The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-18
TRADE HELD BACK
Wet Weather Is Affecting Bust
ness Of the Country.
Export Trade Continues to
Grow, Corn Leading.
LAST YEARS RECORD
Has Been Broken in Manufac-
tured Articles Sent Abroad.
Railway Earnings Are the Best
Ever Recorded.
LAST YEARS RECORD

New york. April 1s.-Bradstreet's
wet weather has retarded retail
trade and accentuated the quiet in tex
tiles at wholesale as usual this season.
A beneficial after effect of the Easter
rush, however, is an Improvement in
collections. Export trade is still expand
ing, cotton and corn being leaders, and
manufactured products are also going
abroad lie larger volume. Last year s
record has already been surpassed.
With improved transportation and bet
ter supplies III coke, iron production is
SURPRISING IL cords. This has re-
suited in sou urther Weaknesses in
pig, this by tl way, discouraging i'm
ports of foreign materials. on the other
hand finished products are in unprece-
dented demand. and foreign steel is ar
irving in increased volume to exc out
domestic needs. Railway earnings are
the best ever recorded for this season,
RIess receipts for March exceeding those
OF year ago by about IA per cent.
The high price of cotton and the nu-
mGous labor troubles unsettled the de-
mend Tor manufactured goods Men
wear WOOlen goods for fall delivery are
reported backward, and raw wool has
Etea1ed slightly. The theory advanced
last week that the sugar trade was
grounding at the bottom has received
support in the increased prices of raw
and refined sugar this week. Coffee has
weaked in the absence of support from
the direction noted last week, that of
destroying low grade Brazilian supplies,
and new record low prices have been
touoed by futures.
Pig iron of all kinds moved lower
this week Southern foundry big is re-
porhd cut below recent price revisions
at tie east Bessemer pig iron is slight
~ asier. Premiums on quick deliver
les ire disappearing and imports Of for
eigI iron are finding their field restrict
ed. A feature at present in the more
finfhed forms is the large demand for
light rails for electrical and street rail-
was. Mills rolling standard sections
ari crowded with orders, steel billets
ar active and demand for structural
m,terial is reported as surprising pre-
Wins records. Strength of old ma
teials is significant in view of the
sdtening in pig iron. Copper is slight
ly higher on the week and other metals
an steady. Silver is strengthening and
this week sold al the highest point
reached in several years.
Manufacturing is active the country
DER Building is very brisk, entailing
a. heavy movement of lumber. hard
are. paints and glass Leather *
srong. in sympathy with the hrmness
81 hides and with the general activity
enorted in shoe manufacturing
throughout the country. Seasona BILE
changes are responsible for slight ad-
vance in butter"
r. O.. Dun & Cos Weekly Review Of
Trade SAYS.
cold and wet weather the past week
lin many sections of the country retard-
/ ed trade in spring and summer wear
I ing apparel JObbers also felt the effects
in a lessened activity and agricultural
operations made irregular progress
Production of farm STABLES may not be
curtailed by the later planting all
though i'm some cases there viii be
greater danger of loss at the end of the
season through early frost Traffic con-
ditions are steadily improving, yet some
CONSTANTS are still heard, and further
additions to motive power and ter
minal facilities must be made if another
season of congestion is to be averted an
the next time Of pressure. Railway earn
Ing thus far i'm April exceed last years
by 12.J per cent. and those of 1901 by
241 per cent. Several factors tend to
delay the placing Of contracts for pig
iron deliveries after July 1, which nat
urally weakens the tone and it is re-
ported that Bessemer is freely offered at
$50, Valley furnace. without attracting
purchasers. Such small concessions as
are offered increase the disposition OF