The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-28
A BETTER WEEK.
Business Shows Improvement
Over Any Recent Period.
Railroad Earnings Show Gain
Over Last Year.
FIRMNESS OF PRICES
Continues to Prevail in All
Agricultural Products.
An Improved Tone Noted in the
Iron Market.
FIRMNESS OF PRICES

New York, Nov 2S.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade says:
"Seasonable temperature and holt
day purchases stimulated trade, MAX
ing results more satisfactory during
| the past week than at any recent date.
Improvement was most conspicuous in
heavy wearing apparel and kindred
lines that have remained duh because
of the mild weather. Another en-
couraging feature was the resumption
of work at the New York mills, al
though there is still much idle ma
chinery, especially in the textile and
iron industries. In view of the nu-
merous wage reductions there is
noteworthy harmony between employ
ers and workers, indicating that labor
| leaders appreciate the necessity of
sharing in the readjustment- Grain
! shipments increased with the ap-
preaching close of navigation on the
| lakes and freight traffic was subjected
to the greatest pressure of the season.
But there is less than the customary
complaint of delay. Railway earnings
for three weeks of November averaged
% per cent larger than last year. 1t
is at least possible to perceive an i'm
provement in the demand for pig iron,
due to the exhaustion of supplies by
consumers, the extensive reduction in
output and absence of further price
| concessions. Business is by no means
Drlsk nor is there any expectation of
wholesale activity during the remain
ing weeks of this year, yet there is evil
dence OF returning confidence with the
lapse Of time. Makers of structural
shapes are also looking forward to a
resumption of building operations that
were demoralized and discontinued be-
cause of contentious between employ
erS and wage-earners
Iextlle manufacturing conditions are
without alteration. Colder weather slim
uiated retail trade in woolens and wor-
steds- but as yet there is no improve
ment in piece goods.
Despite some conservatism among
shoe buyers, there is a brisk demand for
brlsk delivery and requirements are
large. In the leather market there is an
increased demand for hemlock sole, both
on home and export orders.
Failures this week numbered 258 in
the United States, against 213 last year,
and Il in Canada, as compared with Is
a year ago.
Bradstreet's says: Continued cold
weather has offered a needed stimulus
TO retail trade in all seasonable lines,
but particularly in clothing and wear
ing apparel. This, in turn, in reflected
in better recorder business with jobbers
at interior centers, who also note more
interestin holiday goods, fancy grocer
les, furs and kindred lines. In whole
sale trade features are the rather
stronger tone of cotton goods, which are
held more firmly by agents, and little
DeCI6F Ieelln2 IN WOODEN goods. FIRM
ness of prices of agricultural products
was another element which is to be ia
ken account of. The agricultural inter-
est and those interested in distributive
trade seem at present to be having their
innings and appear we'll situated, where
as the manufacturing and industrial
branches sent forth nearly all the pes
simistic reports. The prosperity of the
grain and food producing populations
north and west and of the cotton. lum-
Der and naval stores. interests at the
south. is. in fact the chief basis for
| the conservative confidence in the gen
eraI business outlook expressed by many
observers.
There are some good points, even
among the Industries. Although iron and
steel production is limited and shutdowns
are numerous, there is rather better
! tone, particularly to crude iron, due to the
growth of the feeling that prices are now
grounding on the bottom. Finished pro-
ducts are rather dull and domestic buy
| ers are rather reserved, but the extension
| of the reduction in railroad rates to other
| lines of iron and steel gives prospects of
a large export business to come. Some
| large orders for sheet bars are reported
! booked from English manufacturers and
/ old material is inquired for for export.
The other metals are dull with copper and
| lead weak.
Lumber is quiet for domestic trade but
| export demand is active. Hardware sales
continue really good, all things considered.
and some railway work reported abandon
ed some time ago has been resumed while
leading systems announce liberal expendi-
!