The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-13
GROWTH OF TRADE
Seems to Be Limited Only BY Lack 81
Transportation Facilities.


New York. Sept. 1s.-R. @. Dun =
Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
Industrial activity IL greater than It
any recent date. Many new factories
and mills have been added to the pro-
ductive capacity, facilities are being IN
creased at old plants and idle shops re-
sumed Through the settlement OF iepof
controversies. A coke blockade SIM e1-
lists. the railways being unable 70 han-
die the output, which is above all rec
ords and in urgent request. Desplte
the rapid development or transportation
facilities, the nations needs have grown
still faster and the situation is dis
tressing for shippers and consumers.
Large crops are being harvested and the
greater abundance of food stuns caused
a decline In prices of commodities dur
ing August of 3.5 per cent. as measured
by Dun's index number Retail trade is
large, with bright outlook for the fu-
ture In jobbing and wholesale business
There are few OF the cancellations SO
numerous at this time last year, wnile
of 22.9 per cent in bank exchanges at
New York over the same week last year
can not be explained by speculation, as
deaiings IN stocks were aiso heavy N
ceeded last years by AZ per cent ana
those of 1900 by 1871 per cent.
although the weekly capacity Of Pig
iron furnaces In blast on september !
Age. 1t has since been appreciably eur
tailed by the inadequate supply OF fuel,
on which account numerous furnaces
were blown out, or at least banked. As
cOnsumptive requirements are increas-
ing 1t Is necessary to place orders
abroad more extensively, and in some
cases the entire output OF foreign plants
has been secured. Not only raw ma
sought in other markets, German mills
offered the best terms in most cases.
Heavy importations have prevented fur
Their advance in quotations, but domes-
tic producers have steady market for
their output. contracts still running far
into the future. Railways are in great
need of new locomotives and other
New England producers of boots
and shoes are insisting on full prices,
respond are now sharing the improve
ment. No sign of weakness Is seen in
leather, some selections rising still
more. particularly the better grades Of
have occurred in some packer and
country hides. but most lines are still
firmly held. Liberal receipts have not
depressed foreign dry hides. Textile
mills are well occupied. with prices sus-
tanned in all cases. and moderate adj
vances in some cotton goods which are
in demand for quick delivery. With
the completion Of early orders there
and worsteds. but mills have large
contracts on hand.
Low stocks of wheat and poor grad
ing Of receipts, together with fears of
tions when decline would have been
imminent If full confidence were placed
in official returns of condition.
Failures for the week numbered 205
year and 20 in Canada against Is q year
aRo."
Bradstreet's says:
Taken as a whole fall trade is still
and northwestern markets report una
bated activity. Eastern jobbing is as
active as heretofore and the south re-
ports more doing at nearly all centers.
Frost held OF until the close of the
week. when ansoare was worked up.
Any deterioration now, however. can
only be as to quality, because the crop
seems secure as to quantity. Industry
is active and except in the eastern shoe
manufacturing trade. the hard coal re-
gfon, and iron furnace work. the latter
because of the coke shortage, present
outputs equal and in most cases exceed
records. Despite the fact that the new
crops are only moving in small volume
and the usual activity in anthracite is
absent, the pinch of the ear shortage
is steadily growing. That the trouble
evident from the heavy orders for loco
motives given by the leading railroad
lines. Scarcity OF help is noted in the
south for picking cotton and at the
north in public works Wage advances
are not entirely absent. and there is
talk of general movement for better
compensation on western railroads.
Collections are uniformly satisfactory
provement is noted at various points,
due to the increased movement Of cot
tom
'One fact brought out in the reports
nes 10 k3rrfk l.
shoes, millinery and groceries is the
very general demand for a lighter class
of goods which manifests itself. Retail
trade the country over also seems bet
ter, stimulated partly by colder wealth.
er. From number of cities COM
plants come from distributors that
manufacturers are behind on orders.
1.-The corn CROP made satisfactory
progress toward maturity until Friday,
when general frost was reported. with
out, however, much effect on prices. AL
together government and private ad-
vices as to crops of cereals. fruits and
tobacco are quite encouraging for a
large yield. The quality of oats will be
below the standard. owing to the wet
weather in harvesting and much win
ter wheat is below grade. The reduced
movement Of hogs to market Is appar-
entity based uDon fewer animals on the
farm. Rice yields win be liberal in the
SOUTH and sugar cane is making good
crop of citrus fruits In Florida
Another notable feature is the gen.
eral strength exhibited by prices. The
smallest stock of wheat supplies since
1896 is indicated both here and abroad.
Export business in wheat was large
early in the week. and the tendency o.
this branch of business to expand at
slight concessions ; is notable Cotton
goods are frmer. as much because of
the steady insistent demand as because
of the strength of the raw material.
which closes 1-16@hc below last week.
1.-THE situation in wool and wooden
goods is very favorable to sellers. The
strength In hides is the keynote to the
leather and shoe markets. Building
material is active, and lumber leads in
aggressive strength. A feature in
keeping with the advancing season Is
| the higher range OF farm produce. Eggs
are higher and butter is advancing on
! larger consumption and reported ma
nipulation by cold storage interests.
The shortage of fuel still exasperates