The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-14
Regardless of the High Price of
Material.
A SCARCITY OF LABOR
Prevails in the Lumber Regions
and Cotton Fields.
Dry Goods Trade Is Good
Throughout the Country.

/ weather, slightly better collections
steady and even strong prices for sta
pies, some improvement in the railway
transportation situation. and cheaper
and better supplies of coal at the east.
An additional favorable feature not as
yet given full consideration is the sign
ing of the new bituminous coal wage
scale, by which any possible unsettle-
ment from this source is prevented.
Mild weather makes for increased ac-
tivity in outdoor work. while active
movements in lumber. structural iron
and steel, builders hardware and
myriad Of other lines lead to the belieI
that the present season, notwithstand-
ing higher prices of materials, will wit
ness immense building operations. In
this connection cognizance must be
taken of the reports coming from wide
" separated sections indicating a scar
city of labor. In the south increased
railway building, numbering operations
and diversion Of industry generally
i have drawn heavily upon the labor
available for the cotton fields and less
than ordinarily might have been expect
ed increase in acreage is therefore look
ed Tor IN this line. A balance to this,
however, may be found in the present
high price Of that tapIe- In the north
west labor is scarce in the numbering
industry, and. generally speaking, il
might be said that manual labor the
! country over finds a ready market. All
in all, the situation is one practically
never equaled before at this time, con-
frming earlier predictions that the first
half of the year 1903 was secure beyond
+ peradventure.
Perhaps the most notable feature in
the entire situation is the fact that pres
ent high prices do not as yet seem to
check consumption. In the strongest
situated industries of all. those of cot
ton manufacturing and of iron and steel
production, insistent demand, culminat-
ing large sales, gives testimony to
the increased purchasing power of the
country at large. Cotton and cotton
goods have led the van this week, spot
cotton advancing 1-3c and future de-
| manipulation, it is true, but ultimately
I because of the active spring demand for
cotton goods, even at the high prices
| dominating.
The dry goods trade the country
/ over sends excellent reports. In iron
and steel the chief trouble is the car
congestion, which limits supplies of coke
reaching furnaces and checks delivery
Foundry iron is in good demand, and
+ bessemer sells readily and freely where
Obtainable at $21 to S2I50 per ton. Pro-
duction Of pig iron still fails to meet
consumptlve requirements. Increased
demand is needed for structural mater
ial steel plates, merchant bars and rails.
The distribution of hardware is increas-
tive. An additional steadying feature in
iron and steel is the prospect that all
classes of iron ore viii be advanced, the
increase varying from 25 cents to $1.25
and the average being in the neighbor-
hood Of 70 cents. Copper strengthens
steadily from week to week.
Lack of snow is complained of in
some portions of the northwest as linz
iting the logging output, but that in
Maine is very large ana on the Pacific
coast unprecedented activity is noted In
the south and southwest the output of
lumber is enough"
r. @. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of
trade says:
sDisproportion between supply and
demand is still a factor Of strength in
many commodities while similar cOndi-
tons exist as to skilled labor, retarding
much work and in some cases postpon-
ing important undertakings and i'm
pr0venlents. Wages have been advanc-
ed voluntarily and also in response to
demands by organized labor. Relief to
the traffic congestion is still confined to
a few favored districts, and shippers
cannot hope for prompt deliveries until
lake navigation opens Earnings con-
tinue to show splendid gains over for
4ner years. January returns thus far ex
ceeding 1902 by "a per cent and 1901 by
1877 per cent. Orders for spring ship
ment are heavy III all staple lines, and
the advance business for fall is unusual
" large, testifying to the confidence of
buyers in continued prosperity
in the iron and steel industry, with few
developments of note. Coke is in some
what better supply, making it possible
to operate blast furnaces with less in
terruptiOn than experienced when the
month opened but there is constant
complaint of the scarcity and high
prices commanded by pig iron Finished
steel products have not risen proper
tionately, although they are in good de-
mand. Large exports Of wire and wire
nails have occurred, the movement be-
ing heaviest to Australia, South Amer
lea, and England. With the advancing
season there is a better movement of
merchant pipe and kindred lines, whila
structural material is also in very
urgent request The demand for rail-
way equipment shows no d1mlnutioni
and another foreign order for steel rails
could not be accepted because deliy-
cries were required in May.
s'Cotton has taken the leading position
Of the great staples. both as to extent
of advance and volume of speculative
| transa etion. Visible supplies are love-
than the corresponding date in any year
Of the past decade, and it is an I'M
usual day when exports do not exceed
receipts. Foreign spinners are busy.
domestic mills consume freely, while
there is sight for more cotton goods
than present stocks of raw material at
the mills viii make. Several grades Of
cotton goods have advanced in price.
: which, with gains in other divisions of
the market during preceding weeks,
, makes the level Of quotation much
higher. large attendance of buyers
is reported. stimulating activity with
: jobbers and at first hands. Cash salea
! are restricted by low prices. Domestic
consumption supplies most Of the bust
I ness as export inquiries are light.
New business has increased at New
I England footwear factories, with good Or
ders for a prompt delivery of skin shoes
Q In the leather market the chief event mas
! been active demand with higher prices
{ / for betting butts Low supplies OF sole
leather gives strength. and upper stock
IS in better requirement. Domestic hides
n | weaken as the advancing season brings
= poorer grades to market Restricted re-
T. + CENTS Of dry hides sustain values. imports
from Central America commanding a frac.
1isl I1ttie Change occurred in meats but