The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-26
Trade in Holiday Goods Already
Is Underway.
MuchCOnfidence Felt as to Trade
in Spring Fabrics.
HARDWARE ACTIVITY.
Indicating the Approach or a
Busy Season of Building.
Some Orders from Abroad for
Steel Rails Coming In.

New York, Nov. 26.-Bradstreet's
says:
cold weather is needed to move re-
tail stocks of winter clothing, dry
goods and shoes, recorders for which
from jobbers are not brisk. On the
other hand, the trade in holiday goods
has begun well, and good feeling as re-
CARDS this line is coupled with conf
dence as to trade in spring fabrics,
which is proceeding better than a year
ago. Manufacturing industry is active
In most lines the country over, winter
employment in the iron and allied
trades is assured, and labor is better
employed than a year ago at this date.
Holding by farmers is credited with at
fecting collections at several southern
points. but, as a whole, payments are
better than a year ago.
1.-The strength of manufactured pro-
ducts is notable. Iron and steel have
been active and strong in all lines. Pig
iron shows a few advances on last
week, foundry iron noting gains of 90
cents per ton. Other grades are I'M
changed; old material and scrap are
strong and higher. Finished products
have been held at the recent advances
which appear to be freely paid. A fur
ther advance of wire goods is looked
connection with the iron trade is the
activity in and strength of hardware
In all markets. Both shelf and heavy
material is reported selling freely. A
notable feature in the heavier lines
this week was the free buying of bridge
material by railroads. These companies
are also buying cars freely, and plates
feel this influence, and also the reports
of improved conditions in the shipbuild-
tng trades. Lake builders are reported
TO have six months orders ahead. Some
orders for rails from abroad are noted
Prices in England are advancing, but
American sales beyond January L are
not thought to be heavy. All the other
metals are strong. and copper, lead and
tin show only slight advances on the
week.
THE strength of leather and hides,
with the constant slight accessions in
shoe material, make the situation in
the shoe trade interesting. Some good
sales for spring are reported. but the
advances of to Is cents per pair at
Chicago retard spring sales. At the
east prices of shoes tend up, forced by
the advance in leather.
Business failures in the United
States for the week ending November
"a number 1913, against 100 last week.
167 in the like week in 1908, 1872 in 1902
1S9 in 1901 and 1S4 in 1900.
In Canada failures for the week
number 81, as against "A last week and
13 in this week a year ago."
R. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of
Trade says:
Retail and jobbing trade was retard-
ed by unseasonably mild weather and
the interruption of another holiday, but
manufacturers extend operations as
confidence is strengthened by the re-
ceipt of larger contracts for future de-
livery and many inquiries that promise
to mature in something more tangible.
Postponed orders of all kinds are being
placed, reports from every prominent
industry indicating that idle mills are
reopening and the number of operatives
gradually increasing. Cotton spinning
makes the slOwest progress but the
statistical position steadily improves as
stocks of goods diminish and the raw
material declines nearer the point at
which the mills can operate profitably.
Other textile lines footwear and prac-
tically all branches of the iron and
steel industry are gaining steadily.
Some delay is noted in the movement
of freight, while railway returns for
November thus far show a gain of so
per cent over last years gross earnings.
Foreign trade at this port for the last
week exceeds that of a year ago by
e, 432, 1854 in value of merchandise ex-
ports and 81. $50, 800 in imports.
Improvement in the iron and steel
industry continues, orders coming for
ward with increasing freedom, despite
the upward trend of prices. Practical
~ all lines of standard shapes are on
higher level except steel rails and there
is less agitation for a reduction from
the list price of SIS for these. Each
week brings out more business from the
railways, several orders of large tom
mage having appeared in all leading di-
visions. The return of freight block
AIDES has materialized many deferred
orders for cars, and locomotive shops
are all busy once more. Steel mills are
resuming at a rate that promises full
operation in a few months. Wire and
kindred products are in brisk demand
and even structural material is awak-
ening from & protracted period of
1ethargy caused by labor interruptions
IN the building trades and economical
operation of the railways in. respect to
new bridges, track elevations etc. Blast
furnaces are producing larger quanti
ties of pig iron, although the movement
of fuel is not as prompt as desired be-
cause of water supply and transporta-
ton shortages.
Prices of wool are fully maintained
at recent advances, the eastern markets
ruling quiet because OF timid offerings
rather than any slackening of demand.
WOolen mills are actively engaged, the
only cause for complaint being the
price of raw material.
Failures this week numbered 205 in
the United States against 25S last year
and in Canada 49, compared with IA
year ago"
Bank Clearings.