The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-10
They Are Reported Good by
Travelling Statesmen.
Shipments Are Going Forward
Literally Already.
A SCARCITY OF CARS
And of Fuel Acts as a Deterrent
Influence
On an Otherwise Active Indus
trial Situation.

New York Jan. 10.-Bradstreet's says:
THE new year starts aggressively and
well. Wholesale distributive trade, it is
true, notes something of a lull usual at
this period of the year, but even here
the uniformity is broken by advices that
statesmen already on the road are re-
ceiving good orders for spring. and that,
in compliance with urgent instructions,
shipments Of spring goods are being for
warded literally Among the industries,
activity reigns, the only deterrent fea-
lures being the scarcity of cars or of
fuel, limiting production of iron and
steel or curtailing shipments of lumber
and grain. Prices as a whole show
aggressive strength, present levels being
the highest in over two years. Corn and
cotton. it Is true, have weakened, but
the only apparent result is that of en-
couraging and expanding export trade,
a movement long and anxiously awaited.
Cotton goods remain firm, and it is
sellers market for print cloth The feel
ing of confidence in the cotton and cot
ton goods trades extends also to wooden
goods, while raw wool IS very strong,
with supplies on hand generally small
Liberal SHOWS are helping numbering
operations in the northwest and Maine.
Cold weather affects the movement of
white pine, while the southern yellow
pine movement is restricted by the
scarcity of cars. A feature is the &C
! tivity in hard woods, which are in de-
mand at all leading markets Eastern
shoe manufacturers report that liberal
sample orders are not being followed by
solid orders to the extent expected, and
shipments are smaller than last year
and last week, but leather IS quiet and
firm The scarcity of anthracite coal IS
a cause of large expense and some suf-
fering at the east. Efforts to keep
prices down to a reasonable level seem
to have failed, and spectators are re-
ported in control of the situation.
The iron and steel market is classed
as quiet but symptoms of activity are
numerous Pittsburg reports pig iron
very scarce and good sales have been
made at nearly top prices, while heavy
engagements Of steel billetS, bars and
structural material are also re2orteo-
Coke is especially scarce at Chicago.
Foreign imDortations of iron and steel
are very heavy Cleveland reports that
SO active is the demand for iron ore that
the Immensely increased supplies brought
down from the lakes last year promises
to be well cleaned up by spring. In the
hardware trade the outlook is classed IS
good. Copper and tin have made good
advances this week
r. @. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review Of
Trade says:
collections are notably prompt at all
/ leading centers, bearing testimony TO
the strong financial position of the ma
tons industries at the opening OF the
new year. Distribution Of merchandise
is heavy and manufacturers are pressed
for prompt delivery. Orders for spring
goods come freely and in some lines
there is more than sample business in
fall weights. Tardy deliveries in the
past lead purchasers to anticipate re-
quirements more than heretofore and
orders are being placed far in advance
of actual needs. The fuel situation is
still the one seriously disturbing ele-
ment, rendering abnormaIly high the
cost Of manufacturing and restricting
the purchasing power of almost the en-
tire population. Fortunately, this comes
at a time Of exceptional prosperity, or
there would be d general contraction of
4 cOnsum0tion in other lines There is
little information of work because Of
/ labor disputes. but many operations are
Interrupted by the delay in transit of
needed materials. Railway freight
rates were advanced. and one result
viii be a loss of e2Dorta ton from east
ern cities the traffic being DETECTED 70
New Orleans
In the iron and steel industry the
most significant event of the week was
the discussion regarding the profit shar-