The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-25
never so ACTIVE
Manufacturing Industries Are
Experiencing a Boom.
Production In Many Lines Close
to the Maximum.
RAILROAD EARNINGS
Continue to Indicate Big Traffic
and Good Rates.
Orders for Fall Delivery Al
ready Being Booked.

says:
Trade and industry progress well, de-
spite drawbacks in the shape of numer-
Gus labor troubles and cool, backward
weather conditions in some sections
Retail trade as a whole is fair. COllec-
tons continue to slowly but steadily
improve Manufacturing industry was
never so active, except perhaps in the
textile trades. where few labol
troubles limit cotton goods production
out IN iron and steel, lumber, shoe
manufacturing, machinery and NUT
tltude of other lines production is Gloss
10 the maximum. Railroad earnings
continue large. The shutdown of
northwestern flour mills proved to be
only temporary and the point sought
lower rates for the product has evil
IDENTIFY been gained, judging from the
increased outgo of flour from nearly all
shipping centers.
With the natural lun in wholesale
trade has come some discussion as to
OF business, but IL is worth noting tlaax
a fair volume of orders for fall delivery
mas already been booked and the only
woolens.
THE line Of demarcation between
crude and finished forms Of iron ard
steel has become more distinct this
Week Pig iron has unQuestionably
eased IN price. and buyers are back
ward. evidently hoping for further con-
cesslons, while the latter part of the
years requirements are reported still
+ unplaced. Against the softeninp in mir
iron. however. is to be noted the
strength Of steel and finished products
IN nearly all lines. Steel billets and
sheets are very scarce Much new work
ms 10 be postponed because of ina
biity to get supplies. Some rail mills
are reported changing over to ttlr1,
out bilets- Foreign steel is active al
eastern markets, while imported iron is
IN slack demand. The demand for
structural materials is reported undi-
/ Ininlshed, desQite the uneasiness in Ia
per circles. The volume of new work
oHered and projected is heavy and this
with the demand from other Sources
fehdefs Some authorities doubtful as to
esiIeeIaeI Inc weakness IN pig iron will Oh
can spread to the finished forms
! The effect Of the present high prices
OF cotton on the manufa curing branch
IS not entirely favorable BUYERS Of
cotton goods are holding back and are
very slow to commit themselves. Raw
wool, while dull is rather frmer in tone
and advices from primary markets are
that the new clip will be held at / to
cents pound above last seasons open-
ing quotations Dress woolens are in
good sale, but mems wear heavyweight
goods are rather backward Grocery
markets have been active this week the
leader therein being sugar. which con
unues its advance from the low point
reached some weeks ago. The advance
of the season has weakened prices of
butter, and lard, among hog products.
is lower on increased stocks. The great
majority Of staples however, show a
striking steadiness''
r. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review Of
Trade says:
TRADE responded promptly to better
weather in many sections of the coun-
try, notable activity appearing in sea-
sonable lines of wearing apparel, yet
wholesalers report conservatism as COM
pared with earlier months this year, al
though business is more active than
it was year ago. Some branches are
still backward, and there is more or
less complaint regarding collections,
while renewals are frequently asked.
Outdoor work is vigorously prosecuted,
agricultural communities endeavoring
to make up lost time and structural
undertakings call for large quantities
Of lumber and building materials, sus-
tanning quotations Labor problems are
being solved with encouraging celebrity.
Lake navigation has had the expected
: effect in reducing rail freight cOnges-
ton, and shipments are more prompt
) yet there is no diminution in the SPLEEN
did increase of gross railway earnings
| which thus far show a gain of 131 per
cent over last years figures for Apr1
and 25.3 per cent over 1901
Three facts are especially noteworthy
as to the situation in the iron and stee
Industry Scarcity of coke is no longer
cause for complaint; on the contrary
in some cases deliveries are so large a:
to threaten accumulation, and predic
lions as to the permanence OF h1gf
prices have ceased.
''Ample supplies of fuel make it pos
sible for blast furnaces to turn out pis
iron in abundance. as this was the onl.
drawback, and a new high water mari
of production may be expected for tn
month of April. Augmented stocks o
coke and pig iron. however. fail to re
suit in sufficient steel as yet. billets be
ing in urgent request. A rail mill ha
commenced work on blllets ana othe
similar changes are contemplated, whicl
indicates the pressure, as steel rails ar
more readily marketed than any othe
product.
Settlement of structural labor trou
bles has renewed activity on bridge
and buildings, which reviews interest /
steel Billets viii be brought fror
abroad at the earliest possible date. bu
there is difficulty in securing sales, a
foreign producers are also holding larg
contracts. Pig iron is still unsettled a
to price, with buyers placing contract
conservatively.
while dry goods markets have en-