The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-30
That Number Have Struck or
Been Laid OFF.
Business Situation Shows In
clination Toward Dizziness.
GOOD IN THE SOUTH.
High Price of Cotton Gives a
Healthy Tone.
Movement Of Crops Is Expected
to Help Conditions.

New York, Oct 30.-Special kilograms
from correspondents of the Internation-
al Mercantile agency throughout tha
United States and Canada regarding the
state of trade, are summarized as fol-
lows:
The between-seasons period is begin
ming to show its influence on the move
ment Of general merchandise. Relative
ly the most favorable reports come from
Chicago. Pittsburg and New York. Ball
timore reports the outlook from the
south for a good trade owing to high
prices for cotton. There has been gain
at Pfttsburg, where more mills are ex-
pected to start up Country orders ara
fair average for the season at Chi
cago, but there is less disposition to
branch out and a hesitancy in some
lines. Dry goods and clothing are NOV
ing more slowly at st. Louis. At Bos-
ton the disposition is toward conserva-
tivism. At Philadelphia the volume OF
trade is about equal to that of a year
ago, but affected by labor conditions. is
beginning to slacken. ST. Paul and Minis
neapolis advise that interior merchants
are restricting purchases somewhat. Tha
Minneapolis flour output is becominE
normal again.
Traffic on eastern railroads has de-
clined this week. car shortage has been
less noticeable, interior jobhers are
buying less than last year, and cotton
exports are increasing encourag1ngly,
but mercantile collections have fallen
away in regions tributary to Philddel-
phia and ST. Paul. Shipments of funds
west on crop and bank accounts have
made loans at New York firmeE and
tend to hold down security prices
Good weather has prevailed thuough-
out the grain regions, but winter
/ H. III
some rain. The outlook is for IA good
demand for wheat for export. Rsti-
mates of the cotton crop tend higher
than recentlv.
sale of ten thousand tons of Southern
pig iron for export to Manchester ah
$40 or less ton at the furnaf,e. and q
Pittsburg sale of steel rails for deIiv-
cry in Korea Many large industrial
concerns report average decline in or
derS of 25 per cent. from this time last
year; new orders come in hesitatingly.
Some 55, 600 employees have be en- laid off
or have struck. this week Closed iron
mines in northern Michigan have res
acted upon jobbers in the northwest.
| Staple winter goods are ia steady de<
mand at Montreal and PRICES are firm
Cottons are practically strong, and jobf
berS complain that there is difficulty il
getting orders filled by manufacturer
Demand for woolens is less active. Coll
lections are fair and there are some ref
neWdIS- AHeHt HAS Detn u less actlVt
distribution of seaSonable goods FROM
| Toronto, owing to the mild weather, bu
the more rapid movement of crops FROM
the northwest is stimulating and an inn
provement is expected.
| Elevator receipts indicate that thert
| is less wheat than has been counted
on. Canadian banks report that thf
demand for funds from farmers fol
handling the crops is less than anticil
pated. Money is therefore easier thai
expected. and the indications are thai
rates will be lower. The situation al
Sault Ste. Marie is more hopeful. Som{
of the factories have started up. and
others are expecting to.