The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-11
EASTER RUSH.
Bradstreet's Reports Trade of
Excellent Volume.
Labor Situation Is Showing
Slight Improvement.
PRICES ARE STRONG.
Railroad Earnings Continue to
Show Marked Gains.
Best Trade Reports Are from
Western Markets.

New York. April 11--Bradstreet's
says:
Favorable features this week are
the annual rush Of Easter buying at
retail which is reported Of excellent
volume, some Improvement in the re-
asserting demand with jobbers at inter
ior markets resulting therefrom and a
slight but still perceptible improvement
IN the Ia Dor situation growing out Of
mutual concessions Prices during the
month OF March showed exceptional
strength. despite seasonal changes
downward in dairy products. grains
and fuel, partly counteracteds however.
by advances n live stock and meats.
Lumber and building materials Of all
kinds have remained in exceptionally
good demand in spite of numerous
strikes. and finished products in iron
and steel show strength, but the cruder
forms, such as pig iron. have weakened
perceptibly. ostensibly because Of the
lowering OF quotations of southern iron.
but really because with improved trans
portation and better supplies of coke
has come an enlargement Of iron prod
ucrS to the highest point ever known
1T is, OF course, too early TO meas
IKE the DEVELOPMENT OF fall trade Some
interior markets report good orders, but
large eastern centers note holdlnS
back of buyers OF cotton yarns. and
the demand for heavy weight WoOlenS
is reported to have been checked by
higher prices. Raw wool has again
weakened though the statistical posi-
ton is very strong Railroad earnings
are quite favorable, gross receipts Tor
March indicating an increase OF De
tween 10 and II per cent while net re-
turns for February show gain OF 8
per cent or an increase in gross re-
ceipts Of II per cent. Relatively the
+ best trade reports come from the lead
ing western markets. but all centers
report a satisfactory spring trade done
at wholesale.
Iron situation. as already pointed
out is one of marked strength in fin
+ ished. but of unsettiement and even
weakness in the cruder forms North
EN- pig iron has weakened in sympathy
with the readjustment Of southern
prices last week Foreign markets are
also reported easier. For immediate
f delivery S21-50 is insisted on for pig iron
at Pittsburg. but so would be accept
ed If buyers would offer it for the lat
ter part Of the year Buyers, however,
are not eager and are holding Of. evil
IDENTIFY expecting or hoping for lower
quotations Domestic rail nanutac-
turers are fun Of orders an indication
Eof mis- being reports Of American and
Canadian roads inquiring Tor steel
rails abroad. Structural orders are n
large volume. a notable instance of this
being for requirements for improve
ments TO plants controlled by the leao-
ing interest The strength Of old ma
teriaI is a notable feature in the iron
trade at present. Among the other
metals copper and lin have weakened
again but lead retains its old rrEn-
ness The leather situation Is general
" one of strength. The spring rush
is over at the eastern shoe nna1ufac-
turing centers- but shipments WINE
smaller than last week. are heavily IN
excess Of q year ago The s1Euatlof III
coffee is an interesting one AFTER a
decline early in the week, which brought
future deliveries TO the lowest
prices ever recorded and on which de-
cline an extensive Hquldatlon OF tH1
former bull interest was reported.
SLIGHT upturn was noted. due 10 reports
that Brazil VIII adopt radical meas
lres such as burning surplus supplies
of low grades in order to hghten tne
! load on the market. This is regarded,
+ however. as hardly possible Of fulhli-
nent. After a further decline. due 70
duiIness in the refined market ana
pressure OF supplies. raw sugar mas
steadied at what is said by authorities
g. Dun & Cos Weekly Review o.
+ Trade says.
aside from the prevalence of strikes
and possibility Of further interrupt ION
+ to Industrial activity next month On TINS
account the business outlook Is most
gratifying Late frOsts caused some
damage early in the week. but ioWer
far7- ,ararlirps did not continue and III
most sections agricultural products had
not advanced sufficiently to suffer ma
+ tertaflv while the prospects are bright
for large crops and heavy sales Of fer
{ filters testify to extensive operations
DESPITE some unfaEOraDle weather.
F eastern retail trade has been heavy and
{ 5obhing activity in summer TabFlcS IN
/ dfcares expectations Of a vigorous con
sumption as the season advances There
is less complaint regarding deliveries,
due to better traffic facilities
Railway earnings in March increased
1873 per cent. compared with last year
and 241 per cent compared with 1901
+ Undue significance has been attached
TO the recent reduction in prices Of
+ southern pig iron. and throughout TIE
/ country tendency to delay placing
contracts IS noticed. No other cut in
quotations has followed and in the trade
il is believed that after the temporary
uneasiness there viii be resur.ot1O-f
Of the buxing on the former liberal