The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-29
Retail Trade LIS Better i'm the
West and South.
Approaching Election Has q
Slight Effect on Business.
RAILWAY EARNINGS.
Show a Gain Of Six Per Cent
Over Last October.
Failures Show Decline from
Last Week and Last Year.

New York, Oct. 2s-Bradstreet's says:
Cooler weather has helped retail trade
Mt the west and south. This is reflect
ed in some recorder business from job
bers and wholesalers. whose trade,
while steady, and better than last year
at this date. is not entirely up to ex-
pectations. This is possibly due in a
measure to the close proximity of cleo
kion, which is credited in a few reports
with holding back some business. The
industries give quite SatiSfactory-re re-
ports. iron in its cruder forms leading,
with active demand at advancing
prices. Seasonable conditions help the
coal industry but lack OF water in the
poke regions and the same trouble in
Eastern streams tends to restrict some
manufacturing operations
collections as a whole are claSsed
ms good, being relatively best at the
south.
Railway earnings for the first half
of october Will run over per cent
ahead of those of 1908.
There will appear unmistakable
signs that caution and conservatism
have not lost their value as yet, and
that these qualities still weigh the ten
dency toward optimism noted in re-
gently preceding weeks.
Features in this weeks dispatches
are good reports from leading western
centers as to retail trade. Settled cold
weather is needed at the east to slim
Hlate fall distribution at retail East
ern shoe manufacturers are well en-
ployed on late fail orders. Leather is
hrmer and some upper leather has been
advanced One-twenty-sixth per pound.
Eastern shoe shipments show a gain
of per cent over this week year
ago, but are per cent behind for the
year. Boston reports demand for cot
ton goods at first hands retarded by
the recent drop in raw material. Wool
en- goods have not sold as well as eX-
pected. Raw wool is less active at the
east, but firmly held for what supplies
are available. Anthracite coal is in
rather better shape. Bituminous is also
picking up.
Lumber is fairly active at all west
ern points; there is more building of all
kinds contemplated and white pine dis
plays more strength 1t is also improv-
sng at leading southern markets. but
shows no special stimulus at leading
eastern cities
-@The pig iron market displays notable
strength. Activity is not confined en-
Iirely to the cruder forms. although
finding its chief exhibition therein.
Bars, plates and structural material
are more active at the west and hard
ware dealers and manufacturers note
special activity in this line. Other
metals, notably copper and lead, tend
higher.
Business failures in the United
States for the week ending October %
number $50, against 227 last week; 217
m the like week in 1903; 1874 in 1902: 172
IN seo1s and 165 in 1900. In Canada fail
ureS foT%the week number %, as against
- last week and 25 in this week a year
ago"
r. G. Dun & Co.'S Weekly Review of
Trade says:
Mild weather early in the week
checked the distribution of seasonable
goods, but had a permanent value in
Facilitating the harvesting of cotton and
late grain. Subsequently, the tempera-
rure fell, restoring retail trade in wear
ing apparel, fuel and similar products
TO greater activity than was exper-
aenced a year ago. Building operations
are active, strengthening the markets
for lumber and materials. Manufacture
ing plants are making steady gains
particularly in the leading industries
and it is significant that reluctance to
do business has shifted from buyers to
sellers, eliminatin largely the conces-
S1ons in prices that prevented stability
Labor is unusually well employed, judg-
ing by the official compilation of the
unions Railway freight blockades
cause some complaint. which is remark
able. in view of the restricted grain
movements. and earnings in the three
weeks of October We're 90 per cent
larger than in 1903 Foreign commences
at this port for the last week exceeded
the same period a year ago by 81, 5S9. re. 1
in value of exports, and S1014 S61 IN
imports.
''In the iron and steel industry new
cars and ships are requiring very large
NoHldsS OF plates. especially every de-
partment except steel rails has aroused
from the dull and depressed condition
so long prevalent. Improvement is
emphasized by the large orders for pig
IRON, which have caused a moderate
advance IN prices of Bessemer and
gray forge, as well as foundry. and
there is less readiness to accept long
term contracts at current rates. Coke
Is strong for the double reason that an
increased demand comes simultaneous /
~ with reduced output, because of a !
short water supply
Textile manufacturing returns are
again irregular, owing to the fact that /
expectations Of increased activity in !
cotton goods were not realized. Emil /
nently satisfactory reports come from,
the wooden industry. several lines be-
Ing quoted higher, and the outlook is
most favorable, except for the limited
offerings of raw material.
Demand for domestic hides in |
western markets continues sufficient to
absorb all offerings, fully maintaining
and in some instances caus-
ing advances After a long period of |
dizziness there has occurred a general |
advance of a small fraction in foreign |
dry hides. Footwear orders for spring |
delivery continue to come forward.
place tardy contracts, while eastern |
and southern jobbers added to their |
purchases. Conditions throughout
this industry are better than at any
previous time this year.
Failures this week mum bered 233 in |
the United States. against 253 last year |
and % in Canada, compared with 10 |
a year ago.
Bank Clearings.
New York. Oct. 2s.-The following |
table, compiled by Bradstreet, shows /