The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-31
EVEN COTTON.
Month Closes With Improve
ment in All Trades.

New York, Aug. Sir c.. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade says:
Even in cotton goods, which have
been the slowest to respond to the Wig
orOus tone Of domestic trade, the past
week has brought distinct Improvement
Pressure at FAN River being rem owed.
the print cloth market became strong,
while in the bleached goods division the
gains were still more pronounced. In
some cases the only drawback is the
lack Of available supplies for imme-
diate delivery. Such evidences of bet
ter things in the market for goods
naturally gave a firmer tone to the raw
material, which was further supported
by the unsatisfactory weather in Texas.
Against loses by drouth in the largest
state. there is compensation in the
greatly increased acreage throughout
the entire cotton belt but an advance
Of 50 bale since the advance began
does not appear unreasonable.
Somewhat lower quotations for
wheat are not surprising, in view Of
the general tendency to increase est1-
mates Of the crop far beyond the guam
tity indicated by official figures of con-
dition. Another weakening influence IS
the slight decline Of exports below the
record breaking movement in the first
two weeks of August.
Shipments for the week. however,
were still phenomenal. aggregating g.
637 302 bushels. compared with 2,S04, 561
bushels last year. and S,179917 bushels
in 1899 Moreover, this gain occurred
despite the interruption to shipment
from the Pacific coast by the strike of
grain handlers. These figures Of ex-
port omit the movement from Cana
dian points. usually included in other
records, and causing confusion as 70
the actual state Of domestic trade.
With a yield of $4,000 600 bushels in
Manitoba, these shipments from the
Dominion are falling a little short OF
1000 600 bushels weekly.
Corn is stuDOOrnly firm, although
Atlantic exports for the week were but
407 $50 bushels. against 2 367, 159 bushels
q year ago, and 4,07S, 0Q5 bushels in
$50 bushels. compared with 2.123 sl1
bushels last year, indicating that farm
ers are content 10 market their surplus
at current prices.
August opened with the commercial
sky overcast by storm clouds that
threatened serious injury to the steel
industry, while drouth in the southwest
aroused peSslnlStlc predictions Inau
business was on the verge of a severe
setback Thousands of idle strikers, to-
gether with a prOfitless season in agri-
cultural regions, meant inactivity IN
manufacturing, trade and transporta-
ton. according to the prophets of evil.
Instead of these conditions, however.
the months end with a horizon that is
almost clear. and each day resumption
of work at idle mill adds to the pro-
duCtive capacity, while cancelled orders
for merchandise from dealers IN the
drOuth sections are rapidly re-stated.
Jobbers and manufacturers report
that orders for fall goods have exceeded
any previous year. with noticeable de-
mand for the better grades. and there IS
definite measure of active trade III
bank exchanges at this city, TAO per
cent larger than in the same week last
year. and 205 above 1899. while al other
leading cities the increase is 36.2 and
ESQ per cent respectively. Although
scarcity of freight cars holds back a
large tonnage. every earning thus far
reported for August shows a gain of
121 per cent over last year, and 23.6
per cent over 1899.
Quotations of steel products are still
nominal owing to the difficulty expert
enced in securing prompt delivery. 1t
is estimated that more than 20 per cent
Of the steel companies capacity has
been stopped by the strike and this
proportion daily decreases.
Consumers of tin plate have secured
supplies abroad so that their work Is
not badly handicapped. and while it is
to be deplored that American capital
and wage earners will lose the profits
of this business. it is fortunate that
other industries are not disturbed.
Hides are sharing the Improvement.
with higher prices and activity at the
west. Wooden mills are crowded with
orders. even the smaller concerns par
ticipating and the wool market is
steady
Failures for the week numbered 202
in the United States. against 175 last
year. and u in Canada. against 10 last
year.