The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-14
TRADE is BRISK.
Transportation Situation Shows
little Improvement.
Railroad Earnings Continue to
Show Big Increase.
FIRST WEEK IN MARCH
Increase of IA Per Cent Over
Same Period Last Year,
More New Road VIII Be Built
Than Last Year.
FIRST WEEK IN MARCH

New York March lar. G. Dun &
Cos Weekly Review of Trade says:
Reports from all sections of the
country promise "a brisk spring and
summer trade. Orders are coming for
ward on a large scale. and frequent re-
quests for spring shipment indicate
that stocks are low and requirements
urgent The statement has been made
repeatedly of late that traffic blockades
were ended. but as a natter of fact
the relief was in every case Of "a local
nature. and was almost Immediately
followed by so much new business that
congestion returned. At present the
western shipments are fairly prompt,
but freight is not COMING east In sat
tsfactory manner Heavy distribution
of wages makes retail trade active and
prompt in the anthracite region, yet
dealers are carrying small stocks of
merchandise as a rule. Activity in
building lines is so great as to occasion
frequent comments. Bad weather re-
tarded retail business at some points,
and floods added 20 the disturbed con-
diuOn OF the cotton market. Railway
earnings continue TO exceed previous
years figures, roads reporting for the
FIRST week of March showing a gain Of
II per cent over last year and of l6.3
per cent over 1901.
1T is already almost certain that rail-
way construction viii far exceed even
last years enormous figures and sim
liar condition exist as to building and
bridge operations. Despite the higher
range of quotations prevailing abroad,
many contracts are being placed with
foreign producers. Noteworthy strength
q gain appeared in the minor metals
and principally in copper which reach
ed the highest point since 1901.
Failures this week number 239 in the
United States against 232 last year.and
% in Canada against "a a year ago.
Bradstreets says: Demand is active
with staple prices strong a close TO
record levels, despite drawbacks in the
shape of bad roads, labor troubles east
and west and heavy rains. overlooking
rivers and backward farm preparations
at the south. The continued reports
of slow and even poor collection noted
for some time past are accentuated by
pernaps, partly the result, of the bad
condition Of the country's roads conse-
quent upon the change in the season.
Labor troubles present and prospective
especially haraSs building trades con
Stunning iron and steel in the metropolis
The traffic congestion, though improved
still affects the transportation Of coke.
lumber. flour and grain Railroad earn
lngs are simply magnificent for this
time Of the year the country's railroads
ia feDruary showing gains Of "a per
cent IN gross receipts, and the March
returns are fully as IA Vora BILE Export
Trade showed very notable gain in
February in many lines. but particularly
in the shipment of corn and cotton
Retail business generally has been
checked by weather conditions. but this
has not initiated against business with
1obbers- The lumber trade continues
active the country over Prices are
nrmer at close to top quotations.
tuIuaiy movement was very gem
orally upward. New features are the
expansion noted in demand for crude
and finished iron and steel. a very heavy
advance i'm the price of copper higher
quotations for lead. nrmer cotton ana
wide fluctuations and quite steady
steady cereal prices
W neat including flour. exports for the
week ending March 10 aggregate 1886
a4b. against 2.906 $50 in this week vesr
ago. wheat export since July I aegre-
gated 1884, b30,530 bushels, against 1918.
~ last season Corn exports aggregate
o-or 1893. against 1S3414 a year ago. For
inc useal year exports are 1855. 1850
bushels against 23654810 last season.
and l3S,963.036 in 1901
BUSINESS failures in the United States
Iof week ending March u number l78.
against ~ last year. pa in the like week
in 1899 80