The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-05
A General Advance Covering
Wide Range Of Industry.
A Record Breaking Acreage OF
Wheat Is Reported.
BUSINESS IMPROVES
No Evidence of Anxiety Regard
ing the Future.
Railway Earnings for October
Better Than q Ago Year.

New York, Nov. S.-Bradstreet's
says:
Warm weather. activity In fall farm
work and to q lesser degree ante
election interest have detracted from
retail trade distribution north and
west. For like reasons Jobbing sales
are rather smaller in volume. Against
this, however, Is to be cited increased
activity In q number of industries,
headed by iron. steel and allied lines
OF manufacture. Resumption of work
by 10000 eastern cotton mill hands
Is a feature, but the great Fall River
Gteup continues. and the strike OF a
comparatively small number of mine
employees Il responsible for the idle
ness of close to 10000 Indiana and
Illinois coal miners, and higher prices
9or hituminous coal. A very general
advance in staple prices, covering a
wide range of industry, Is an event
worthy of note. Reports from the
winter wheat crop are of an immense,
possibly record, acreage in that ce-
real, but drouth and Hessian flies dam
age reports detract from an otherwise
excellent prospect in the surplus-pro-
ducing states of the west. Money is
easy and number of centers return
how from the country district as an
Indication of the financial indepen-
dence Of large numbers of producers.
The south gives relatively the best
reports as to trade. Eastern trade re-
ports show irregularity.
Business failures in the United
States for the week ending Novem-
Der 23, number 200, against $50 last
week 216 in the like week in 1908, 14S
In 1902; 191 In 1901 and 161 in 1900.
In Canada failures for the week num-
Der 20 as against p last week and
10 In this week year ago.
Wheat, including flour exports for
the week ending November 8, aggre-
gate 1,s62,2O2 bushels against 1,47s,-
61s last week 4,450,2S1 this week last
year; 5,715,555 in 1902 and 5,469,645
IN 1901. From July to date the ex-
ports aggregate 23,934,163 against
bS,241,e2S last year, 95,540,49 in 1902
and 107.S73.4s2 in 1901. From July
/ 70 date the exports of corn aggre-
gate 10,641.S 35 bushels against H.
s02,6 in 1903; 1,662,79S in 1902, and
15.9S5,526 in 1901.
Dun's Weekly Review of Trade saws:
Business improves steadily, and there
IS no evidence of anxiety regarding the
future Payments are more promptly
met. tending to stimulate preparations
for coming trade and the disposition to
limit purchases to immediate needs is
gradually disappearing. Conservatism
during the summer and autumn had a
beneficial effect, reducing stocks to a
low point. As demand broadens, this
scarcity of supply produces pressure
Tor quick delivery and prices are
strengthened. Aside from imitation
caused by speculation, there is no bet
ter signs of commercial progress than
advancing commodity markets.
All the leading branches of manufac-
ture are in better position. Traffic
reports are satisfactory, railway earn
tngs in October exceeding last year by
IS per cent. Foreign commerce re-
turns at this port for the last week
show gain of s7S9.276 in exports and
a loss of S297,752 in imports, as COM
pared with 1898.
Wholesale progress is recorded in the
tron and steel industry, sentimental
Improvement being succeeded by act
ual business. Limited supplies main
tain hides in a very strong position,
and some lines are bought in advance
of sailing Raw wool has again ad-
vanced and is an important factor in
the situation.