The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-16
GAIN IA PER CENT
Gross Receipts of Railroads Fol-
low the Rule
Of a Steady Increase in April
Since 1896.
ENORMOUS RTS.
Steel Is Coming From Abroad
in Unusual Amounts.
Mills Are Pushed to Keep Up
With Their Work.
ENORMOUS IMPORTS

New York, May -Bradstreet's says:
Weather and labor conditions have
been far from perfect for the progress
of retail trade, planting operations and
growth, and building, but the tendency
to regard these drawbacks as merely
temporary is still present, though the
feeling as to labor disputes is that con-
tinued unsettlement viii work serious
damage to all interests concerned.
Wholesale trade, naturally quiet at this
season, also reflects the above features,
but so great is the confidence in the fu-
ture outlook that, except in the case of
cotton manufacturing, where the cost
of raw material has been pushed to al
most prohibitive heights, optimistic
views still rule. Railroad operations,
now free from congestion, are very
profitable, a fitting crown to the rec
ords of past prosperity being found in
the April record of a gain Of IA per cent
in gross receipts. which follows steady
and increasing gains made yearly in
that month since 1895.
Capital has sought to be made in the
stock market of the weakness of pig
iron and reported decreases in steel, but
the latter is denied and while prOduc-
ton of iron is now in unprecedented
volume, reliable statistics of stocks of
this material show no accumulation.
Steel is coming in from abroad in enor-
nous volume and reports for the fiscal
year are largest, with one exception, in
the country's history. A slight revision
of prices would, we believe. not be IN
pleasing to domestic producers.
Pig iron furnishes a notable excep-
ton to the strength of other staples,
weakening as it has. at all markets.
this inducing a spreading of stories that
steel hIllpfS of
No sign of weakness in finished steel
and iron products can be found at the
leading western centers, but there is a
feeling that heavy imports of foreign
billets may shortly affect prices for that
product at seaboard markets. A sign
of strength in the finished material III
is the report that specifications for
New York are coming forward rapidly
and that mills are pushed TO keep up
with their work.
"A favorably situated trade at present
is that of shoes, eastern shipments Of
which show an increase of % per cent
over this week a year ago and II per
cent for the season. and also noting an
increase over the record year of 1901
Leather prices are strong. A moderate
business is doing in hides, but frmaess
is the rule. Dress wooden goods are
reported moving we'll but mems wear
tone in this line is noted Other sup
plies of wool are held steadily, while
new wool is reported bringing 1 to 2
cents advance over last years prices.
Western prices are above a parity with
those at the east"
r. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of
Trade says:
Warmer weather has made it pos
sible for the retail trade to regain part
of the earlier losses in volume of trans
actions and the level of quotations for
stable lines Of merchandise is well main
tanned. Wholesale trade in seasonable
goods iS C17iat 9ffhOnoI7 &c
or less supplementary business and job
berS report increased activity in several
lines of wearing apparel. Clothing
manufac turerS are busy on fall SAM
pies, which are unusually late Furni-
ture and harness factories are notably
well supplied with orders, and there is
no evidence of dullness in machinery or
hardware. At most points there are in.
dicatiOns of Improvement in mercantile 4
collections. the faVorab BILE progress of
farm work having a good influence at the /
interior. while heavy sales of fertilizers
testify to the extensive preparation for
large crops. Industrial conditions would
be exceptionally encouraging were it
not for the vast army of men vOlun- /
tarily idle. Railway earnings continus
10 snow the usual gain, May figures /
thus far surprising last years by 1914
per cent. and those of 1901 by 29.3 per |
cent.
An unprecedented production of
pigiron in April was accompanied by a |
decrease in furnace stocks, testifying to /
vigorous consumption and wholesome |
conditions in the steel industry 1t is /
not surprising that a somewhat easier /
tone is noticed, however, because the /
scarcity of fuel earlier in the season /
had retarded output and forced quota |
tons above normal especially on /
prompt shipments.
Textile manufacturing conditions are
irregular, some improvement 1
being noted at wooden mills while cot /
ton spinners are in a bad position. /
More business has been done in mems /
wear Wo0lens and worsteds than at any /
recent date. tardy supplemental orders
having at last begun to appear. Aside
from a few exceptional cases in which /
small advances were secured there are /
no alterations in prices
Carpets opened at the expected ad- I
vance and met good demand. Woolen I
mills are harassed by the phenomenal /
quotations for raw material. being IN /
able to obtain even small concessions I
from buyers of goods, who only pu--
chase such small quantities as are re-
quired Immediately. Not only has there
been no advance in print cloths. but a
special sale at cents occurred. There +
was no demand from producers, but /
there was resale of goods purchased it I
higher figure earlier in the season. /
Mills have not made any general redue- +
ton in output, although the subject S
under consideration and several con- /
Germs have decreased the number of &C
tive looms
Failures this week were 1876 in the I
United States. against 22S last year, /
and 13 in Canada, compared with Il a
year ago.
A Startling Test.