The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-18
LAST OBSTACLE GONE.
Only the Coal Strike Was Block
ing the Wheels of Progress.

ing the Wheels OF Progress.
New York Oct 1S.-R. C. Dun & Co 5
Weekly Review Of Trade says:
The settlement of the coal strike re-
moves the only serious handicap to in
dustrial progress Five months of re-
stricted fuel production had begun 20
check the wheels at many manufactur-
ing centers. while there was a Dercept-
IDLE diminutiOn in consumptiVe demands
as the purchasing power OF the wage
earners steadily decreased. Savings
have been exhausted and much money
has gone out of the country because of
this struggle, but the nations remarks
ably strong position assures a speedy
restoration of prosperous conditions
TRANSPORTATION is now the worst fea-
ture and threatens to continue disturb.
ing. While the grain crops are being
moved the supply of rolling stock and
motive power will prove insufficient al
| though every effort IS made at the
shops, liberal premiums being offered
for early delivery. That the railways
l.are well occupied is evidenced by earn
1ngs for the first week of October B.
o per cent. larger than last year and 1913
per cent. above 1900.
Inadequate supplies of fuel caused
further banking of furnaces. but the
effect of decreased output of domestic
pig iron has been partially neutralized
by larger arrivals from abroad. Prac-
tically no price can be named for i'm
mediate delivery of home iron and there
is no disposition to make concessions
IOI INSTANT contracts owing TO the an
normal coke situation. Fortunately
there has been little interruption at fin
fishing mills and the output Of rails.
structural material and kindred lines is
well maintained. Consumers not only
ma difficulty in securing steel from the
mills, but encounter a further delay on
the railways which are unable to handle
freight promptly. Orders come forward
freely for the heavier lines, numerous
contracts being offered for steel rails for
next years delivery and the plans for
buildings and bridges keep a lot of bust
ness in sight in beams, channels and
sought freely, prices tending upward on
tank steel. Higher freight rates have
checked imports of finished steel.
NAM SHOPS are actively engaged,
long list of ORDERS and while practically
all the New England manufacturers are
assui eu u lulI tlne up TO the end of the
year; they are also taking orders for de-
/ l1verfes in March. Prices are easily MAIN
tanned Leather is slightly weaker, owing
to the sharp fall in hides. which has been
! accumulated by the poorer quality now
coming on the market. Large imports
! have weakened dry hides. In cotton goods
the feature was purchase of about go O9O
pieces of print cloths. While quotations
were not altered the tone became decidediv
i firmer. In other divisions of the market
buyers are only interested in meeting cur
rent demands, future requirements being
raw material
Failures for the week number 20s in
the United States. against 229 last year,
and q in Canada, compared with 81 a
year ago"
Bradstreet's says:
with the settlement of the great coal
strike of 1902, the most remarkable in
some respects of modern record practical
/ " the only unfavorable feature in gen
/ eral trade and industry disappears. Co.
! incident with this, also. have been the
ending of several minor troubles of a
similar nature While relief to the public
mind is. perhaps, the most immediate re-
suit it is natural to expect that present
abnormal prices and conditions in fuel
+ supply will gradually disappear Some
scars. of course. will be left and the eff
feet of the costly trouble win. no doubt
be reflected in some permanent loss OF
trade in the mining regions and in rather
higher prices for fuel the coming winter
than were paid a year ago, All other trade
i.developments this week are largely favor
able Retail trade has generally Improved.
stimulated at the west. northwest ard
south by cooler weather fall festivals and
carnivals. Jobbing demand Is also better,
particularly at the west. Dry goods. shoe
hat and cap: clothing. hardware and lum-
Der dealers have all done well
...Seasonable strength is noted in butter
and cheese, and the metals are also high
or. In the general strength of farm pro
ducts the weakness in cotton is notable.
Wool is firm at all eastern markets. man
ufacturers are liberal BUYERS: stocks are
being pretty we'll reduced and holders are
inclined to ssk for higher quotations.
Improvement in tlle iron trade as re-
suit of the probable ending of the coal
strike is as yet matter of sentiment, but
with the free movement of coal eastern
iron furnaces. now banked. are expected
to resume operation, though coke shortage
may close valley furnaces. No loss of
strength is shown in heavy goods. In
fact. the tendency has been rather up
ward. Higher freight rates. caused by
the large movement of coal from abroad,
tends to discourage the imports of foreign
pig iron and tariff regulations to steel
hillets may check the inward movement
of these goods. Domestic billets are high
CT than last week. Striking advances are
shown in nearly all lines of iron and steel,
as compared with a year ago, the range
of advances being from s. per ton in the
case of old material to So to 81 in the case
of pig iron and steel billets. At Pittsburs
foundry iron is 81 higher. In finished ma
1 terials similar heavy advances are noted
, hut exceptions to this are found in sheets
wire nails and tin plates. which are gen.
orally lower than a year ago, owing to
, increased competition of independent pro
ducers 1t is to be noted. however, that
, Pittsburg reports sheets in better demand
( at the decline of two weeks ago.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending Thursday. October 16
number 2O3. as against 10 last week. la'
in this week last year. 223 in 1900 221 il
, 1899 and 2l3 in 1898.
{ I'm Canada failures for the week mum
Der Is, against 20 last week and % in this
woe a