The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-06
STEADY PROGRESS
Is Reported in Business by CONNER
cial Agencies.


New York, Sept. 6.-R. G. Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade says:
STEADY progress is reported in trade
and industry. Distribution of merehan-
disc is heavy and a healthy tone is evil
dent. Domestic conditions continue
much better than those existing abroad,
and home trade received more attention
than foreign commerce Farm products
have appreciated in value owing to less
favorable weather. and producers VIII
be fully compensated for any decrease
in quantity by the higher quotations.
Earnings of railways during August
were 3.6 per cent larger than year
ago and 1873 per cent. in excess of 1900
Better deliveries of coke and liberal
receipts of foreign material have less
ened the pressure in the iron and steel
industry, while quotations In few lines
have weakened. Domestic demands are
not decreasing, much new business hav-
ing been placed, and home consump-
ton will continue to call for imports Oh
a larger scale.
New plants are being added to the
productive capacity as rapidly an pos
sible, but in railway equipment, espe-
cially steel rails. orders are already
placed for much of next year.
Quotations of footwear are fully
maintained at the recent advance. 1t is
noteworthy that buying has been heav-
lest in the finer grades and sample lines
of spring styles are also much sought
in the good qualities. A good feature Is
the urgency for quick shipment, indi-
eating. that stocks are low Leather
sells freely at the recent advance in
quotations, but hides appear to have
risen above the views of tanners, re-
sultlng In quiet market. Advancing
raw material aroused much anxiety
among purchasers OF cotton goods and
there We're numerous inquiries for for
ward contracts, but the volume OF bust
ness was not materially increased.
Agricultural conditions are less sat
isfctory and if the official estimate as
to cotton is not exaggerated the Weld
Will not be large enough to sustain
consumption at the present rate. Wheat
is coming forward freely. though re-
ceipts do not equal the abnormally
Veloped strength because of fears that
injury would be done by frost. and the
movement is very slow. compared with
last years figures"
Bradstreet's says:
| "A1l available data confirm reports of
past good trade and foreshadows good
| or better vet to come. It has been es-
| sential1y a week of active buying in
distributive trade. Reports as to August
| trade have been almost uniformly ia
vorable, and the records Of failures
show business mortality to have been
| confined to low summer minimum.
Prices show persistent strength despite
| the fact that agricultural products. ex-
| cept corn and prime cattle, tend lower.
Corn is not yet out of danger from
| frost In the northern belt, and this.
/ coupled WIFI snort Supplies, 1u1OartS
strength to cereals generally. Reports
of cotton deterioration, caused by hot.
| dry weather have scared shorts and
| stiffened values Of raw and manufac-
tured cotton, but there is a feeling that
| the crop damage talk has been over
done. Rather less disturbance is noted
| in labor matters. some strikes having
been declared off. The anthracite treu-
BILE still hangs over the situation, but
the volume of coal shipments Is slowly
moran c iY1e Sovoaa n
| vances are noted in widely separated
| lines. Collections in the north and west
re uniformly good. but. while some
| improvement is noted in the south room
for betterment exists.
"Jobbing activity is undiminished al
the west, northwest and southwest, and
is of satisfactory volume at the east
Dry goods, shoes, millinery, drugs
Der figure actively in the demand.
Leather sales are large at the west
but high tide prices discourage tanning
At the east the advance in cotton is
stimulating the cotton goods markets
Good recorders are noted in wooler
goods, but spring goods are meeting
most attention Silk goods are strong
and prices are very firm Eastern shoe
factories are well employed, although
the complaint OF. small profit continues
Wool is half a cent higher and tends
| up, as stocks are not large
| 1.-THE fuel shortage is pressing on the
iron furnaces and now the scarcity Of
cars and motive power is affecting tn.
movement of ore from lake ports to tn,
Pittsburg district. New demand for pis
iron is. however, light, primarily becaus,
buyers have booked largely ahead
Foundry iron is 81 higher. Heavy i'm
| ports Of foreign iron and steel have Gu
down premiums on immediate delivery
business, but in the scarcity of supple,
of domestic no particular interest il
taken in this. Sales of foreign mad,
materials are large. In finished prod
IafC h11C ass ~, 91rx -
| Is fair and mills are heavily sold ahead
Tin plate and wire nails are quiet, but ;
better business is looked for soon witt
the growth of fall trade. Hardware il