The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-23
BUSINESS is VERY GOOD
CAR SHORTAGE AND COAL STRIKE
THE ONLY BAD FEATURES.
Lack of Fuel May Affect the Iron and
Steel Trade-Cereals and Textiles
The Weeks Bank Ciearings.

NEW YORK. Aug. 22-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say:
Trade developments are still largely IA
vorabIe, fall jobbing activity being wide
spread, and reports as TO collections are
more uniformly encouraging than for a
long time past. Weather conditions have
not been altogether favorable TO corn at
the North or cotton at the South. but de-
cadence in crop prospects is still largely
a matter of trade sentiment, rejecting
some reaction from earlier buoyant agri-
cultural prospects Industrial activity APP
parently has never been surpassed, and
what checks are noted are either, as in
the case OF the anthracite coal stoppage'
Of an ancient date, or as in the case or
furnace shutdowns in iron and steel trades,
the results of superintendent railway traf-
fic curtailing fuel supplies. Harvest
ing, except of corn, has been completed,
except in the more northern sections, and
results in these latter respects are more
or less secure. The high prices Of cattle,
sheep. hogs and produce are tempting and
inducing large shipments. which seem des-
tined to cause natural downward drift
in prices. The fall trade is now in full
swing at most of the leading centers. Buy
ing Of dry goods, shoes, clothing and mill
linery is liberal. Some sections, particu-
larly the Southwest, report the best trade
in years. but, withal. there is a tone of
conservatism, which tends to prevent spec
ulation and any excess which may result In
overlooking.
Lack of fuel threatens to make the short
age in pig iron acute. In the Pittsourg dis
trict the long-standing complaint of car
shortage has eVentuated in the banking OF
many furnaces for want OF coke, of which
there is plenty at Connellsyille. Pittsburg
appears TO have outgrown it's railroad
yard facilities, for one thing, and the fear
Is expressed that many pig-iron contracts
for the second half of this year may re-
main untitled A shortage of coke exists
at Chicago, however. while Baltimore COM
plains of dearth of pig iron and foundries
shutting down. Some foreign steel is reach
ing Chicago, 10000 tons of billets having
been sold there this week, but it is claimed
that this material is making little head
way at Pittsburg. Pig iron is in demand
at Chicago for Southern account, scarcity
of some grades being noted there. Rails
and structural material are in as heavy
demand as ever the country over.
Wheat and flour exports for the week
ended Aug. q aggregate 1854, 759 bu, against
6137, sos last week and 6.60S.9S9 in this
week last year. Wheat exports since July
l aggregate 32,944,767 bu, against 5O,6IS,9Sl
bu. against 80, 423 last week and 523,SS3 last
year. For the fiscal year corn exports are
7OS, 4s3 blu, against 1.O51 last season.
The shoe and leather trade is in an in
teresting condition. Buying of shoes is
active at Western points and manufac-
turers busy, while tanners sales are
large. At the East Philadelphia manu-
facturers are busy, and sole leather is
active. The New England industry, while
in better shape than for some time past,
reports little money in the business.
Leather tends upward, and hides are very
strong. Shoe shipments from New Eng
land points are showing gradual gains from
week to week. but are still below year
ago for the week and the season.
Business failures for the week number
49, against Isl last week and Isl in this
week last year.