The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-04
Springlike Weather Brings In.
crease Of JObbers' Orders.
Export Demand Puts Up Price
Of Flour.
INDUSTRIES ACTIVE.
Iron and Lumber Appear to Be
in the Lead.
Freight Situation Is Showing a
Marked improvement.

New YorlS,Aprn 4-Bradstreets says:
Retail trade is expending, favored by
springiilre weather and 5obbers report
orders from retailers increasing while
collections note some Improvement.
Some price revisions are to be noted,
particularly in coal. pig iron, copper,
coffee and sugar on the Atlantic sea-
board. Flour is slightly higher on the
excellent export business.
The industries. particularly iron and
steel and lumber. are active the coun-
try over. The spring crop Of strikes is
equal to the average, though most Of
them have appeared a trihe earlier, par
Gcularly in building trades.
The activity in lumber is a notable
feature just now, the only complaint
being of deliveries not being sufficient
30 meet current demand. Shoe manu-
featuring is in rather better shape than
previously.
Pressure of foreign iron at eastern
seaboard markets is the reason assign
ed for the cut of 81 per ton in southern
foundry grades and for the sympathetic
weakening of so cents per ton in other
kinds of pig iron at eastern markets
Anthracite has experienced the usual
spring cut of so cents per tom but the
level is still 40 cents per ton higher than
a year ago at this time. showing that
the consumer in this line has had to
pay the expense of last years great
strike.
Wreat including -four. exports FOR
the week ending April >, aggregate s.
l3O.974 bushels. against 2,401.9S7 last
week, 446 9l7 in this week year ago
and 1898 693 in 1901 Wheat exports
since July 1, aggregate 1859, 4S9 bush
els, against 100. S45,624 last season, and
1855. SIS 391 in 1900. Corn exports aggre-
gate 1852, 06S bushels. against 3,6l8,zl9
last week, 330,531 a year ago and 2ls54l
in 1901 For the fiscal year exports are
Al. 337, 536 bushels against 24,464,437 last
season and 147, ISL ,604 in 1901
Business failures in the United States
for week ending April 2, number l45,
against l75 last week, ll6 IN the like
week OF 1902, 1856 in 1901, 192 in 1900, and
$50 in 1899 In Canada the failures for
the week numbered Is against 10 last
week and is in this week a year ago.
r. G.. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review OF
Trade says.
Another week of good weather has
brought out a large volume of business,
many manufacturers receiving urgent
requests for immediate shipment.
Floods have caused serious losses at a
few points along the Mississippi and
traffic was interrupted on railways in
that vicinity, but on the whole. the
freight situation IS more satisfactory
than any previous time this year.
quicker transportation has relieved the
fuel pressure and the Industrial situa-
ton WOULD be unprecedentedly favor
able were it not for the prevalence Of
labor disputes. Railway earnings IN
March increased 1870 per cent over last
year and 21.1 per cent as compared with
1901 During the month of March prices
OF commodities. as measured by Dun's
index number, declined to 500 .z6f, as
compared with s101, 067. This decrease
IS only seasonable, and is about the
same as occurred in the corresponding
period last wear.
Less interruption from fuel scarcity
and traffic congestion has produced
most desirable condition Of activity in
all departments Of the iron and steel IN
dustry but the structural workers
strike threatens to restrict consumption
and provides the only menacing factor.
Textile manufacturing conditions are
unsettled by strikes and the futui
course Of prices as well as the general
situation must depend largely on this
factor. Throughout the cotton industry
there is disposition to await develop
ments. Jobbers purchase only for lr.i-
mediate requirements Only very
light supplementary demand is coming
forward for mems wear wOolens anc
Worsteds. and most new orders are for
filling out sample business. There is
much complaint Of delayed deliveries in
this line and cancellations are again n
feature. Increased hrmness is recorded
in the market for footwear, particularly
as TO mems kid shoes. Leather is firm
but comparatively quiet. and another
fractional advance is reported in Chi
Cago hides.
Failures this week in the United
States are 173, against PA last week, 220
in the preceding week. and 167 in the
corresponding week last year In Can
ada 49, against 20 last week. 20 in the
preceding week and % last year.