The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-25

ing fair contracts for staple lines run
ming into next March.
Failures for the week numbered 223
In the United States against 240 last
year ana twenty-five in Canada COM
pared with twenty-nine"
Bradstreet'S says:
"Favorite features still dominate the
trade and industrial situation. Some
reduction in the demand for fall and
winter goods at wholesale is noted but
1t IS shown at the same time that the
completed business in dry goods, cloth
Ing, shoes, hats. millinery and "a host
OF other lines is in excess of 1901 and
preceding years. Business on next
springs account tends rather to expand
ana a similar tendency is noted in re-
tan business, particularly at the east,
Where the fear of a coal famine has
been removed by the actual RESUMPTION
of work Tt is true that in the north
west retail trade is not meeting antici-
| pations, possibly because of warmer
weather, but partially because the
farming element is still busilV enga geo
! in crop work. The money situation
shows little that is unfavorable to gen.
eral business Reports as to collections
class them as being generally good, and
! in some cases better than a year ago
! Raw cotton shows the least strength
OF the textiles. Good picking weather
favors larger out turn. Cotton goods
| display considerable strength, the print
| cloth market being strong and prints
!
manufacturers are actively employed
and they are said not to have a very
large stock on hand, thus strengthening
the raw material. Improved retail trade
at the east gives tone to the entire dry
goods market
The situation in the iron trade is full
of interest. While pig iron is firmer ard
the coke shortage continues. necessitat-
ing shutdowns in the Pennsylvania val
leys and high premiums are paid for
immediate delivery of what little iron
is available, steel billets have weakened
partially because of the efforts of for
eign imports, but also because of less
urgent demand from some finishing
mills. The heavier forms Of finished ma
terial all retain in their former strength.
structural iron and steel and plates for
snip building purposes are strong, but
sheets are dull and slow, while steel
rods tend to weaken and tin plates are
depressed pending the settlement of the
question as to whether tin plate mill
employees will accept the cut in wages
necessary If large contracts now going
abroad are to be secured. A conpro-
mise may be made on this point That
nigh prices, however, exercised a deter
rent effect on consumption is easily
demonstrated. A cut in the prices OF
wire and nails has already had the effect
of encouraging consumption. Hardware
retains exceptional activity both for
light and heavy sorts and considerable
sales of builders hardware for next sea-
son are reported at different markets.
The boot and shoe trade continues
active at the west. Better reports also
come from the eastern industry, ship
ments last week being the largest for
months past and exceeding even those OF
this week a year ago. but they are still
10 per cent. less for the season. Leather
Is pretty steady. Hides have DISPLAYED
some softness. but are steadied by the
strength of both sole and upper leather
The lumber business, while naturally
noting some quieting business of the
Il
weather conditions permit of the carry.
ing out of the work. Demand for build
ing material continues active In til,
lumber producing regions strength i;
the main feature The southern lumber
trade reports unusual activity. Some
thing in the nature of a shortage in tn,
worlds crop of sugar confronts tn
trade The yield of beet sugar appear
likely to be heavily reduced and a small
. falling off in the yield of the cane crol
Is also noted, the net result being a de
cline of about 10 per cent. from a yea
ago, which has been reflected in frac
tional advances of the raw product"