The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-13
SLOW PROGRESS.
Is Made lin the Expansion Of
Fall Trade.
Labor Troubles Are Acting as a
Drawback.
SHORT WHEAT CROP.
Is COunterbRlanced by Improve
ment In Other Cereals.
Meat Strike Inrerferes With
the Shoe Business.
SHORT WHEAT CROP.

New York. Aug. s.-Bradstreet'I
says:
Fall trade expands but slowly, con
servatism based apparently upon croI
disappointments or uncertainties and
labor troubles ruling most lines Of
distribution.
Government figures of crop condi-
lions just issued are, in the main, IA
vorabIe, though vitiated by early date
of replies Predicted reduction in the
winter wheat crop out-turn are con-
firmed but are counterbalanced by
Improvement in other crops, pointing
to a general yield of food products
well above the average. The early
prospects of a large cotton yield are
not materially changed. but predicted
lower prices render buyers of cotton
goods cautious.
Jobbing trade is not equal to the
last years Industrial conditions are
not altogether promising in view of
the continuance of the meat strike,
which, by the way, is interfering with
the leather and shoe trade. All in
all, the situation may be characterized
as still irregular, though the general
tone of business and the outlook is
one of confidence. Firmness in wool
prices is still a feature.
Reports of cuts in prices of steel
products are current, but good reports
come from the structural trade. De-
mands for domestic grades of an
thracite coal have fallen off and that
branch of the trade is rather quiet
weakened in price, but tin is slightly
higher, though not holding the full
advances recently shown.
Bushes failures for the week end
ing August IL number 1877, against
40 last week, $50 in the like week
IN 1908, ISL in 1902, IFS in 1901, and
16s in 1900. In Canada failures for
the week number Is. as against IS
last week and II last year.
Wheat, including flour, exports for
the week ending August IL aggre-
gated 1,2S4,499 bushels, against l.
S7e,1ss last week. 3,413,191 this week
0SO.67s in 1901. From July L to date
the exports aggregate 7,s46,771 BUSH
els. against 1S,460,444 last year, 25-
3s6.0os in 1902, and 41,456,906 in
1901.
Corn exports for the week aggre-
gated 6s5.2O2 bushels, against 273, 365
last week. 707.387 a year ago, 93,423
in 1902, and 50s,SO7 in 1901 From
aggregate 3,279.111 bushels, against
$4,000 in 1903. 5S7,760 in 1902, and
7,733,22O in 1901.
r. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review
of Trade says.
Moderate improvement in rnidsum-
mer means more than an equivalent
increase at any other season. and the
week is consequently most encour-
aging. Dispatches from all parts of
the country are by no means uniform,
in some cases the outlook showing no
change, while at a few points there
have been setbacks. but on the whole
the progress is unmistakable. Two
labor controversies are particularly
harmful. but others have been set
tied; the Fall River strike is partially
broken and several threatened difficult
ties have been averted.
Despite some injury to spring wheat
the agricultural prospect is very
bright, while higher prices promise
10 neutralize the effect of such loss
in quantities as occurred Interior
buyers have placed liberal fall orders
In the leading dry goods markets and
confidence in a large spring trade is
becoming general The approaching
presidential election is viewed with
more eQuanimity than any other con-
test OF recent years, both in financial
and industrial circles. Net earnings
of the railways are making favorable |
comparisons; gross earnings for JULY
are but "a per cent smaller than in |
1903.
Failures for the week were 222 in |
ehe United States against 174 last
week and SO in Canada compared with |
R2 a year ago