The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
Due 1t Is Said to the Floods in
the West.
IMPROVEMENT SEEN.
In Weather, Crops and Labor
Conditions Generally.
Production Is at the Highest
Point Ever Recorded.

New York June 13.-R. c.. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade says:
Except in those branches of business
that are always quiet at this season. re-
ports Indicate a steady demand and
prices OF commodities are firmly main
tanned Manufacturing returns are IL
regular idleness in textile lines partial
~ oHsetting the good effect of activity
elsewhere. Earnings of railroads re-
porting for the FIRST week of June are
only three per cent larger than last year
and l-S per cent greater than in 1901,
q condition due entirely to western
floods
The fact that furnace stocks of pig
iron increased only 10000 tons, despite
the unprecedented output. testhes to
the great consumption of the steel n
dustry- Quotations are without altera-
ton, although much business is delay
ed by labor troubles In case OF gen
eral settlement of these conflicts there
would be zumpIon of work on many
buildings, and including the require
ments Of railroads q heavy tonnage
would be sought. Tt is an evidence of
confidence in the future that blast fur
mace operators are forcing production
beyond all previous maximum figures
The demand for structural steel has
diminished. There is notable inquiry
for rails and plates Machinery and
hardware lines are doing remarkably
we'll for the season which is usually
quiet in these departments Coke ovens
are surprising all previous records Tor
activity. and the output of anthracite
coal promises to establish a new high
water mark This year, above 60 million
tons.
Cotton goods again average slightly
higher prices. the advances being IN
sisted upon by producers on account OF
the rise ia raw material, and in no de-
gree attributable to increased anxiety on
the part of buyers to place contracts.
Aside from "A more liberal demand IOr
print cloth and yarn fabrics Tor con
verti1g and printing purposes. there is
no evidence of activity on the other
hand supplies are not accumulaung at
the mills owing to curtailment of pro-
duction, not only voluntarily but by
strikes and storms.
Conservatism prevails among buyers
of staple WOOlens and Worsteds, while
little interest is shown in new lines OF
light weight for next spring Insofar
as market conditions arc concerned, car
pets are the most satisfactory of the
textile products. Footwear conditions
continue most prosperous. Leather ana
hides are strong and active.
Bradstreets says: Weather, crop and
labor conditions all show Improvement
this week and the feeling has grown that
damaEs from Tie foregoing sources has
been over estimated wholesale buSl-
ness generally is stiu seasonahly quiet.
but already an improvement in tone is
notice lble as the result OF the betteT
outlook agrlcQllulallN- PRODUCTION IS at
the highest point ever recorded, but the
late Weakness in quotations has given
way to d frmer tone, though advance
buying is still the exception. Tin plate
production at present is of enormous
volume. Railroads have curtailed June
gross receipts somewhat May gross re-
oeipts show a gain Of u per cent as
against gain Of 14.3 per cent in April,
but follow gain OF 9 per cent in May,
1902 over 1901.
Groceries are active and sugar reflects
better demand for refined i'm an adj
vance of 10 cents uer 100 pounds COT
fee is firm. Wheat. including flour ax-
ports for the week ending June H. ag-
Eregate 4.1gl211 bushels against 4.70S.995
last week @f003314 this week last year
and 4,79l.i07 -iu 1901 Wheat exports
since July / aggregate 214,472.122 bush
els, against 2fl,425,2l5 last season ana
205.292, in $500. Corn exports aggre-
gate s24Sl7 bushels against 1,O13S71 last
week SASH ii year ago and 569.2 pa in
1901. For the fiscal year exports are
63275.515 bushels against 60Sl $50 last
season and 1i0lqs iG3 bushels in 1901
Business failures for the week ending
June IL. number 1871 against 1877 last
week. 100 in week Of 1902 1SS in 1901 $50
fra 1860 and $50 i'm 1899 Tn Canada for
week. rs compared with 13 last week
and j. in this week one year ago.