The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-27
A GREAT YEAR.
Enormous Holiday Trade At
fOrded Fitting Finish
To Period of Almost Unequal
ed Business Activity.
DOMINATING FEATURES
Satisfaction With the Old and
Confidence in the New.
Banks Are Able to Report {
Good Years Business.

New York, Dec. 27.-BradStreet'S says:
Satisfaction with the old and confidence
IN the new year are the dominating fea-
lures as 1902 draws to a close. The enof-
nous holiday trade, exceeding in most
respects all records. proved to be a III
ting crown to a year of almost unprece-
denied business and industrial activity
Except in some sections of the south
and west. where crop and weather condi-
tions had led to a modification of other
wise sanguine expectations. the value OF
seasonable business is in most respects
satisfactory. IN the east, the west, the
northwest and on the Pacific coast there
is but one note, and that of satisfaction
with the results achieved during the
past few weeks Additional reports &c
ceived OF trade distribution for the year
confirm those hitherto given of an enor-
nous volume of business, modified, 1t is
true, in some respects by higher cost CT
materials and wages, limiting profits
With the larger turnover, however, and
the active demand in most lines. the
profit side has not been equally lost
sight of. and it is safe to say that
equally satisfactory returns in years to
come would prove acceptable Reports
of results in banking circles this year
are that good profits have been gained
as result of the comparatively high
and at the same time steady rates for
monex.
The holiday spirit has ruled in whole
sale lines this week Most of the sales
men are in from the road. and except for
recorders to repair depleted stocks, job
berS are quiet and stock taking is the
main interest. Industrial operations have
naturally slowed down. except where
conditions, as in railway traffic, are Sucn
as to demand the straining of every
nerve to keep up with business offered
and prevent a midwinter congestion.
which. in the present situation of alb
normal small supplies of fuel the coun-
try over, might result in serious de-
rangement. Not only are spring goods
being ordered with freedom and con-
fidence. but prompt delivery of the same
is being urged.
Weather conditions the past week
have favored the rubber and footwear
trades. The covering of snow over the
winter wheat crop has been increased
and the demand for gas and oil stoves
is still said to be far in excess of the
supply. The increased use of oil is en-
aiding producing interests to reap q
harvest Textile trades generally return
satisfactory reports, though seasonable
quiet rules Ill distribution. Textile man
ufact note an increase of from s
to Is per cent in cotton and wooden yarn
output over a year ago. Cottons are
rather quiet. except where accumula-
tons in bleached goods have been moved
at slight reductions.
In mems wearTowoolens, the situation
is certainly excellent Machinery is we'll
employed Raw wool is very strong
and rather more interest is noted in low
grades at leading centers this week. Au-
stralian advices are very bad because
of the drouth and a great shortage in
production of wool is expected in that
country.
The lumber trade situation, that for
white pine and hardwood particularly,
is satisfactory.
Among the great industries, iron and
steel, naturally quiet at this season of
the year, still note the continued fuel
scarcity. affecting production of mer-
chant furnaces east and west. The lar
ger interests which control primary
sources of fuel are, however, doing well,
and the net reduction in output due to
the coke trouble will be smaller than
earlier anticipated. The better tone no
ted in the demand last week still con-
tinues, Structural iron still leads in
strength and demand. Some heavy or
ders are being placed. Plates, like rails,
are heavily sold ahead. Higher wages
for coke workers are an item of in
creased cost. but the disDositio1r to adj
vance ore prices will probably be COM
batted by the larger interests. Foreign
pig iron has weakened and the outlook
abroad generally is rather poor. Rail
way building has been active this year
the heaviest, in fact, for Is years past
and showing a u per cent increase in
mileage over a year ago. Speculative
feeling in copper is better and talk of
an Improvement in the metal itself is
heard.
Business failures for the week ending
Thur sday, number 161 as against 225
last week, 219 in this week last year,
213 in 1900. 213 in 1899 and 220 in 1884,
DUN & CO.'S REVIEW
R. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of
Trade says:
Trade and speculation experienced
the customary holiday quiet. except in
Christmas goods, which sold freely,
many packing and shipping departments
being still engaged on this class OF
work which could not be completed at
the specified time. Industrial undertake
ings are interrupted in many cases by
the taking of inventories, while other
plants are closed because fuel cannot