The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-12
Distribution of Goods Increases
With Cold Weather.
Industry Shows a Slackening in
Some Lines.
A GAIN OF 6 PER CENT
Shown in Railway Earnings
Over Last November.
Lowest Point Has Been Reached
in the Iron Trade.
Dec. 12.-Bradstreet's

New York, Dec. 12.-Bradstreet's
says:
Distribution along consumptive lines
grows in volume with the continuance
of cold weather and the nearer APP
proach of the holidays. Jobbing distri-
button also feels this stimulus in reor-
ders to fill depleted stocks, and also
markets reflect more assured buying
for next spring. Wholesale trade gen.
orally is quiet as usual at this period
and industry shows slackening in some
lines. The improvement in crude iron
apparently holds, judging from small
price advances at several markets.
Eastern shoe manufacturers are still
shipping heavily on winter account,
have an average spring business book
ed and report fair orders for next fall
Railway earnings are really good and
will show a gain of fully 8 per cent
over last November.
-'Seasona BILE conditions, stock taking
or adjustments to lessened demand are
all assignable reasons for the quieting
down of outdoor activity, such as build
ing or for reduced running time or Sus-
pensions in a variety of industries en-
ploying large numbers of hands.
High raw material renders the mar
gin of profit in cotton manufacturing
precarious and talk of curtailment, first
seriously considered at the south, is
now generally talked of, but the FEAST
bility of agreement by American manu-
facturers as a whole is doubted.
Improved demand for the next three
months delivery and advance de-
manded of 25 to so cents in prices, with
refusals to book beyond that time.
lead to the belief that the lowest point
has been seen in the iron trade.
1.-The drop in finished products has
not been in proportion, nor is the
awakening in demand for these prod
uctS so marked, but 1t is noted that
wire and nails. structural and plates.
are rather better at Pittsburg, with
more inquiry noted for rails at Chi
cago. Other metals show no particular
change. Hardware is in fair demand.
for this season. Lumber is rather
quiet as usual at this period and the
outlook for next years building is not
as clearly defined Coal shows the
effect of heavy anticipatory sales last
summer and autumn. Coke prices tend
lower.
r. @. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of
Trade saws:
Developments are. not encouraging
as to cotton spinning but there is evil
dence of better conditions in the iron
and steel industry, while retail trade
feels the usual impetus as the holidays
approach. Idleness among New Eng
land lumber mills is offset by increased
activity in the south. Owing to pres
sure of grain there is still delay in
handling freight promptly at few
western points, but as a rule traffic
facilities are adequate and railway
earnings for November show an aver
age gain of 40 per cent over last year.
1t is significant evidence of the atti-
tude of consumers that while output
of pig iron declined to about one mil
lion tons in November, the lowest point
in several years, furnace stocks rose
to 658, 10Y tons, exceeding all records.
Such a striking discrepancy indicates
clearly the extent of contraction in
this leading branch of manufacture.
From present indications it seems al
most certain that the situation will
show some improvement by the end of
this month. although inventories al
ways retard operations during Decem-
Der. Throughout the industry, how
ever, there is a growing sentiment of
hopefulness regarding the new year.
Prices have steadied and orders are
being placed more literally. Struct-
ural steel is sought freely, several
large contracts being under considera-
ton. and many smaller orders have