The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-13
Railway Facilities Inadequate to
Handle the Output and Shippers
Are Complaining.
LARGE CROPS HARVESTED
PRICES OF FOoDsTUFFs THEREBY
FORCED DOWN 3.5 PER CENT.
Retail Business Heavy and Prospects
for a Good Jobbing and Wholesale
Trade Are Exceedingly Bright.

NEW YORK, Sept. 12.-R. @. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review OF trade tomorrow will say:
Industrial activity is greater than at any
recent date. Many new factories and mills
have been added TO the productive capac-
ity, facilities are being increased at old
plants and idle shops resumed through the
settlement of labor controversies. A coke
blockade still exists, the railways being
unable to handle the output. which is still
above all records and in urgent request
Despite the rapid development of transpor-
tation 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 stuffs caused a decline
in price of commodities during August of
3.5 per cent, as measured by Dun's index
number. Retail trade is large, with a
bright outlook for the future in jobbing
and wholesale business. There are few Of
the cancellations numerous at this time
last year, while collections are improving
An advance of 22.s per cent in bank ex-
changes at New York over the same week
last year cannot be explained by specula-
ton. as dealings in stocks were also heavy
in 1901. Railway earnings in August ex-
ceeded last years by AZ per cent and those
Although the weekly capacity of pig iron
furnaces In blast on Sept. ! was re-
ported 3S5,1s tons by the Iron
Age; it has since been appre-
ciably curtailed by the inadequate
supply of fuel. on which account numerous
furnaces were blown out. or at least
banked. AS consumptive requiremercS.aHe
increasing, IL Is necessary TO place orders
abroad more extensively, and In some cases
been secured. Not only raw material. but
billets and even rails are sought in other
markets, German mills Offering the best
terms In most cases. Heavy importations
have prevented further advance in fiuctua-
tions, but domestic producers have a ready
market for their output, contracts still
running far into the future. Railways are
in great need Of new locomotives and other
equipment
New England producers of boots and
shoes are insisting on full prices and some
grades that were slow TO respond are now
sharing the improvement. No sign OF
rising still more, particularly the better
grades of sole and betting butts. Slight
reactions have occurred In some packer
and country hides, but most lines are still
firmly held. Liberal receipts have not de-
pressed foreign dry hides. Textile mills
are well occupied. with prices sustained In
all cases and moderate advances IN some
cotton goods, which are in demand for
quick delivery. With the completion of
early orders there has come a quiet mar
ket for woolens and worsteds, but mills
have large contracts on hand.
Low stocks Of wheat and poor grading of
receipts, together with fears of frost in
corn sections, sustained quotations when a
confidence were placed in official returns
of conditions.
Failures for the week numbered 2s In
the United States, against ls3 last year.