The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-12
WHEELS TURN.
Steadily Diminishing Percent
age of Idle Machinery.
Wooden Mills Are Busy Al
though Between Seasons.
RAILWAY EARNINGS
Increased 3.S Per Cent Over
October of Last Year.
Bank CIearIngs Show Consider
able Increase for the Week.

X
Co.'S weekly review of trade says:
sAll measures of trade indicated the
customary loss due to holiday inter
Tuption. but subsequently much of the
deficit was regained. numerous evil
dences of increasing consumption be-
tng seen in the disposition to place or
ders for distant shipment Increased
consumption of pig iron is also sisnln-
cant and in other leading branches Oh
manufacture there is a steadily dimin-
fishing percentage Of idle machinery
Wooden mills are busy despite the fact
that it is between seasons and the raw
wool market Is very strong Foreign
commerce at this port for the last week
shows a decrease of $562,S05 In exports
compared with last years figures. While
imports increased 81. 1854. S91. Receipts of
coffee were a prominent factor in this
gain. Railway earnings in October ex-
Ceeded last years by 3.s per cent
Developments in the leading manu-
featuring industries are about equal to
the most sanguine expectations De-
nand is broadening in a wholesome
manner. large contracts calling for a
heavy tonnage of plates, wire, pipe and
sheets, orders for structural shapes
were heavier than at any previous time
this year and sales OF bars were made
mt 81 above the list prices.
Footwear manufacturers report
satisfactory volume OF supplementary
orders from eastern jobbers for delivery
next year. Quotations are fully main
tanned, and IN some instances some adj
vanceS have occurred. An upward ten
dency is still noted in leather. union
and oak backs being quotably higher
and other tOnnages firmer in tone. Ex-
port sales are still feature, especially
IN Japanese account. Hides are on a
firIner basis, with stocks limited and
offerings small. Foreign dry hides have
sold at a further fractional advance.
Little net change is recorded in the
leading textile industries. Buyers of
cotton goods still operate cautiously,
although sellers are more determined to
secure full prices They claim that
material, and present costs of produc-
ton warrant the quotations demanded
Failures this week numbered 213 in
the United States against 2S3 last year,
and II in Canada compared with 81 a
year ago"
Bradstreet's says:
Interest in the elections and unsea-
tionS have retarded trade, but the
more optimistic outlook as to the future
found reflection later in an enlarge
meIIt of wholesale and tobbing business,
8 firmer tone of prices and more as
sured activity in many leading indus
tries. Official reports of past crop
yields and advices of largely increased
acreages in fall sown crops were can
tributors to the confident feeling. In
addition, reports as to the outlook for
holiday and next springs trade have
proved favorable. Relatively the best
reports to trade and collections have
come from the south, but leading west
ern centers have reported improvement
in recorder business and there is rather
more snap to demand in the east from
jobberS and first hands. Collections
have been rather heavier and money
easy. Railway earnings point to mod
crate gains over the good results of
last fall and a better distribution of
the enlarged business heretofore noted
by the railways. Prices testify to de-
1nand pressing upon supply in a general
level Of quotations close to the highest
record in the past decade.
There has been a shifting of activ
fly from the cruder forms of iron to
the more finished products of the steel
Industry, without, however, any dimln-
ution of the strength of prices of pig
iron, which is fractiOnally higher in all
markets. Indeed, the Discrimination of
sellers to engage heavily ahead into
next year has been a factor in restrain
ing extreme activity in the market for
pig. Other metals are strong, copper
especially so. and something like
scramble for this metal is reported even
at the advance to IA cents. Coal is
more active and bituminous particu-
larry is feeling the improvement. OF
the country's leading products. special
activity is noted this week in iron and
steel, coal. coke. hardware, hides,
leather, groceries. lumber and building
material. the latter two particularly
at the west. Drugs, paints, oil, glass,
whisky. tobacco. live cattle, sheep and
hogs note a full seasonable movement
at generally satisfactory prices. The
advance in leather makes for q small
margin of profit in shoe manufactur-
ing at New England points. Shipments
are large, but still behind a year ago."