The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-11
Business Is Responding to I'm
proved Conditions.
SEASONABLE WEATHER
Fewer Labor Troubles and Good
Crop Prospects
Tend to Accelerate Retail Dis.
tribution of Merchandise.

New York, July 11.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'s weekly review of trade says:
Business again responds to improved
conditions. Retail distribution of mer-
chandise is accelerated by more season
able weather and fewer labor contro-
versies while wholesale and jobbing
trade. especially at the interior, shows
the encouraging effect Of brighter agri-
cultural prospects. There is the custo-
mary excessive demand for farm hands.
Receipts of holiday traffic and trade in
holiday goods Indicate no diminution in
purchasing power, and semi-annual in
ventories show a more gratifying situa-
ton than expected. There is less than
the usual midsummer idleness in manu-
featuring. except in the cotton indus
try. Commodity prices advanced slight
~ during June Duns index number on
July 1 being $99, 466. compared with $685.
1876 month earlier. A decline of "A per
cent is recorded in comparison with
July, 1902. chiefly in articles of food.
Railway earnings for June are 131 per
cent larger than last year, and 25.3 in
excess of 1901.
Installation of new .converters and
other repairs interfere with work 1t
some prominent steel mills which ex-
market. Bessemer pig, delivered at
Pittsburg, can be bought for SIS. 70,
which is the lowest point thus far of
the recent decline. Structural material
is again an active feature, especially for
large buildings and railway bridges at
the west Makers of agricultural imple-
ments and vehicles are liberal purchas-
ers of bar iron. Tin and copper are
again lower. the latter selling below the
official quotation, which has been re-
duced to IA cents.
violent changes in quotations of raw
material are never good fer business in
finished products, so that as yet the
cotton goods manufacture shows no i'm
provement in response to fluctuations at
the cotton exchanges But it is certain
that there viii ultimately come a re-
vival of normal activity at the mills
when the material reaches a less inflated
level. at which goods can be manufac-
tured with profit. Meanwhile, stocks
of goods in dealers hands have fallen
low and sellers are insisting on general
~ higher prices than they did a week
ago. New lines of medium and low
grade WoOlens have been opened al full
prices and met with an average de-
and. Recorder business in heavyweight
.voolens is moderated and quota tons are
irregular. Raw wool IS firmly held. fair
prices being secured at the London auc-
tionf sales. supplementary orders for
fall footwear are received by New Eng
land factories from eastern jobbers. but
western wholesalers are still holding
bach contracts.
Failures this week numbered 1874 in
the 1Jnis ed States. against s193 last year
ands24 in Canada, compared with 10 a
year ago"
Bradstreet says: Weather conditions
continue almost perfect The winter
wheat crop harvest has about been
been completed with a considerably
larger yield than last year; retail trade
recorders from jobbers are larger in
volume; confidence in a large fall trade
grows as corn and cotton make up
for their early backward start, clear
ings are in excess of a year ago;
railroad earnings continue to show
gains over all preceding years
the increase for June is fully u per
cent and prices display exceptional
Eteadiness for d midsummer period
The prospect shows that whatever de-
ficiencY from last year occur in crop
yields Will be made uD for by increased
quotations or better quality of pro-
ducts. Wool has been again advanced
and, while makers are not inclined to
stock up, the higher price for the raw
material practically insures high cost
for spring woolens.
Retail trade has been stimulated by
real summer weather. and jobbers east
and west note much improved recorder
business in seasonable goods.
Eastern shoe shipments are II per cent
larger than last year. The iron and
steel market is duh and unsettled as to
prices
Tin and copper are rather weak.
Wheat including flour exnort for the
week ending July aggregate 2,3SO,41O
bushels, against 1856 6S2 last week. 4
404,1l5 this week last year and 5,016 149
in 1901. Corn exports for the week ag-
gregate 1525.0S4 bushels. against 1.420,-
172 last week, 1S5,131 a year ago and D.
500, 13S in 1901.
~ Business failures for the week ending
July number 154,against 1872 last week,
1876 in the like week of 1902, 1879 in 1901
221 in 1900 and TIA in 1899.
In Canada failures for the week num-
Der 20 as against last week and % in
this week a year ago.
A little life may be sacrificed to an
hours delay. Cholera infantum. dysen-
terry diarrhoea come suddenly. Only
safe plan is to have DR. Fowler's Elk
tract of Wild Strawberry always on
hand.