The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-04
Volume of Business in May Was
Below Expectations.
Decrease in Bank CIearings and
Railway Earnings.
FAILURES NUMEROUS
And More Costly Than for Same
Time Last Year.
Topeka Bank CIearings Once
More Show a Gain.

New York, June 4.-Bradstreets says:
Pending clearer view of fixture crop
outturn, general trade and industry is
quiet to the verge of dullness. Crop
prospects have improved in some sec
lions but complaints come from others
so that this situation is as a whole still
irregular. The volume of May business
both at wholesale and retail was disap-
pointing. confirmation of this being
found in decreases in bank clearings
and in railway earnings from a year
ago, while failures were more numerous
though less costly than in recently pre-
ceding months, while showing increases
on a year ago. Iron and steel, bitumin-
Gus coal and cotton manufacturing are
notably quiet for this season of the
year. There are, however, some signs
underlying confidence in future trade
These consist of reports of improved
inquiry for fall goods at some western
southern and eastern points, a rather
better tone in the shoe and leather in
dustry at the east, active buying at
clip and fairly satisfactory report from
the wooden industry, notably that part
dealing with the clothing trade. Col
leciOnS partake of trade irregularity
but are still classable as fair. Prices of
staples show a general sagging ten
dency, part of which is seasonable.
Briefly summed up the situation gener-
ally centers upon the probable Outturn
]
matter is settled most authorities look
for comparative quiet in most lines.
Business failures in the United States
for week ending June number 1874
against 1S4 last week, 157 in the like
week in 1903, 153 in 1902, 1913 in 1901,
and 1874 in 1900. In Canada failures
number 20 for the week against IA last
week and 10 in this week a year ago.
Wheat, including flour exports for the
week ending June 2 aggregate 1884,
/ 20S bushels against 1,132,157 last week,
4 4, 70S, 995 this week last year, 4600,055 in
1 1902 and 6,644, 644 in 1901. From July L,
/ 1903, to date, they aggregated 127, 929,-
us bushels against POS So, SO7 last sea-
son, 253, 499, OO9 in 1902 and 1876, 4S3, S07 in
4 1901.
/ Corn exports for the week aggregate
| 327, 166 bushels, against 233.69 last
week, 1,O12.S a year ago; Sc, 254 in 1902
and 2,455,102 in 1901 From July 1, 1903,
to date they aggregate 50.275,375 bushels
against 62,385,7Z2 last season, 24,492, 90S
in 1902 and 64,010,615 in 1901.
r. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review
/ Interruptions of Industrial progress
! by the holiday, labor conflicts and in
! clement weather again produced q
somewhat unsatisfactory trade Situa-
/ ton, yet the money market is easy
| and accommodation readily obtained
/ in legitimate business channels. LA
| bilities of mercantile failures are com
| parattvely small, indicating that most
| concerns have prepared for a quiet
| season and are able to Withstand a
/ period Of diminished sales and sIardy
/ payments This conservative attitude
| is the fundamentally strong feature of
| the situation and when business re-
| wives there will be no pressure to dis
| pose of heavy stocks of undesira b lie
/ goods. More manufacturing plants
! have reduced hours or wages, and
| several strikes have added to the
| army of unemployed.
No definite change is reported in
On Il c-+r-
being barely maintained and new con
tracts placed with great discrimina-
ton.
the United States are 22O, against 226
| last week, 236 the preceding week,
| and 1872 the corresponding week last
year Failures in Canada number 26,
| against II last week, II the preceding
| week, and "A last year.