The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-08
ENORMOUS SPRING TRADE.
It Is Confidently Expected in Bust
ness Circles.

| New York, March S.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade says
Unsettled weather was the most uE-
satisfactory feature of the business sit
uation. A sudden thaw, following an
exceptionally heavy snowfall produced
freshets and o1ods. Manufacturing and
transporting interests suffered severely.
and consumers We're urgent for ship
ment of delayed goods, while great
quantities of merchandise became STALL
ed in transit. Preparations for an enor-
nous spring trade continue undiminish-
ed. There is still some uneasiness re-
mines, and at Fall River there is dis
agreement as to the length of a cut OF
cloth, although increased wages are as
sured.
Not only is there no improvement to
be recorded in the iron and steel out
look, but floods in the Pittsburg region
added to the pressure by CON pletely
closing many plants and damaging
much costly machinery. Supplies of
coke failed to increase because the rail-
ways We're badly disorganized, and the
net result was a week of light output
when requirements were notably heavy
Recent destruction by the elements
makes an unusual demand for struc-
tural material, and on spot business
buyers gladly pay premiums of Sc 4
ton above list prices. The situation has
become so abnormal that it is impossi-
BILE to gauge the market by ordinary
standards OF secure quotations of any
value for comparative purposes. The
encouraging feature is that despite
present exorbitant prices, the speeula-
tive element is not prominent, and or
ders are accepted for distant delivery
with no effort at imitation. Coal ship
ments have been eurtailed to such an
extent that dealers supplies are low
and quotations very strong.
Nothing new has developed in the
footwear industry. Eastern shops are
still working on old contracts, but buy
81 VII MS in Of ia
mess in expectation of securing m ore
satisfactory terms. Shipments have
fallen below the figures for the game
week last year, but since January l
there still appears a good increase over
1901. Leather is weaker and hides Ge-
clined another fraction.
Cotton goods are we'll sustained, the
stronger raw material giving all the adj
vantage to sellers, but there is much I'M
certainty as to the labor situation. This
tends to make the mills conservative
regarding the acceptance of contracts
for future delivery. Less activity is re-
ported in the market for woolens
.sAIl staples steadied and some rose
sharply, the net changes for the week
amounting to a considerable advance. 1t
was natural for grain to hold firm when
wheat receipts at the West were $685.
344 bushels. compared with 3,747 952 last
year, while arrivals of corn were but
2,001, OLA bushels. against 5,020,43 a year
ago Exports of wheat flour included
were 4174,S94 bushels against 3,1S5.O22
in the previous week. and 3,715 $50 "A
year ago. Even corn went out more
freely. Atlantic exports exceeding 10
per cent of the movement of a year ago.
or 81, aJ4 bushels, against 3,357438.
Speculation was quiet. with many
guesses to the coming report of farm
reserves. For the first time in this crop
season cotton showed an advance over
the price at the corresponding date last
year, and it is significant that the high
er figure failed to attract heavy selling
at the South. Visible supply statistics