The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-04
STEADY PROGRESS
Business lis Moving Forward Says
r. G.. Dun & Co.
All Speculative Excuses Are
Being Avoided.
MAXIMUM is TO COME.
Exceptionally Severe Weather
Has a Retarding Influence.
January Showed Up Better
Than Same Month Last Year.

Weekly Review of Trade says:
Business progresses steadily, al
speculative excuses having been avoid
ed thus far, and the numerous negotia,
tons now pending indicate that the
maximum OF activity is yet to come
Some irregularity in reports for the
Grst month were undoubtedly due tC
exceptionally severe weather. The
weakness of cotton also had a tendency
to check operations at the south. Taken
as a whole, however, results for Janu-
airy were very much better than in the
same month last year, particularly as
TO failures. Distribution of merchandise
Is once more on a liberal scale, trafhC
blockades having disappeared, and IN
many cases large clearance sales nav
ing disposed of burdensome stocks. Col
1ections are still somewhat irregular,
but on the whole there is little cause
for complaint. Few labor disputes are
anterrupting work, although several new
controversies are threatened. Manufac-
turing plants are making the best re-
turns. Iron furnaces and steel mills op-
crate close to their full capacity and
the quarterly report of the leading con-
Germ showed an enormous tonnage OF
business or the books at the end of the
year. despite the fact that the closing
months of 1904 made very good exhibits.
Woolen mills maintain records of activ-
4ty, but there is still much to be de-
sired at cotton plants, and shoe factor
les have only a moderate amount OF
business in sight. Railway earnings for
January were II per cent larger than
a year ago. and foreign commerce at
this port for the last week showed an
increase Of 1915, OS9 in exports and
gain OF $528, 1867 in imports.
Commercial failures this week in
the United States are 259, against 305
last week, 335 the preceding week and
24s the corresponding week last year
Failures in Canada number 3d. against
45 last week, "A the preceding week and
% last year.
Pre- r7-fr
widespread cold weather hampers
trade in nearly all lines. thus retarding
but not entirely checking the opening
OF spring distribution. Except in a few
cases, however, notably transportation
and mining. industry displays rather
less than seasonable interference. tx
cept in a few lines, especially cotton
manufacturing advance business has
been placed with q free hand and the
feeling is none the less strong that
milder weather will usher in wide
spread activity in all lines.
While the situation may be said TO
SAVIOR rather of promise than perform
ance, it is to be noted that the south,
which has been and is suffering from
the depression in cotton, shows rath-
er better tone this week. coincident with
an advance in cotton prices and reports
that the holding of cotton movement
grows rather than lessons. The late
freeze in Florida did much damage to
the fruit and truck crops
Records OF past movement confirm
fairly optimistic reports given in these
columns. January -clearngs are the
largest ever recorded in that month.
though falling behind those of Decem-
Der. The south alone shows smaller
January totals than a year ago. Fail
ures reflect the annual stock takings
and balancing of books in a large num-
Der of failures, but in greatly reduced
liabilities as compared with January
year ago. The south here, too, carries !
the chief burden, in that the entire in
crease in number over q year ago is
reported by that section which also I
shows the largest liabilities of any I
noted here will be very closely watched. /
Railroad earnings for January Will
show a moderate increase in gross re-
ceipts.
Pig iron remains quiet as hereto |
fore reported, but this quiet in the
crude form is not indicative of the
very large business in finished prod /
ucts. said to be of next to record pro- !
portions so far as orders on hand and
specifications coming in can indicate. I
Hardware, while rather quieter, is
in excellent shape, and manufactures
are largely sold ahead. Copper and !
lead are higher on the week.
THE dry goods trades still show /
hesitation in the cotton goods branch /
Wooden goods meet with encouraging [
trade at the leading eastern centers.
Western jObbers note that cold wealth
er restricts buying at large centers, but
a fair business is doing through sales
men. Eastern shoe manufa cturers re-
port fair orders. but shipments are
smaller than d year ago Wool is
quiet but firm. here. London wool
sales prices were good except that
some low grade crossbreds weaken
slightly.
Weather conditions curtail outdoor
activities and especially affect COAL
trade movements. Owing to car con-
gestion shipments are away behind,
and ice in harbors affects the delivery
to vessels. Building activity has been
lessened by recent cold weather and
lumber building material for imme-
diate use are affected thereby. Lum-
Der, however. is strong at primary
points and a large demand at high
prices is looked for.
Business failures for the week end
ing February ? in the United States
number 239 against 22s last week. 216
in the like week in 1904. 20S in 1903,
247 in 1902 and $50 in 1901. In Can
ada, failures for the week number 80 /
against AZ last week and % in this
week a year ago."
Rank CIParfT,Os