The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-12
TRADE is BETTER.
Weather Conditions Cause I'M
prOVement in Business.
Increased Activity Noted in the
Iron Market.
RAILROAD EARNINGS.
They Promise Better Than Re-
cent Outlook Warranted.
Special Activity in Agricultural
Implement Lines.
RAILROAD EARNINGS.

New York, March -Bradstreet's
says:
Weather conditions have improved
and with them jobbing trade at leading
western points. Southern spring trade
reports continue good and recent rain
or snow in the southwest, though so
light in some sections as to be of little
service to winter wheat, has brighten
ed wheat reports from that section The
iron trade also shows d gain in activity
and in prices of crude material. Trans
pOrtation matters show improvement
and with them supplies of coke to FUR
naces and shipments Of goods to con-
BumerS. February gross railway earn
fngs as a whole promise to be some
what better than the outlook some time
ago favored. Drawbacks to general
spring trade outlook are found in the
slowness of eastern buyers to take hold
OF spring goods and in serious floods.
Pacific coast trade reports show a
slight Improvement.
THE progress of the season has op-
parently helped the iron and steel mar
kets. Increased activity and 1rmer
prices are noted for the cruder forms,
continuing the large buying by leading
interests last week. Finished products
are also more active and increased bus
mess is reported.
From all over the country come re-
ports of special activity among agri-
cultural implement concerns. Reports
are that the car shortage limits the
ability of shippers to supply increased
demands for coke A disturbing feature
in the iron situation is, however, the
fact that in the absence of any agree
ment as to this years prices, independ-
ent iron ore producers are Offering their
product so cents to 81 a ton below last
years quotations. The eastern shoe
and leather trades show only normal
activity. Chemicals, drugs, glass and
paints are active. Lumber is quiet at
most eastern markets, but Baltimore is
buying largely. Features this week
have been shipments of wheat from
Boston and Galveston to New York to
relieve spectators. At New York dry
goods show little, if any improvement,
but Boston jobbers are doing fairly
well, and at Philadelphia trade is re-
ported equal to a year ago.
Wool is steady on hand-to-mouth
demand by manufacturers, but stocks
are not yet large.
Business failures in the United
States for the week ending with March
10 number 200. against 1875 last week,
176 in the like week in 1903. 224 in 1902.
207 in 1901, aud 100 in 1900.
In Canada failures for the week
number q. as against 10 last week and
20 in the like week a year ago"
r. G. Dun & Co.'S weekly review of
trade SAYS:
More seasonable weather has
brought increased activity in business,
normal conditions existing for the
lISl time lillS year at Illduy pUlllS, anu
there is evidence of an effort to recover
lost ground and prepare for a large
spring trade. Collections are also i'm
proving, and structural operations re-
vive with the higher temDera ture,
stimulating the markets for building
materials and increasing real estate
transfers.
There has been great damage from
floods, although the severe winter had
caused unusual preparations for
troubles of this nature. Manufacturing
returns are favorable as to steel and
footwear, but textile mills are not
active, and further curtailment Of
cotton spinning is probable Traffic
congestion is still bad at some points,
but on the whole the situation has i'm
proved, and railway earnings for Feb
ruary were only Z per cent. less than
last year.
There is much announcement in the
pigiron statistics just issued by the
Iron Age.
THE percentage of idle machinery
steadily decreases, and conditions are
not only much better than seemed pos
sible when the year opened, but some
reports say that the outlook is brighter
than at any time since last spring. The
emily disturbing element pertains to
fuel.
Domestic hides are steadier, no more
sales of January sailing being reported
at bottom prices and some new hides
advanced slightly, while foreign dry
hides continue strong. Leather is quiet,
and weakness has developed in some
sections of the market. Retailers and
5obbers report an improved demand for
seasonable footwear.
Cotton mills are again feeling the
disturbing influence of violent imitation
of the raw material.
Wooden goods are without feature,
but Japan silks are to IL per cent
higher.
Failures this week numbered $50 in
the United States against 239 last year,
and 25 in Canada, as compared with p
a year ago"
HEAVY DECLINE