The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-16
CAR SHORTAGE LOOMS UP.
Largest Crop in Country's. History
Must Be Handled.

New York, Aug 16.-Bradstree says:
weather conditions have been favor
able and the country is a week nearer
to realizing the largest harvest in its
history. Fall trade in the northern ana
western sections has expanded and IN
the west and northwest may be said to
be in full career with every sail draw
ing and nearly the best of outlooks
both as regards agricultural yield ana
prices. The need of larger than usual
quantities of money to move the crops
is appreciated and confidence in the
work of handling the crops with min
imum of friction is widely expressed.
though a further seasonable Tightening
of the situation is looked for. The phys
ical handling of the crops by the rail
roads presents a problem winch must
also be met and the possibility OF car
shortage looms up second only to the
necessary financing of the movement
itself.
s.The favorable trade features noted
this week are the expansion in the rail-
demand for dry goods, hardware, gro
markets north, west, east and north
west, the more optimistic views ex-
pressed as to the large size OF the
southern cotton crop and Its effect on
and steel. caused by the curtailment of
production in July as a result of short
ages, the firmneSs in lumber, mills be-
ing heavily sold ahead and the contin-
uance of the improved export demand
for cereals, particularly wheat, with the
steadiness in prices of actual grain,
which is in active request, while specu-
lation is rather slow. The less favor
able features noted are the restriction
of trade in summer goods caused by the
cool weather. the continuance of the
deadlock at the anthracite coal mines,
with the growing nervousness as to sup
plies and prices if the strike continues
until cool weather and the unfavorable
figures of July export trade, caused by
the projection of last years conditions
into the present season. Collections as
a whole are classed as seasonable.
pig iron production is still restricted
by scarcity of cars affecting coke sup
plies and the anthracite strike. Demand
is no less active southern pig selling
heavily. Foundry iron is active for
nearby and next year delivery at 81 ad-
vance on Bessener iron. Premiums for
spot iron at Chicago are high and it is
very scarce at Pittsburg. There is
plenty of foreign steel offered, but bust
ness is not active at the prices demand
ed. Eastern iron furnaces are buying
coke for next year at $2.75 at furnace.
Plates and structural material are
largely sold ahead and western rail
mills are refusing orders. Sheets, tin
| plates and wire are 'draggy.' Nothing
| like the present activity in hardware is
recalled. All markets report activity in
! this line and Chicago notes large sales
| for spring delivery. Tin is weaker on
| lower foreign markets and copper is
| nearly a half cent lower and weak on
| full offerings at concessions.
Cotton retains all the strength noted
| toward the close last week. Some cot
| ton goods are rather easy in tone Print
| cloths, while held at Fall River at &c,
| are offered at 27sc at other markets.
| GinghamS are. however. strong and
| some advances are announced. Wooler.
dc
| steady at the advance of DC and 10c
| noted. Wool is firm and prices favor
| sellers. Raw silk is active and firm.
| Boots and shoes show more activity
| at eastern manufacturing centers, and
| shipments for the week are per cent
| larger than last week though u per
| cent. smaller than a year ago. Chear
! jewelry is slow of sale by manufac-
| turers. Sugar is firm and a large bust
| ness is in prospect. Produce is lower
on larger receipts. Canned goods are
! firm despite bountiful crops of fruits
| and vegeta bles.
Wheat, including -four exports for
| the week ended August IA, aggregate A.
| 391, sos bushels. against 2244363 last
week, and 9,039,761 last year Wheat
exports since July 1 aggregate &c, $50, COS
| bushels, against 44.071, 1898 last season
Corn exports aggregate SO. 423 bushels
against 70,611 last week and 3O3, 807 last
year. For the fiscal year corn exports
are 651,S4 bushels. against 1927, 1853 las
| season.
Business failures for the week ended
| August IA number 49, as against 16!
last week. and 178 in this week las
| year."