The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-27
BETTER Than
A YEAR AGO.
Trade Returns Show Improve
ment in Business.
Favorable Features for the Flu
ture PredOminate.
Darr nOAn EADNTNNtC
RAILROAD EARNINGS
Are Better Than Was Expected
Earlier in the Season.
Gain Of 8 Per Cent for First
Week in June.

New York. June -Bradstreets
says.
crop trade and labor conditions still
present some Irregularities, but six
months trade returns point to actual
business having been better than a year
ago and the situation as a whole shows
favorable features predominating as to
the future. The feeling is that as time
passes the latter VIII largely outweigh
the few noticeable drawbacks to possible
future activity Unreasonable weather.
cold in the west and rains in the east.
and dun retail trade accentuates the
usual quietness in wholesale business
end retards crop development.
The iron and steel situation on the
whole seems to have improved slightly.
Large contracts have been made for
rails tE leading trunk lines and central
western roads The condition of other
finished products is better, and even i'm
ciuler forms the feeling is fairly firm
except for foundry pig iron Even here
the unwilling buying by consumers ag-
gregated fair volume. better, in TACT,
than for some time past Railroad
earnings are better than was earlier ex-
lecfei despite flood interruptions in the
first part of the month and returns for
The first week of June show a gain of 9
rer cent over "a year ago, While those
FOR the second and third week indicate
increases of 10 and II per cent in excess
cf last year.
Retail trade in dry goods and light
summer wear generally notes check
los ahnormally cool weather Wholesale
business is naturally smaller in this
line the main movement being covered
hT semi-anuual clearance sales by job
lers Cotton goods are affected 10y the
very high prices for the raw material
Wool is. however hrmer. largely IN
et.r,rr,fhv vgith primary markets. where
fne --w clip is being taken freely at
,,if -te,ir-
--rb. shoe trade nofas little change
4+ . g-.,5 ei,- months business has
49, 47 rrj.5.-5 .s,.s fi.-r,,e,. az Boston
+1+4, s~d 1ncbar7a~ed fhe
t.. t.-s,, .,..-,i,-ef fr4s r,if7.-
, ,,ill7,- ,,-o~fc,e 30,
.., i,,,.s
at's ~, --i....- f
* =. DuH N ~
., ~ e 1.1 51.-,,,,+ Il.
'' t.,+i, f,,+
apparent 20 1ne S.t - +l,a+ -
tNet i 'li. - - f ~ AZ
gender onilSe va ti7lii- "a lss,iie ~ -,
tfl4peNh nl iu'' - - H.
Ni te" 'eilA a 80 - -
ln llt =9vnS' ,--
SNnani= litt4- ''N7 ga -
lated and proSpecl7 TOT ilii .ll'. a II 80
inventories are hol ail"sE1H7t 5,
aging ttdliWay ealillll-s eii.7 la "a a.,
able for June suip7as7 ,ass Sai ,o,sy
11L per cent and exceed tiiH9e On As0A
by l1f per cent
AFTER further moderate coHCeSsloii
ln prices of iron and steel. esnecially IN
pig iron and partly finished shapes, !ife
market has steadiec and there are m
dirations that no additional feducliona
Of consequence are pf9paple loI lH1
present Buyers are sffll uncertain as
TO whether the bottom mas neen
reached and there is no eagerness 10
place contracts CONCESSIONS are liS
longer readily obtained however ail,A
the tone is improving w ME IT IS Wen
known that large amount OF new ma
chinery is specified i'm plants in cours-
In inclination 10 delay the PLACING Of