The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-26
TRADE is BETTER.
Improved Weather Conditions
Help Retail Business.
Distribution Not Yet Up to Last
Years Figures.
RAILWAY EARNINGS
Show n Tendency Toward I'M
provement Over Last Year.
Metal Market Situation Is Gem
orally Satisfactory.
RAILWAY EARNINGS

New York. March 6.-Bradstreet's
says:
Better weather has helped retail trade
thereby strengthening the tone of
wholesale and jobbing business hitherto
rather pessimistic because of backward
spring demand. Distribution as a whole
however, is not up to a year ago. Ad-
ditional favorable features are the IN
questionably better winter wheat con-
ditions due to general rains throughout
the southwest and evidences of further
activity and strength in the iron and
steel trade Weather conditions also
have allowed of increased outdoor ac-
tivity. notably in building, but signs of
increased tension in labor matters con-
sutute drawback at several large CEN
ters. Railroad earnings tend to i'm
prove as the transportation difficulties
are surmounted and the outlook is that
the gross receipts for March win show
a slight increase over a year ago. Spring
goods in nearly all lines are in better
request at the leading northern centers
The situation in the metal market
generally is very satisfactory one.
Following the activity in pig iron noted
last week there has come lull in buy
ing demand but no evidences of weak
ness in prices.
Wheat, including flour exports for
the week ending March "A aggregated
~
week. 2.401,9S7 this week last year, p
s04. 10 in 1902 and 4.494. 635 in 1901
From July l, 1903, to date they aggre-
gate 1l4,715.204 against 70.S40,517 last
season, lSs,S15.615 in 1902 and 146,s4S. $50
in 1901.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
152l.6I6 bushels against 1918 last
week, 5,61S,2l0 a year ago, 1873 204 in
1907 and S.5S2.943 in 1901. From July
!. 1903, to date, they aggregate As 0SJ-
127 bushels, against a. 44047S last sea-
son, p, 639, 95s in 1902 and IA, 557, 769 in
1901.
R. C. Dun & CO.. Weekly Review of
Trade says:
Is noted for the past week. Storms
and floods did much damage to pro-
perty and threatened against prospects
at the start, but subsequently the
weather improved and the outlook
frightened.
Spring trade is expanding, although
still backward to some extent and
new labor controversies have added to
the number of unemployed, despite an
amiCable arrangement of the sheet
and tin plate scale. Building operations
would be vigorous if employers and
Wage-earnerS could adjust differences.
inquiries for structural lateral are
out of proportion to new permits,
which is probably due to the fact that
there is much resumption of postponed
work Drifting advances in several
departments of the lion and steel in
dustry indicate that there is less pres
sure to sell and more readiness on the
part of purchasers to place orders that
have been held back since the opening
of the year.
Quiet conditions continue in the hide
market except for some large sales by
Chicago packers of native COW hides
at firm prices, and all arrivals of for
eign dry hides are promptly taken.
Failures this week numbered s26 in
the United States, against PA last year,
and u in Canada, against % a year