The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-03
MOVING FREELY.
Much Activity In Staples as
Well as Holiday Goods.
Between Season Products Are
Finding a Fair Market.
RAILWAYS OVERTAXED
November Earnings Show In
crease of IL Per Cent.
Only Drawback to Business LIS
Lack of Moisture.

New York, Dec. 3.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'s Weekly Review of Trade says:
Holiday goods are moving freely,
and in staple lines there is more activ-
ity, even the products that are be-
tween seasons finding fair market.
Packing and shipping departments are
increasing forces, and traffic conges-
ton at several points indicates that
the growth of business has overtaxed
railway facilities. Earnings of all
roads reporting for November show
an average gain of IL per cent over
last year. Weather conditions have
favored jobbing. and distribution of
heavy Wea ring apparel and also accel-
Grated the marketing of new corn, but
there is not sufficient moisture for win
ter wheat or coke production. A
record breaking yield of cotton is
bringing prices nearer the point at
which normal consumption may be re-
sumed, although there is still much
idle machinery at Fall River. Other
manufacturing news is most crafty
ing, especially regarding the leading
lines. Structural work increases and
car shops are crowded with orders,
while many idle steel mills have re-
sumed. Foreign commerce at this port
for the last week shows an increase of
$2,304,39S in value of imports as COM
pared with last year and a loss of
$2,035,171 in exports.
"Relations between supply and de-
mand in the iron and steel industry
must be largely in favor of the pro-
Queer when quotations advance stead
lily without checking distribution. That
these are not the artificial changes is
evidenced by the movements and con-
tracts running into next year indicate
that the year of 1905 will establish a
remarkable record in this industry.
Increased offerings of native steers
at las by Chicago packers tended to
weaken the tone of the hide market, |
branded varieties resulted |
firmly held and a large advance oc-
Cured in foreign dry hides. Leather |
is stronger, with a better movement |
of sole, and all upper leather is /
sensational advance of cents oc-
Cured in the local market for calf |
skins. Eastern footwear factories are |
reporting samples for next fall. Prices
weight woolens that have been opened
were somewhat disappointing, owing
to the low prices. Although the de-
cline in price of raw cotton will uIti-
storing activity at the mills, the first
effect was to check business, as buy
srs were inclined to look for better
terms.
Commercial failures this week in
he United States are EOS, against 204
asst week, pit the preceding week and
'31 the corresponding week last year.
IN Canada 20, against 80 last week, 27
ne preceding week ana 70 last year" |
Bradstreet's says:
Developments have been mainly ia
-orable. Cooler weather has helped re-
all trade, stimulated recorders from
obbers and improved collections ex-
ept in portions of the south where
folding of cotton is reported. Heavy
Try goods. clothing, shoes, groceries
md hardware note relatively most ac-
ivity. Holiday trade has opened well
md promises a very large aggregate
Breaks in law material have tended to
lnsettle cotton goods, inducing sellers
owaTd conservatism, and prints have
been reduced at leading markets. All
Usual measures of trade volume point |
% a heavy turnover proceeding.
"Clearings, partly because of active /