The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-19
BACKWARD TRADE
It Is Generally Attributed to
Bad Weather.
Recent Developments Are Re-
garded as Favorable.
RAIN IN WHEAT BELT.
Better Prices for Iron and Ac-
tiOn of Coal Miners.
The Railway Situation Also
Shows an improvement.

New York. March 9.-Bradstreet's
says:
The backwardness Of spring trade,
generally attributed to almost uninter-
ruptedly bad weather, tinges most re-
ports from distributive centers, but
several developments of the week have
been notably favora BILE. Chief among
these might be mentioned the arrival
of much-needed moisture in the critical
ly situated southwestern wheat belt,
the continued improvement in the iron
and steel trade, and the decision of the
bitumtnous coal miners not to strike
against proposed reductions of wages.
Liquidation in the cereal markets and
in cotton, accompanied by sharp price
breaks. is also generally construed as
allowing of improvement of actual con-
sumptive demand. The railway situa-
ton shows a gain.
The weather has been cold and
stormy IN the west and northwest, and
reports from cities in those sections,
and particularly along the lakes. are
OF slow and backward spring trade.
Very much the same advices come from
leading eastern cities. Southern re-
ports continue good, though the spring
rush in wholesale lines is beginning to
slacken, and retail trade has not as
yet begun to expand. The recent heavy
rains on the Pacific coast while dam
aging, because of large areas inundat-
ed in the San Joaquin and Sacramento
valleys. have done much good in Cali
fornia as a whole.
The improvement noted in iron and
steel has progressed still further. The
large buying by leading interests some
weeks ago has induced 'freer purchas-
ing by smaller interests. Agricultural
implement manufacturers are doing the
best business in years. The railroads
are reported still backward in taking
supplies, but late reports point to some
leading systems coming into the mar
ket for steel rails. Western car works
are reported actively employed, and
shop supplies and tools are reported to
be in more active request.
Rather more unrest is noted in the
general industrial situation, but the
only actual outbreaks are those of the
building laborers at New York and OF
photographers. These strikes, if con-
tinued, are expected to injure the gen
eral building situation at New York
and the paper trade throughout the
country.
Demand for wooden goods from
manufacturers agents is reported dis
appointing and wool sells more freely,
though concessions in prices are limit
ed by the small available stocks.
The situation in the shoe trade is
rather irregular. Eastern advices are
that the advance of the season is
bringing rather more orders to job
bers and manufacturers, but no special
activity is yet noted. Leather is firm
to strong in price at all markets, and
large sales of hides have been made
in the west. Weather conditions are
unfavorable to the lumber trade 1T
elading eastern markets, but prices are
firm"
R. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review
Of Trade says:
improvements in trade and indus
try continues, favorable reports large
~ outnumbering adverse influences
The most important event of the week