The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
Low Temperature and Injury to
Crops Only Drawbacks.
MILLS AND FURNACES.
Have Resumed Operations In
Considerable Numbers.
Railway Earnings Reflect q
Heavy Traffic In All Sections.

Industrial and commercial progress
is slow, but none the less definite. Low
temperature and some injury to crops
provide the only adverse influence of
the week, and this has little effect upon
manufacturers and traders who have
started to prepare for increased bust
ness Buyers of dry goods, clothing
and millinery are notably active in
placing orders and other staple lines
also feel the effect of gradually ex-
panding confidence. Even if the Off
cial crop estimates of September 1
have to be moderately reduced because
of bad weather since that date, there
is full compensation to growers in the
enhanced prices. and the strength of
securities indicates the faith of the
financial world. Many mills and fur
naces have resumed because of new
orders or adjustment of wage scales,
and prices are steadier in most cases,
with a general advance in footwear.
''It is not unusual to hear fall trade
spoken of as fully equal to last years,
although collections are not as prompt
at several cities. Freight traffic block
at this time in 1908, yet there is occa-
sional complaint, and earnings in Sep
TENDER were so per cent larger than
q year ago
1T is not yet possible to report any
material expansion in the demand for
steel products as result of new price
GSlS- GlSappO1nI1nen mas Deen eX-
perienced by those who looked for an
immediate rush of orders, yet the
business is undoubtedly coming for
ward, several departments preparing
for activity in manner that denotes
great confidence in the future Several
large orders for foundry and forge pig
iron have been placed while other con-
tracts are still pending.
Evidence that buyers are becoming
apprehensive regarding the scarcity of
cotton goods tends to encourage the |
feeling that the mills will soon be |
called upon for liberal shipments. Yet
the present condition of this industry /
IS no stronger. In the wooden division /
there was decided Improvement in /
dress goods, and fair duplicate orders /
were received in other lines. Foot |
wear manufacturers are still receiving i
supplementary orders for late fall
shipment and plants are in full opera
ton, a rule. while producers are Sc
curing slightly higher prices At the
easier terms there has appeared lib
eral demand for Chicago packer hides.
fully 100000 being sold during the
week No recovery in price is noted,
however. and foreign dry hides are
barely steady leather is selling more I
freely. all lines showing Improvement
except glazed kid of which the output
IS being curtailed.
Failures this week amounted to 224
in the United States, against 219 last
year. and q in Canada, against 10 a
year ago"
Bradstreet's says:
while there are diverse movements
I'm domestic and foreign trade, the ten
dency as a whole is for improvement
along conservative lines. Buoyancy in
the stock market, possibly largely
manipulated. and the strength of
cereal prices are factors stimulating
to trade but the advance of the fall
season with cooler weather in some
sections and the prospect of good re-
turns to the agricultural interests de-
CHI -11ear |
yield are all elements tending to en-
courage buying The feeling in many
lines is that as the season advances
and the corn crop situation becomes
clearer the need of additional recorders
will result in a fair volume of trade,
comparing better with fall business a
year ago than did last springs trade
with the corresponding period of 1903.
Railway earnings reflect a heavy traf
fic. roads already reporting indicating
a gain of "a per cent over last August
and the best ever recorded for that
month.
.sTelegrams to Bradstreet's indicate a
fair expansion in western trade. though
buying from the corn growing sections
IS still cautious Trade is brisker at
nearly all Pacific coast points, though
San Francisco wholesale trade is rath-
er smaller than expected Southern
trade advices are best from the section
east of the Mississippi
AT the east. jobbing trade in dry
goods has improved at Boston and
some rush orders for shoes are noted.
but shipments as whole for the year
are per cent behind a year ago. De-
mand for dry goods at New York is
hardly up to seasonable expectations
as yet. though a good business is doing.
Higher prices for spring weight wool
ems are announced, based upon the |
of the raw material, which is
firmly held. with an upward tendency.
the statistical position being a strong
one.
..-rhe iron and steel industry likewise
b. trays irregularity. There is a better
tone in raw materials generally, though
prices are not notably changed. Re
sumptions of finishing mills and fur
naces are numerous, but against this
are to be noted shutdowns of leading
harvesting concerns and car building
interests Reductions in prices of fin
ished steel have brought forth little
new business at the east, but plates
and structural material are reported
-af1frg batter ar the west