The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-23

New Orleans, conditions are claimed to
be highly favorable. That the crop will
be earlier than usual seems certain.
Rice in Georgia, Louisiana and South
Carolina promises to be a large crop.
Raw wool is rather hrmer on the
whole, based on moderate stocks, the
activity of the mills on fall trade ac-
count and the freedom with which buy
ers of mems wear material for spring
delivery are taking hold
Lack of fuel threatens to make the
shortage in pig iron acute. In the Pitts
burg district the long standing COM
plant Of car shortage has eventuated
In the banking of many furnaces for
want of coke. of which there is plenty
have outgrown its railroad yard facili-
ties for one thing, and the fear is ex-
pressed that many pig iron contracts
for the second half of this year may re-
lists at Chicago, however, while Balti-
more complains of dearth of pig iron
and foundries shutting down. Some for
eign steel is reaching Chicago. 10000
tons of billets having been sold there
this week. but it is claimed that this
material is making little Roadway at
Pittsburg. Pig iron is in demand at
Chicago for the southern account, a
scarcity of some grades being noted
there. Rails and structural material
are in as heavy demand as ever the
country over. The effort to induce the
tin plate workmen to accept wage
which would otherwise go abroad, has
not as yet been abandoned. The wire
trade is a little stronger, but the sheet
trade is dull. Hardware Is in excep-
tional demand as heretofore, and ma
chinery manufacturers are very gen
orally crowded to keep up with orders
DUN'S REVIEW.
r. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review Of
trade says:
Fuel scarcity is still the one serious
| Industrial handicap. Protracted idleness
at anthracite mines increased the pres
sure for soft coal and coke, and despite
new records of output, deliveries are
utterly inadequate, owing to the lack of
motive power. Freight blockade of coke
trains has closed many furnaces, while
the increasing call for transportation
prospect of early relief. Notwithstand-
ing the congestion railway earnings
thus far reported for August show gains
of 3.4 per cent over last year and II per
have been less uniformly favorable.
Current trade is of good volume for the
season, while the outlook for the future
is bright. Buyers are numerous in all
the leading markets, placing orders
literally at well sustained quota TONS
LAS the active blast furnace capacity
of this country decreases through want
OF fuel, foreign pig iron is purchased
more freely and Scotch warrants have
advanced because of the steady demand.
| Domestic needs are now beyond all pre-
cedent and even with the available
| home capacity active there would be
! imports, although less than are now
arriving. There is much that is graf
! flying in this state of affairs, but there
| is also a drawback During the recent
period of exceptional domestic demand
many export orders have been sacrificed
which German and Belgian makers Sc
| cured.
Output of the Connellsville region
continues above all records, but stocks
accumulate:
Textile mills are well occupied, bust
ness gradually increasing in the cotton
| goods division and demand for quick
delivery show that stocks are low. Elk.
port trade in brown cottons is insignifi
| cant, but more inquiries are reported.
| New lines of light weight woolens and
| worsteds for spring wear are now fully
i opened and buyers are placing much
I business Quotations are steadily main
| tanned, with the market in healthy con-
| dition. There is some evidence that
supplementary orders will command
higher prices, especially If raw wool
| makes any further advance. Footwear
shops at the east have assurance of full
| operation for two months, although
| there is much complaint of quotations
in connection with the sensational
movement of the material. Packer hides
at Chicago have attained new high rec
ord prices and oak sole leather has adj
: vanced. There is general disposition
\ to delay making contracts at present
quotations.. legitimate purchasers of
material fearing an artificial element in
the market. and shoe manufa cturers
will be cautious while spring contracts
are under consideration. Staple products
| average somewhat higher in prices, ow-
ing to less uniformly good news from
! the agricultural section. No serious
disaster occurred, but excessive rain re-
tarded the development of grain and in
terrupted harvesting. In -nany cases
| where the date of maturity has beer
postponed, there is always the possible
ity of injury from early frosts The
other extreme of weather caused COM
| plant at the SOUTH drouth being In
evidence at many points. On the Other
hand, there were good reports of early
picking, especially in Oklahoma Coffee
| recovered from within an eighth of thu
lowest point on record rumors of fros
in Brazil, proving more potent thai
overwhelming supplies