The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-17
TRADE is LESS ACTIVE
OUTLOOK NOT so OPTIMISTIC As TT
WAS A YEAR AGO.
Both General business and Industry
Now Being Conducted with
Cautiousness.
TWO DISTURBING ELEMENTS
wALL-sTREET SPECULATION AND
THE LABOR SITUATION.
Volume of Trade, However, Continues
Large, Despite the Fact that Crops
Are Moving slowly.

NEW YORK, Oct. 16.-Bradstreet's to-
morrow will say: General trade and In
dustry still lacks the spur OF insistent de-
mand which has been so conspicuously pres
ent IN the autumn Of recent years. Excep-
tons TO this are noted in the Southwest,
the hard winter wheat section, where the
demand, as a whole, is reported equal to last
year at some points in the Northwest and
on the Pacific coast. In the central West
business is fair, but in the East the quiet
ness is increasing. Reports from the South
are rather less optimistic. some portions of
Tennessee and Florida. where crop yields
are especially good. being excepted. Rea-
sons for this are not far TO seek. Sympa-
thetic reflection of depression in securities
is shown in more conservative and cautious
buying at wholesale. Crops are generally
slow to move. Cereal producers are appar-
emily disinclined to accept present prices
for their products, and the lower prices for
cotton reached some time ago. with much
less favorable advices from that crop, cloud
the Southern prospect slightly. The shut
downs Of iron furnaces fail to stimulate
values IN this line. Money is easier at the
larger centers. but while this makes it less
difficult to get accommodation, this very
fact is regarded as evidence of quietness in
many lines. releasing funds which ordinarily
would be in active request. Collections are
still complained Of as slow. There are.
however, some favorable features in the sit
ultion- The indispostion Of producers to
meet consumers demands is sign of an
ability to hold, which, whether wise or not,
indicates underlying prosperous conditions.
Reports OF suspension Of Improvement
work by railroads come rather earlier than
usual this year, but sales of new rails, cars
and supplies point 10 much Of this being
largely seasonal 1t is TO be noted that,
while dry goods and textiles report dullness
food products move more freely because of
price conditions being easier. Eastern cot
ton mills have not yet resumed in full, and
are buying sparingly as yet, but wool is in
rather better sale TO cover orders booked.
Reports from the Eastern jewelry manufac-
turing trade are quite good, and the ship
mentS of shoes from Eastern centers break
all previous years records.
Wheat Including -FOUR exports for the
against 2,37S.722 bu last week, 5.240.6SS bu
this week last year, 5,536.073 bu in 1901, and
3, ,643 bu in 1900 For fifteen weeks of the
cereal year they aggregated 45.541,6 bu,
against rs, 1S2 bu in 1902. 90.57S, So bu in
1901, and 5l.2S3,333 bu in 1900. Corn exports
for the week aggregated !. 40, 412 blu, against
Hollis bu last week. 1864 bu year ago,
644033 bu in 1901 and 2.SS6993 bu i'm 1900 For
fifteen weeks of the present cereal year they
aggregated 15.2f0652 bu, against 1494.2S2 bu
In 1902. - 45O,S95 bu in 1901 and 46 Isl, 397 bu
in 1900'