The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-07
Transportation Facilities Are
LamentabIy Inadequate.
INCLEMENT WEATHER.
Adds a New Disturbing Factor
to the Situation.
Enormous Sums Appropriated
for Expanding Facilities.

OF OEerStralneO and lamenIablX mao
equate facilities for transportation
/ Concentrated efforts to reduce the con-
gestion at a few favored points appar
emily intensified the blockade elsewhere.
and inclement weather added new dis
turbing factor to an already compli~
Gated situation. Every possible method
is being adopted to improve conditions
enormous sums are appropriated for ex-
tensions. yet accidents and losses are
FREQUENT.
transatlantic vessels failed to leave
on schedule time and many manufac-
turing plants are closed in part or
wholly. Labor disputes are more nu-
merous, although not prevalent to any
extent in the leading industries. AS the
season advances there is notable activity
in building trades. with the customary
aceeleration of inquiry for materials
Retail dealings in most staples are fully
sustained, especially of seasonable wear
ing apparel, but distribution at many
points has suffered through weather
conditions. Wholesale and jobbing trade
4 is steadily improving, although dellV-
1 cries cannot be guaranteed. Foreign
commerce is keeping pace with domestic
/ trade. Railway earnings during Janu-
airy were sc per cent. larger than las
year and III per cent. in excess of 1901
1T would have Occasioned no sur
prise had the cost of living materially
! advanced during the midWinter months.
In addition to the seasOnable influence
of low temperature and consequent re-
strietion of production in some lines.
there were numerous factors in evidence
calculated to aggravate the situation
IN the face of initiating elements, the
consumer was peculiarly fortunate, as
shown by Dun's index number Of prices
/ propOrtioned to consumption, which was
l00-920 on February 1, against l0o-555 a
J., ~ Of
half of 1 per cent.
Cotton is strong, liberal exports and
/ domestic OmpetitiOn more than neu-
tralizing the depressing influence of
heavy port receipts Coffee aroused
from its lethargy and advanced a small
fraction because the worlds stocks de-
creased much more than anticipated.
Conditions in the iron and steel in
/ dustry are without essential alteration.
Far from catching up with its orders,
! the leading producer now reports over
/ $500 600 tons of contracts on hand, and
similar statements on somewhat
smaller scale are made by other con-
Germs. Traffic difficulties increase; de-
/ lfveries of fuel and pig iron are uncer-
/ tain, and at Chicago coke is nomlnally
SO q ton while COnnellSVille ovens pro-
duce freely but Pittsburg supplies are
/ Inadequate. A very large quantity is
en- route and there is growing confidence
in the trade that the worst congestion
is over for this season.
Purchasers in some divisions Of the
market still show an inclination to post
pone placing of contracts in expectation
| of better terms, but the general level of
quotations does not recede. Numerous
contracts are taken abroad because do
nestle plants cannot make shipments
! within the specified time, and one re-
suit of the excessive activity here has
been a decided improvement in the for
eign industry.
ssThis has initiated against imports,
as prices are frmer in European mar
kets, yet engagements continue on a
moderate scale. Plans for railway eX-
tension assure much new business,
while carriage and implement makers
are constantly in the market for ma
terial
Little new business has been placed
with New England shoe factories, al
though there is sufficient Work on
hand to assure activity until late in
March. Distinct Improvement IS noted
in domestic buying of cottons, even
at the highest prices buyers found dit
f1cu1ty in securing print cloths. In
wooden goods there is steady absorb
ton, with no speculative activity sta
pie lines of dress goods are firm and
moving 5riskly. Large consumption OF
raw material by the mills holds wool
steady at the recent advance, despite
somewhat weaker closing at the
| London auction sale
Failures in the United States were
264 this week against 263 last week, 265
the preceding week and 261 the CORE
spending week last year; and in Cana
da % against 80 last week, q the pre-
ceding week and Is last year.
Bradstreet's says:
tsUnfavoTable weather conditions
may retard, but they do not arrest
| trade. and industrial development
which continue in exceptionally full
volume for this season of the year
! Spring trade, as pointed out heretofore
is earlier and of a larger volume thar
in anv previous year, and the remark
: 4 of
! that stability in present conditions Is
expected for some time to come The
: current reports from the dry goods
, trade are among the most Cheerful
ever recorded at this season of The
year Cotton goods note excepuOna
activity and strength. but other lines
Of spring trade are busy. iron and stee
I is active for this season, lumber pro
! duction and demand is brisk. anc
] hardware is in heavy demand Thi:
! progress is being made in spite of some
:, drawbacks. but these very shortcom
ings are evidence merely of super
abundant prosperity. For instance, th'
notice given earlier in the week by ths
western railroads, that they would b'
forced to refuse numerous classes o.
e heavy freight. such as grain -four, iron
= iron ore and lumber. and that. in fact
i they could only take perishable anC
, quick moving merchandise, IS evidence
s that the railroad facilities. as frequent
" noted before. have not expanded 81
S quickly or in as great proportion a.
: has the volume of business offered il
the iron and steel trade. the fuel situa
ton is really but little better. owing t.
the congestion in car transportation be
tween the coal regions and consuming
= points
t The late spell of mild weather Ia.
Y certainly brought an improvement II
: the coal situation Cold weather wa.
e responsible for lower prices for butter
7 and eggs in January, and some hog pro
: ducts also declined; but cereals remain
ed steady and textiles nearly all ad
r vaneed, as did several kinds of iron ant
steel. copper, tin and naval stores, off