T MOVE GOODS.
Car Shortage Continues to Interfere
With Fall Trade.

New York, Nov. 4.-R. G. Dun & Co. s
Weekly Review of Trade says:
Although the latest railway returns
indicate that transporting facilities
have greatly improved, the nation s
business has expanded more rapidly.
Car shortage in fact has become the
chief retarding influence. From all sec
tons of the country and many lines OF
industry complaints are heard in re-
gard to the inability to move goods. Per
hapS this has been most aggravatIng IN
the case of coal, unseasonably nigh tenn
perature alone preventing serious incon-
venience. Not only are domestic re-
quirements enormous, but coal is becom-
ing an important article of export part
ly owing to labor controversies IN
France and Great Britain and also to
the British export tax.
Mild weather affects retail distribution
to a very marked degree, orders for
heavy weight goods being cancelled in
some cases where manufacturers were
behind with deliveries. That the volume
of legitimate business is not being cur
tailed, however, is evidenced by the gain
In bank exchanges at New York of PA
per cent over last year and 7.9 per cent
over the same week in 1899. At other
leading cities the increase is equally
striking 20.1 per cent over 1900 and SO
over 1899
Not only are steel mills many months
behind orders and prompt deliveries
commanding premiums, but even where
goods are ready for customers, it is Of
ten impossible to ship because of made
quate railway facilities. Structural ma
terial is urgently sought and mild
weather prolongs the season for buy
ing pipe. Steel railroads increase and
the fancy prices asked for billetS have
brought imports from Germany where
industrial depression makes it possible
to sell at very low figures Domestic
quotations do not alter, though list fig
ures are not considered on deliveries
before the years end. Copper is arti-
closing mines
Footwear manufacturers have made
general advance in prices, restoring the
figures of early spring. 1t is obvious
that the average rise of 21a cents does
not cover the enhanced cost of mater
ial yet new orders have been extremely
light since the change as jObberS are re-
sisting the natural tendency. Textile
markets are we'll sustained Wooden
mills have ample orders and take large
quantities of raw material, holding wool
prices firm. Cotton goods are in brisk
request with no evidence of excessive
stocks. Wise counsel has thus far pre-
vailed at Fall River though the labor
leaders are closely divided
Irregularity prevailed in the market
for staples. Spectators secured a dis
tinct decline from the unusually high
position recently attained by pork prod
ucts, while at the same time corn made
a further advance. Poor huSking re-
ports were held responsible for the rise
in the cereal and there was a natural
falling off in exports. Shipments from
Atlantic ports for the week were only
49S, 495 bushels against 1,194, 009 last
week and 3,32S,631 a year ago. Interior
receipts were also light, 2,217, 126 bushels
against 3.S3S, O2O last year. Wheat came
to market more freely, arrivals at west
ern cities amounting to 7.060,59O bushels
against 6,1S2, 1893 in the previous week
and 5,537 SOP a year ago. Atlantic ex-
ports were less satisfactory than last
week, but including all United States
,nr-4- no c17 INN aTfC
10S bushels against 1885,, S21 last year
and $685. 1898 in 1899. A further fall put
cotton SO a bale lower than it was two
weeks ago and port receipts are very
heavy despite reports that many plant
ers are holding for more profitable
prices