Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1904-08-06
In Spite Of The Strikers Confidence Is
Returning.
PROGRESS SEEMS VERY SLOW.
Good Crop Prospects Favorably InfIu-
ence Southern Trade, Which Is Ex-
pected To Prove Excellent Little
Later On.

New York, August 1.-Dun's review
of trade says:
Confidence appears to be returning,
despite large addition to the army
OF unemployed. Labor disturbances
are the most unfavorable factors in
the industrial and commercial situa-
ton at the present time, curtailing
the output of a few much needed pro-
ducts and reducing the demand for all
commodities. Aside from this adverse
influence the situation has improved,
although progress is slow and fire.
quently interrupted. Another week
has put much wheat and cotton beyond
danger and brought other crops near
er maturity. Dealers are providing
for the future a little more freely, and
in several important branches of liz
dustry orders come forward in great
er bulk. Owing to special conditions.
the leading branches of manufacture
do not make uniform progress, COM
plications as to supplies of raw ma
terial making the current situation
particularly puzzling at the textile
mills and shoe shops.
Earnings of the railways thus far
reported for July are only 2.7 per cent
less than last year.
Failures this week numbered 220 in
the United States. against 100 last
year, and Is in Canada, compared
with 10 year ago.
Bradstreet's Review.
More activity is noted at few west
ern centers, but fall trade is slow to
assume form, pending assurance as
to crop results and settlement of ex-
listing industrial disturbances. Crop
conditions are on the whole, favor
able, though irregularity in sections
prevents generalization. Fall inquiries
and shipments of goods are livening
up at the west, and are expected to
become active early in August. The
movement of winter wheat to market
somewhat delayed this year, has be-
gun in earnest. Coincident improve
ment in collections is shown at some
centers, and the demand for money
from the country has increased. The
movement of currency to move the
crops has assumed good proportions
this week.
Advices from some western markets
point to more doing in fall dry goods,
shoes and clothing.
Good crop prospects favorably in
fuence southern trade, which is ex-
pected to prove excellent later on.
Trade at eastern markets is still
rather quiet. Wool is quiet. though
still firm, with medium grades rela-
lively in best demand. On the Paci-
fic coast San Francisco reports a
light trade at present, but a good fall
business is expected. Export bust
ness is affected by war complications.
The salmon pack will be disappoint-
ingly small on the entire Pacific coast.
Unrest in industry is feature of
importance. The meatsstrike has re-
opened at leading western packing
centers, and there is danger of sympa-
,thetic strikes ambroiling railroad en-
ployes. In addition to the 10000 meat
trade strikers, production of print
cloths at Fall River has come to an
almost complete stop owing to the
strike. of $4,000 mill hands against a
reduction. In addition to these trou-
bles, the dullness in anthracite coal
and the .overstocked condition of all
markets renders. serious existing dis
putes between operators and miners.
A general shut down of all mines is
expected to occur next week, involv-
ing the idleness of $4,000 men.