The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-23
Railroad Earnings Show an In
crease of SO Per Cent.
Wholesale Business is Reported
Fairly Active.
OUTLOOK FAVORABLE.
There Are Evidences of Good
Spring Trade in Sight.
Manufacturing Plants Are
Showing Renewed Activity.

New York, Jan. PR. G. Dun & Co.'S
weekly review of trade says:
Weather conditions have furnished
the chief influences in the general trade
situation. To some extent traffic has
been hindered. especially in the east,
but the latest returns of railway earn
ings for January show an increase of
SO per cent. over 1903. Consumption of
fuel was increased and retail trade in
coal greatly expanded, but no COM
mensurate gain at first hands is re-
ported. owing to the large supplies held
by dealers. Retail distribution of foot
wear and heavy wearing apparel felt
the stimulus. and annual clearance
sales removed Accommodations of dry
goods, millinery, etc.
wholesale business is fairly active.
travelling statesmen sending in about av-
erage orders and iObbing trade is nor
NAL. Manufacturing plants are more
active with little change in quotations
and the outlook for spring trade is con-
sidered favorable. Collections are some
what more prompt. Leading staples
have risen to new maximum prices for
! the crop year. Iron and steel plants
that resumed at the turn of the year
have obtained sufficient business to
continue operating, and thus far the
adjustment of wages has not produced
the theatened. strikes. AS to quota
lions, there is nominaIly no alteration.
1ISOldI DIS InlS new business Keeps
mills active, the situation has improved.
Scrap iron and steel continue firm, and
old rails are the strongest feature. The
| industry is naturally in a most unset
tied condition. owing to the numerous
ana unequal reductions in quotations,
but there is q feeling that with the
easier money market will come a bet
ter demand and more settled conditions.
of scarcely less interest than the alb
normal price of raw cotton is the situa-
| ton TO the size of stock Of ma M
| tured goods Much depends upon the
revival of purchasing. thus far a very
limited amount of new business being
offered. There seems to be no uncer-
tainty regarding the scarcity in first
hands, for there is delay to the few
contracts rendered. Print cloths again
advanced, but otherwise former quota
lions prevail. More new lines of wool
ems were opened at concessions and
simultaneously the London auction sale
produced slightly higher quotations for
raw wool and the situation in this
| branch of textile fabrics is becoming as
complicated as the cotton industry
increased activity and strength is re-
ported in the domestic hide market
Failures this week numbered 1858 in
the United States, against 7265 last year
year ago. y
Bradstreet's says: ~
Confidence in a prosperous spring
trade finds support in an charging vol
western markets, an awakening inter
est at some northwestern centers and
growth even at central western and
eastern markets, where however
weather conditions are a drawback to
the fullest capacity. The strength of
raw cotton is apparently making it
easier to negotiate and place cottons in
eastern markets at the higher level OF
values and manufacturing Of and Job
bling in spots is active; leather sympa-
thizing in larger sales at higher prices
The iron trade is irregular as a
whole and variously regarded, optimis-
tically or the reverse according as the
point of view shifts from crude to fin
ished products or the observer is To-
Gated east or west. The lighter finish
ed products of iron and steel are. how
ever, in pretty good shape, and demand
is better.
Good prices are obtained as a rule.
Pig iron is quieter. Hardware prices
are rather better. Talk of more bust
ness in heavy steel, structural and
whole are backward in placing orders
which are usually relied on to furnish
stability to the trade generally.
Among the other metals, copper and
tin are lower while lead is higher
Lumber and building materials are
naturally rather up at present when
outdoor work is at a minimum, but
the outlook for spring is regarded as
promising.
1.-The shoe leather and allied trades
are in a very strong position the
is getting scarcer and desirable makes
are bringing 1 to- cents more pei
pound"