The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-17
Manufacturers Give Evidence of
Much Confidence.
In a Heavy Demand for Their
Products Next Year.
FEWER UNEMPLOYED.
Proportion of Idle Machinery Is
Becoming Smaller.
Railroads Are Ordering Large
Amount of New Equipment.

New York. Dec. 17.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
Manufacturing activity steadily in
creases, testifying to the general con-
hdence in a heavy demand next year
and trading branches of business re-
port seasonabIe conditions. Holiday
goods sell more freely than staples,
but all classes of merchandise are go
ing into larger consumption while it
is the exception when there is COM
plant regarding mercantile conditions.
The proportion of idle machinery Is
growing smaller, and the number of
unemployed less, few labor disputes of
significant dimensions existing outside
of Fall River Low water at most
points still provides the most serious
drawback to fall operation of capacity.
Iron and steel plants are gaining stead
lily, footwear fOrwardingS are running
close to the large figures of last year,
and irregular raw materials supply the
only serious element of uncertainty in
the textile industries. Farm staples
are returnin large profits to pro-
ducers, and foreign trade returns for
November showed very small loss in
exports For the last week at this
port imports were 2,577,36S larger
than in 1903. but exports declined
S2,632,SOO.
Far from meeting with the setback
and steel industry has gone steadily
forward. There is no evidence of in
fiatiOn in the present situation, fuel
shortage increasing the cost of produc-
ton, while orders covering all the
product of some furnaces for the first
quarter of next year, testify to the
faith of consumers. This forward
business is the best feature of the
market.
Railways are beginning to antici-
pate their needs during the early
months of next year, which is one of
the fundamental features of strength
In the present situation. Cars, locOmo-
tives. rails and structural material for
bridges are among the active divisions,
while machinery and tools are Stimu-
lated by orders for big tunnel and
canal construction in addition to Jap
anese orders. Pipe and tube mills are
receiving large orders and construc-
ton work promises to be very heavy
next year which accounts for the rapid
increase in output of material.
Packer hides are steady, but weak
ness has developed in country hides,
and buyers of native steers wait for
concessions. Foreign dry hides are
hrnly held. Leather is less active.
New England footwear manufacturers
have representatives in the western
territory with fall samples and also
soliciting supplementary spring bust
ness, but buyers are not willing to
pay the small advance demanded. In
few exceptional cases lower prices
are now being quoted for cotton goods
but. as a rule, the market has held
Arm
Failures for the week number 276
In the United States, against 1923 last
year, and % in Canada, compared with
20 year ago."
Bradstreet's says today:
Crop and industrial conditions are
mainly favorable, and with seasonable
activity in retail and holiday distribu-
ton In most sections the year is draw
ing to its close with decidedly cheer
full tone pervading most lines of bust
ness The area in winter wheat will not
equal that planted a year ago, and con-
ditions on December 1 were low, but
since the government report was issued
the western drouth has been fairly we'll
broken by rains and snow. Cold weather
has stimulated heavy dry goods. cloth
ing and footwear and helped recorder
business with jobbers east, west and
north. Exceptions to reports of wide
spread activity in holiday distribution
come from the Pacific coast and from
portions of the south. which later re-
ports cotton marketing slower and coll
lections tardier. Plenteous supplies of
cheap money render the holding of
cotton easier than in other years.
Industry as a whole is active, iron
and steel notably so, but building
trades feel seasonable quieting influence
and cotton manufacturing is not active
in all it's branches Railway earnings
for November show gains in gross ex-
ceeding per cent, following an increase
of per cent in 1903. and rendering GER
tain the prospect that the early small
decrease shown in gross receipts for the
calendar year will be turned into an
increase The coke market is very
strong. Bituminous coal feels the ami
mating influence of activity in iron in
sitter prices for that product. Anthra-
cite coal is seasonably active, with %
cents per ton added at retail in sew
eral cities. Lumber is seasonably quiet,