The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-07
MORE BUILDING.
Permits Indicate a Big Gain
Over Last Year.
Prices of Commodities Showed
Little Change Last Month.
HEAVY RAIL ORDERS.
Trolley Line Needs a Feature of
the Market.
Bradstreet's Reports Business
Ahead of Last Year.
HEAVY RAIL ORDERS.

New York, March 7.-R. G. Dun &
Co. s Weekly Review of Trade says.
Further Improvement in the move
ment of freight and fuel makes the gen
eral situation more favorable although
shippers are still constantly complaining
and pig iron furnaces are not able to
run steadily. Numerous labor struggles
also interrupt manufacturing, yet mills
and shops are producing freely as a
rule. Jobbers and wholesalers are busy,
while spring retail trade has opened
very well IN many lines, notably wear
ing apparel. Permits for building oper-
atoms show large gains over last years
figures, giving additional strength to
lumber and other materials Prices of
commodities scarcely altered in the ag-
gregate during February, Dun's index
number being s1O1067 on March l,
against $100,920 a month previous. For
elgn trade continues very heavy.
Conditions in the iron and steel in
dustry need no other elucidation than
the plans announced by the United
states Steel corporation. The past week
mas brought out large quantity of new
orders, as is customary at this season.
Among the leading features were liberal
purchases of pipes, tubes, agricultural
implements, structural shapes and rail-
way equipment A heavy tonnage of
steel rails was placed, particularly for
] trolley lines. Quotations are firmly held
4 In all departments of this industry and
/ IN several instances the week has
brought a higher level Tin plates were
/ advanced 81 a ton. BilIets, bars and pig
iron are still in great demand and fur
/ Their imports have been arranged. This
/ business would be still heavier, but for
1 the strength of foreign markets.
"Spinners are growing very con-
/ sentative in regard to accepting con-
tracts calling for distant deliveries of
cotton goods, owing to the extreme
uncertainty as to what the raw mater
ial Will cost Even on present stocks
there is an upward tendency in quota
tons. While new business at first
hands Is only fair, there is much ac-
tivity in jObbing lines. Export trade is
slow Print cloths are higher Fine
cotton fabrics for the spring of 1904
are opened, although only a limited
business has been done. Dealings are
small in WOolenS and WOrSteds, but
mills are fully occupied. The spring
! clothing trade IS satisfactory. especial
~ in staple lines. New lines of fancy
Worsted goods have not sold freely,
and opening prices are maintained
with difficulty. A firmer tone is re-
ported in the dress goods division.
Footwear has lost nothing in strength
but somewhat in activity, as buyers
are placing orders cautiously. A large
volume of contracts could be taken al
old prices.
s"Faflures this week numbered 229 in
the United States, against 176 last year
and sixteen in Canada, as compared
with seventeen a year ago.
Bradstreet's says;
Business is ahead of last year and
still expanding. This is indicated by
the generally good reports received
from eastern and western trade centers
and is confirmed by the largest on rec
ord February bank cIearings and sim
ply enormous gross railway earnings
returns Southern trade and crop pre-
parations are dulled or retarded by
heavy rains and rising rivers, but it is
to be noted that despite this influence
receipts of cotton are heavier than &
year ago and had some influence il
bringing about reaction in cotton
prices this week. Special activity is
. noted by iobbers in all lines of wearing
apparel, dry goods, clothing, shoes
millinery hats and caps, and retail
! trade in these lines is also expanding
. Active preparations for heavy sea
sons building are indicated by a large
! demand for lumber, light and heavy
i hardware, paints and glass There /:
; also a stronger tone to iron and steel
: FINISHED products are in increased
demand and as a result Of inquiry
cruder forms, both of domestic and for
) eign manufacture, are firmer in tone.
1.-THE strength Of the raw produc
{ throughout most Of the week exercise
an influence on cotton goods, which
reached the highest prices in years
further advances being noticed il