The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-11
INCREASING
CONFIDENCE.
Dealers Are Preparing for a
Big Fall Trade.
Still Much Complaint of I'm
reasonable Weather.
RAILWAY EARNINGS.
EARNINGS.
Show Loss of 80 Per Cent Com.
pared With Year Ago.
Interest Now Centers in the
Future of Crops.

New York, June 11.-R- @. Dun q
Co.'S weekly review of trade says;
Current trade conditions are without
change, and collections continue slow
as a rule, but there is growing conf
dence in the future dealers exhibiting
an inclination to prepare for fall and
winter on a larger scale. There is still
much complaint that the weather is
1nseas0na BILE for retail distribution,
and payments are not prompt. Reports
regarding the building trades are al
most uniformly favorable, structural
work increasing as the season advances
and Transporting prospects are brighter
on the lakes. Railway earnings, now
practically complete for April, show "A
loss of only 20 per cent compared with
last year and SurpasS the correspond
ing month of any preceding year. The
decline in the cost of living has con-
tinued without interruption since
March 1.
List prices for iron and steel prod
ucts are maintained in most cases,
mainly because of agreements rather
than the support of consumption. De-
mand is extremely limited. The only
new business of Importance was fur
nished by several large orders for cars
which provide a demand for plates and
p desultory movement of structural
steel for railway bridges and buildings
at Baltimore. Other lines of finished
steel are quiet.
some evidence of weakness is noted
in hides, both domestic and foreign, al
though actual changes in quotations
are small Similar indifference is noted
in the leather market, shoe manufac-
turers operating cautiously. Betting
butts and harness leather are both
about 1 cent lower. Fewer new con-
tracts are received at shoe factories
and the situation is without special
feature
Commercial failures this week in
the United States are 227 against 220
last week, 226 the preceding week,
and 215 the corresponding week last
year. Failures in Canada number 20
against 20 last week, II the preceding
week and IA last year"
Bradstreet's says:
Trade and industries are quiet as
a whole and interest centers largely
on the progress of the crops. This
latter situation is not clearly defined
as vet. and spotted conditions are i'll
evidence, but with the general trend
in the direction of Improvement The
lake strike, though apparently weak
cning, is still detrfme entail to many
lines of business along the northern
border. In portions of Colorado dis
orders growing out of unionistic
troubles have affected business, but
the situation is apparently on the
mend. Railway earnings reflect the
smaller movement of business in Nav
in a decrease of 81 per cent. from a
year ago. With lower prices there has
come an expansion of export trade in
number of manufactured lines,
notably iron and steel, leather and
lumber, but foreign demand for our
cereals shows no improvements
Dry goods are slow of sale at Bos-
ton. New York and Philadelphia The
textile industries are rather quiet.
Wool is firmer because old stocks
are practically exhausted, and the
new wool bought at the west costs
more Boston reports improved re :
order demand for shoes for summer.
especial activity being shown in russ
lines. Leather is rather firmer at the
east and buff hides have advanced.
Philadelphia reports bushes in Iurn-
her 20 per cent. behind last year.
The iron trade as a whole is verv
duH. production is being curtailed
but stocks increased during NAV
Holders show little disposition to fol
low the market downward