The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-20
Buying Movement Is Retarded
by Price Disturbance.
Revision of Quotations Causes
Some INDIGESTION.
EARNINGS
Show Slight Gain Over Same
Week Last Year.
This Is an Improvement Over
Recent Conditions.

New York, Aug. 20.-Bradstreet's says:
Conservatism rules the buying move
ment. which. while gaining in force at
some leading markets. still lacks the
snap shown in former years at this
time. The lateness of the crop season
reports Of wheat and cotton crop de-
terioration, fortified by continued wheat
price advances and revisions of quota
tons, notably in iron and steel and
cotton goods, breeds a feeling of indie
cision. Cotton goods buying at first
hands is rather backward and does not
readily respond to reductions In bleach-
ed goods. There is, however, more do
ing in Jobbing circles and the tone OF
that trade is better than for some time
past.
Wool is steady and rather frmer on
a. quiet buying movement. WOODEN
goods are in fair inquiry but h higher
basis of cost is a bar to fullest level
opment in this line. The scarcity OF
hides has caused the shutdown of a
number of tanneries. and the strength
of the market is shown in leather quo
t~ations, half a cent per pound higher
than a month ago. A wholesale cut in
steel prices particularly in wire and
nails has been and existing
pools in some products, notably struc-
tural material and plates are reported
shaky. Uncertainty as to how far the
cuts will go restricts buying.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending August is number
203 against 167 last week, 166 in the ike
week in 1903. 1S1 in 1902. 1S1 in 1901 and
1855 in 1900. In Canada failures for the
week number %. as against $50 last
week and Ia in this week a year ago.
Wheat, including four exports for
the week ending August is aggregate
1.7O3.047 bushels against 1,2S1,399 last
week. 2,3T2.7 S9 this week last yeaH
From July 1 to date the exports aggre-
gated 9.549, SIS bushels against p, S33, 23S
last year. 31.340. 767 in 1902.
Corn exports for the week aggregate
$50, 262 bushels against SOS, 220 last week,
60e, 45 q year ago.. From July 1 to date
the exports of 3~.7Ss.4IS bushels against
Dun's Weekly Review of Trade says:
Trade has been somewhat unsettled by
sensational events in the wheat mar
ket and the lack of harmony between
labor and capital. 1t is becoming evil
lent tina m OF the wheat crop
must be reduced although other agri-
cultural news Is much better Insofar
as the purchasing power of the FARMER
is concerned, prices have risen SO
sharply tina any loss in quantity prom
fses to be made up. Some disappQint-
ment is felt by those VIII counted on
an early resumption of activity in
building operations and other industries
hampered by b controversies
Otherwise news of the week has con-
tanned much of an encouraging nature.
II several manufacturing lines there is
less idle machinery and visiting retail
buyers have stimulated jobbing trade
and especially in dry goods and kind
red lines Railway earnings this far
reported for the first week of August
show a small gain of Ia per cent as
compared with last years figures,
whereas recent preceding weeks showed
more or less loss in comparison with
1903.
Failure this week numbered 226 in
the United States against 23S last year
and "A in Canada compared with s a
year ago..