The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-10
Consumption Of Iron Has Over
taken the Production.
RAILWAY EARNINGS.
Point to a Six Per Cent Increase
Over Last Year.
Prices Show a Slight Increase
for Past Month.

winter trade account has enlarged at
most markets, the corn crop has pro-
crossed another week toward final ma
turity, which, however, this year is
later than usual. and several industries
hitherto greatly depressed or operating
on short time. have resumed running
full The industrial situation is slight
" less strained than it was and the
beef strike is now ended In iron and
steel past and prospective price reduc-
tions have encouraged inquiry, con-
sumption has finally overtaken pro-
duction and stocks of crude material
are smaller. With the beginning of
the crop movement, which is reason
ably heavy for this period, have come
improved collections and better rail-
way earnings returns. August results
point to a 6 per cent increase in gross
receipts over a year ago. All in ALL
the prospects continue favorable Tor
fairly active trade in most lines but
nothing in the way of record-breaking
is looked for in general business OF III
crop out-turn-
"A fairly good jobbing business has
been done at New York in dry goods,
a slight Improvement is noticed at
Boston and at Philadelphia the dry
goods jobbing trade has opened well.
There is a larger movement or SHOES
from eastern points, more demand for
leather and some scarcity developing
owing to curtailment by tanners
Eastern print cloth manufacturers
are not pushing business at present
prices. The wooden goods trade is not
active as might be expected:
The stubborn strength or prices Is
perhaps the most notable feature in the
entire situation. Bradstreets general
index number shows a very small per-
centage of increase on September over
nd r.
les fruits hides, leather. oils and
breadstuffs showing most strength Inc
general level of prices at present MARKS
an increase of ~ per cent over June,
100. a decrease of S.s per cent from
February. 1900 but gain of q per cent
over the low mark of July, 1888
In iron and steel the features are
the announced reduction made in steel
plates structural materials and wrought
pipe following decreases in wire anu
nails. A fair business has been done IN
steel rails at the west, but very heaVy
tonnage is reported held back IN hopes
that the SIS price will be shaded. These
reductions have certainly caused more
inquiry to be made and in some in
stances. as in the case OF WIRE anu
structural materials new business has
actually materialized- Rather more is
doing in bituminous coal at the west
and while Improvement is still only
tentative there is a tendency to insist
on at least present quotations and no
disposition to follow the market down.
ward
business failures in the United
States in the week ending September
number IA against 1S9 last week, 165
in the like week in 1903, 1877 in 1909, Isl
in 1901 and 167 in 1900.
Failures in Canada for the week
number IA as against Il last week and
L. in this week year ago.
Dun's Review.
r. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of
Trade says:
Holiday influence is calculated to
check distribution of merchandise, but
the past week has brought more en-
couraging results in the business world
and from many points come reports
Of steadily expanding trade, while it is
not exceptional to find. comparisons
with the corresponding week last year
favorable to 1904. Retail trade in fall
lines of dry goods. clothing. millinery
and nearly all wearing apparel shows
a healthy growth. and for hardware,
household utensils and kindred lines
there is a broader demand. The best
development of the week was the re-
sumption of work in many industries
that have suffered through strikes,
while several serious controversies
were averted. Crop progress is better
than average and high prices promise
large profits to the farmers. Railway
freight is heavy. chiefly due to the
marketing of grain and cotton, and
earnings in August were rs per cent.
larger than in 1908. Domestic trade
holds up better than foreign COM
merce. which suffers from prices
above the views of consumers abroad,
vet the last weeks returns for this
port are encouraging. exports 1ncreaS-
ing $736. 1888 in comparison with the
same week last year, while imports
gained $2.57S.S4S.
signs of better conditions in the
leading manufacturing industries null
tiply as the season advances, and the
actual amount of business in sight has
increased very materially. despite the
indisposition of the railways to place
orders freely for rolling stock, rails
and other equipment. At the south
there is still trouble on account of the
bituminous coal miners strike, which
strengthens the coke market Resump-
ton OF work by several prominent
western steel companies provided
more pig iron furnaces in blast
Restoration of more normal condi-
tions in the packing industry has re-
moved some of the artificial strength
from the hide market and poor quail
ties are offered at pronounced con-
cessions- Demand is only fair and
small advance that they ask for dry
hides. Sole leather is dull. with the
exception of union backs, and all di-
visions OF this market feel the effeci
of careful purchases by shoe factories
Yet the finished product goes freely
into consumption, wholesalers asking
for shipment of shoes originally or
dered for October delivery. Conserva.
tism is still the prominent character
istfc of the primary market of cottor
goods. Revival of irregularity in the
raw material again caused reluctance
among both buyers and sellers to an
ticipate further needs. Foreign de
mand still removes considerable sur
plus and would be larger IL quick de
liveries could be made of grades FOL
which there is inquiry. Woolens anC
worsteds are strong and quiet, OLD
business occupying the attention o.
machinery and shipping departments
- ~ - ana ~ . Al
dependent upon the raw material