The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-07
TRADE is DULL.
More Steel Mills and Furnaces
Are Idle.
Building Permits Are ALSO on
the Decrease.
RAILROADS PROSPER.
Earnings For October Show Big
Gains Over Last Year.
RAILROADS PROSPER.
Weather Conditions Are Having
Some Effect on Business.

New York. Nov. 7-R G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade says:
.sUnseasonably mild weather is max
ing it possible for farmers to secure
much late grain and cotton that
seemed doomed by early frost. but, on
the ether hand. the trade is dull in
heavy wearing apparel. fuel and
many lines that should now be vigor-
Gus. While in the long run this bust
ness may be made uD, the immediate
effect is unfavorable. Manufacturing
activity has increased at cotton mills.
and several minor industries, but in
iron and steel there are more furnaces
and mills idle. Building permits are
decreasing, and structural work is not
prosecuted with the vigor that was
seen last year. Lumber is firm despite
the moderate demand The railways
continue prosperous, earnings for Oc-
tober SURPRISING last years ty 6.2 per
cAnr.
Disappointment has been expert
enced by those who believe that quo
tations for iron and steel would go no
fairly steady. but gray forge and
southern foundry irons are off rs to so
cents ton. while MANY forms of steel
In finished condition or partly manu-
Iactured are weaker in price although
conditions improve insofar as the size
OF stocks is concerned. Sheets plates
bars and cut nails are among the ar
tleles on which reductions are report
ed, and steel b5lletS were put nearer a
parity with pig iron. the pool price be-
ing reduced from $27 to $23. Rails are
maintained at $2S for standard weight
the railroads constantly placing small
orders Reports of extensive exports
are heard and contradicted. but it is
certain this branch of trade is reviVing
as prices become more attractive to
foreign consumers.
with he
blast furnace activity, there is reason
to look for steadier markets in the
near future, and throughout the indus
try, it is believed that large contracts
will be placed whenever buyers are sat
Isf1ed that no better terms can be an
ticipated.
Less pronounced conservatism is
shown by purchasers of cotton goods,
and there is evidently more desire to
secure deliveries without looking for
concessions in prices.
"Woolen goods are even more adj
versely affected by high temperatures.
Many New England shoe factories
have concluded fall business. and are
taking inventories. Hides have declined
in few cases, but the general impress
sion is that the market has reached
bottom. ssa
There were 246 failures this week in
the United States against 235 last week;
279 the preceding week and 1873 the cor
responding week last year. Failures in
Canada this week number twenty-five
against fifteen last week; twenty-six
the preceding week and twenty-one last
year.
Bradstreet's says:
TRADE and industry is quieter on the
whole. Unreasonable weather affects
retail trade at many centers, and con-
servatism in providing for future re-
quirements restricts jobbing trade.
Relatively most activity is found in the
south, where the growth of the cotton
movement at the high prices ruling
stimulates business at many centers
In Industrial lines reports of curtailed
production are evidences of new de-
mand not pressing as sharply as here
tofore Food products are easing off.
and finished iron and steel are leading
the downward movement of manufac-
tured goods, but signs of reawakened
foreign and domestic demand lead to
the hope that the automatic check to
demand long exercised will be removed.
Iron and steel bars are active and
western jobbers make So per ton by
filing orders from store rather than
from mill. Wire products are likewise
active Reports of cuts in rail prices
are not substantiated, but some export
business has been done in rails for
Asia Lumber is steady as a whole,
though white pine is rather quieter.
Export business is good. Hardware is
notably active the country over, which
leads to the hope that lower prices of
materials generally will induce demand
to reawaken.' -