The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-20
Bradstreet's Says 1t Has Been
Reached
In Crop, Trade and Labor
Matters.
OF PROGRESS
In the Right Direction Noted in
All Quarters.
Prices of Cereals Favor the
Holders.

New York June Bradstreet's says:
Evidence multiplies that the second
week of June saw the turning point for
the better in crop. trade and labor mat
ters. Improvement in these lines con-
tinued and accelerated by the weather
OF the past week has begun to be re-
fected i'm actual demand at the west and
south, and although cool and rainy
weather is still a draw back the east,
many signs or progress in the right di-
reCtiOn are noticed. Northwestern adj
vices are, of course, largely favorable,
and the same is true on the Pacific
coast Cereal prices favor holders. not,
as heretofore. because of feared domes-
tic crop damage. but because of expect
cd increased foreign necessities. Some
drawbacks are. of course, to be noted.
Zig iron and steel are wea ker buying
is still slow and production is at an
enormous rate. An important but ex-
pected decline has materialized in lead,
and cotton, owing to manipulatiVe hand
ling, has advanced. further COmplicating
the situation of manufactured goods.
Wool is steady al the east, while selling
readily enough at the leading western
primary man kets. Cotton goods are firm
er though buying is naturally only from
hand to mouth. and export business is
lacking Mems wear worsteds are de-
pressed, but dress goods are in good
shape
Zig iron production is at the rate If
2l-eo00o0 tons yearly and buyers still
hold hence weakness and declines of 15c
10 81 per ton at all markets. Resales of
imported iron are at concessions. Steel
IS easier and finished products are less
active. Iron bars are sc to 10c per 100
pounds lower. Western implement men
are making inquiry and a good business
can be done ii they decide to take hold.
Tin plate mills are running at full ca
pacity. A large rail tonnage awaits
placing. Lead has lost 1ac this week
nd tin lower fG
bly, unchanged. Lumber is feeling the
effects of existing strikes and the dis
COuragement caused by labor trOuble IS
generally. but is still well held at lead
ing primary points Anthracite coal is
quiet. shoe manufacturing is between
seasons but eastern shipments are
larger than year ago. an explanation
of this being partly found in the largest
recorded exports of American SHOES.
Eastern straw hat manufacturers have
done business fully equal to last year
excellent trade and recorders are being
prolonged beyond the usual period"
r.. 6. Dun & Co. s Weekly Review of
Trade says.
nseasonably low temperatures, to-
gether with excessive precipitation at
many points have retarded the distribu-
tion Of Merchandise Taking the coun-
try as whole, however the net result
has been satisfactory better crop pros
poets aCcelerating forward business and
enlarging order lists of manufacturers
Railway earnings thusinar reported for
June exceed last years by 5.S per cent,
and those of 1901 by 144S per cent.
Conditions .n the iron and steel in
dustry are sufficiently confusing to pre-
vent any definite tendency. although
factors calculated to produce weakness
appear TO preponderatc. Special sales Of
imported pig iron have been made at
concessions. but this is attributed to de
lay ia transportation and "A forced sale
by owners Yet few months ago sim
flar concessions were impossible. and it
IS apparent that the combination of un-
precedented home production and con-
servative buying has taken control of