The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-20
EXCEEDS ALL
EXPECTATIONS.
Holiday Trade Has Reached Re-
markable Proportions.
Wholesome Conditions Prevail
All Over the Country.
SHORT FUEL SUPPLY
Is Felt in the Household and the
Mandatory.
Railway Earnings Continue to
Show a Big Growth.
SHORT FUEL SUPPLY

New York, Dec -20-R. G. Dun &c Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade says:
Holiday trade has exceeded even the
most sanguine expectations. and retail.
dealers in all staple lines of merchandise
are well maintained with the better
grades of goods in brisk demand. Whole
some conditions prevail in most sections
Of the country, although in parts OF the
southwest the season has fallen behind
the average. Even in these cases re-
ports are encouraging for the future
Industrial plants are well employed,
orders running far into the future. ana
labor controversies are rare. The only
adverse feature of the situation is the
fact that supplies of fuel are utterly
inadequate, both for household and
manufacturing uses. snow increasing
the delay of deliveries. Railway earn
fngs thus far reported for December
exceed last wears by AZ per cent and
those of 1900 by 10.4 per cent.
Two events of Importance have oc-
CURED in relation to the leading manu-
featuring industry. The United States
steel corporation has greatly extended
its scope by absorbing many outside
plants and certain desirable railway
connections. The other was the an
nouncement of advanced freight rates
to take effect January l. showing an
average increase of about 10 per cent
on products of iron and steel. Other
wise the situation is unchanged. the
largest producer having over 5,2S0,000
work is being pushed as rapidly as sup
plies of fuel and material will permit.
Supplies of coke do not increase. and
many furnaces are idle. Contracts for
bridge work and track elevation are
freely offered by the railways. and ac-
cepted only on condition that the exact
date of delivery shall not be specified.
Despite the fact that nail mills are sold
close up to the end of next year. new
business offered and urgent buyers are
compelled to go abroad. New England
producers of boots and shoes are not
seeking new business, which comes for
ward moderately in the former supple
mentary orders. Prices are firmer held,
but no further advance is reported. Al
though the larger shoe manufactures
are fairly we'll supplied with sole leath-
er, there is a steady demand from the
smaller shops and hemlock was ad-
vanced by the leading producer.
Further deterioration. in quality OF
hides has again produced a. lower range
of quotations in western markets ana
heavier receipts Of cattle add to the de-
preston.
"A reduction in quotations OF leading
lines Of bleached cloths stimulated trad
ing, many buyers having delayed plac-
ing contracts in anticipation OF this
change. This division of the textile mar
ket is now in good condition, with no
immediate prospect of excessive sup
plies. Otherwise the domestic situation
is practically unchanged, but in export
grades there has been INCREASED interest
on the part of buyers, although few con-
tracts are placed as yet. In the wooden
goods market there is a fair volume of
orders, in many cases exceeding avail
able offerings. Worsteds and yarns are
also firm, while few grades of raw
wool secured another advance. Heavy
arrivals of silk have not weakened the
tone.
Failures for the week numbered 267
in the states, against 265 last year, and
16 in Canada, compared with ga year
BRADsTREETs
Bradstreet's SAYS:
Wholesale trade is Quieting down as
the stock taking period approaches and
what activity is noted by jobbers is in
forwarding supplies of goods needed to
reinforce stocks of retailers, depleted by
what is conceded to be the most active
holiday trade on record. Cold weather
north and west has helped sales of furs,
heavy clothing and sleighs, and further
stimulated general retail buying. Holi-
day buying it is noted, is from a rather
more expensive grade of goods than or
dinarily experienced There are, Of
course, some draw backs, such as unset
tied weather or bad roads at the south,
the coal shortage at the east and the
continuance of the railway congestion at
the west affecting the movement of coke,
bituminOus coal and general freight, but
taken as a whole, the mercantile COM
munity contemplates the approach of
the end of tie year with complacency
and satisfaction. Knowing, as it does,
that most lines of trade viii show gains
over 1901, and therefore over any pre-
ceding year, the feeling is that the year
has been good one. while the fine
wheat crop outlook and the volume Of
orders already booked for next year
gives promise of future good condition.
Even the knowledge that some manu-
featuring plants are, like many domestic