The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-04
Business Conditions Improved
By Cooler v Gather.
Greater Advances Prevented By
Lack Of Transportation.
SCARCITY OF LABOR
Retards Operations in the South
and West.
These Sections More Prosperous
Than Ever Before.

New York, Nov. Ar. G. Dun &
Co.'s Weekly Review of Trade says;
Cooler weather in most sections Of
the country has stimulated retail de-
nand for seasonabIe merchandise, inn
proving the tone of business where
there had been more or less irregular
ity. but reports are still somewhat
mixed as to collections. Supplement
tary orders are coming to the primary
markets for wearing apparel and in
many cases shipments would show
still larger gains over the same time
last year If transporting facilities were
better. The car shortage is an increas-
ingly disturbing element. There is
still a very close comparison of rail-
way earnings. which were only g per
! cent larger than in October, 1904 In
dustrial conditions are little disturbed
by labor controversies, although sew
eral important questions are under
discussion. Thus far work is scarcely
interrupted and more cases of ad-
vances in wages are reported At the
south and west the scarcity Of labor
retards operations. yet those sections
are more prosperous than ever before,
and quarantine restrictions no longer
interfere in the New Orleans district.
Leading branches of manufacture
make good progress, most mills and
factories having orders for more re-
mote delivery than is customary, ana
especially favorable are -four mills. 1t
is no longer cause for comment when
new records of output are established,
as this has become the rule rather
than the exception. Failure returns
were very favorable in october, Ia
biIities falling So per cent behind last
years. For the first time in recent weeks
exports from this port declined ma
terially in comparison with the same
week of 1904, the adverse balance
amounting to S4,843,103. Imports
were S1,943,O25. Finished steel bush
ness is still coming forward, a large
tonnage of structural shapes now
pending and the situation viii ind lit
tie relief in the starting Of several new
plants because their output mas al
ready been sold far ahead.
Forward business in hides during
the past week attained enormous pro-
portions, transactions at chicago ana
Missouri river points reaching IuIly
100000 hides.
New England shops are we'll sup
piled with old orders to assure opera
ton for the balance Of the year and
when the time comes that JODDerS
raust replenfsh stocks, It is the general
opinion that new quotations will be ac-
cepted.
Commercial failures this week in the
United States are 202 against 30 last
week, 233 the preceding week and 2Z9
the corresponding week last year. Fail
Ilres in Canada number "a against q
last week, So the preceding week and
q last year..
Bradstreet's.
Bradstreets says:
Colder weather has further stimu-
lated trade west and north, while higher
cotton prices and practically the lift
ing OF all guarantees have helped
southern demand and collections. job
bling business continues in usual vol
ume for this season of the year and
holiday specialties show increased call.
Spring demands are looming up in a
number of lines, apparently fore
shadowing a shorter betWeen-seasOns
period than usual Industry gen
orally shows unprecedented activ-
ity, with iron and steel a noticeable
leader. followed by shoe and textile
manufacturing. The building trades,
and therefore the demand for lumber
and other materials, show unexampled
movement for this season. Although
the congestion in railway matters has
been relieved at some points, notably
at lake and rail centers, complaints as
to car shortages affecting the movement
of grain and collections come from the
northwest. Coal and coke movement
is menaced in the central west. and the
lumber movement in the Pacific north
west is hampered. Collections generally
are freer and there are signs of the
return movement from the country OF
currency balancing the outgO. Labor
is occupied as rarely if ever before al
this season, fear Of cotton mill strikes
has faded and reports from factories
1u widely separated sections are that
they are running to their fullest capac-
ity.
= All the measures of trade volume
point to record totals in business opera
lions, with a minimum of friction in
the shape OF enbarrassments. Failure
liabilities reflect the effects Of sporadic
foolish, or worse banking methods
rather than structural weakness in gen
eral business. The outlook generally
is an optimistic one and indicative OF
marked activity the coming winter.
business failures in the United
States for the week ending Nov. , num-
Der $50, against 17S last week 200 In
the like week of 1904, 216 in 1903 las
"a 1902. and 191 in 1891. In Canada fail
ures for the week number g. against