The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-08
TRADE KEEPS UP.
Recent Gains Are Being Fully
Maintained Says Dun.
Buyers Are Still Placing Orders
for Spring Delivery.
FREIGHT TRAFFIC BIG.
Railway Earnings in March
Showed Gain of go Per Cent.
Number Of Unemployed Is Stead
lily Decreasing.
FREIGHT TRAFFIC BIG.

New York, April 8.-R- g. Dun & co.
weekly review of trade says:
Recent gains in the volume Of bust
ness are fully maintained but further
Improvement is somewhat retarded by
unfavorable weather in some sections.
Buyers are still arriving at the leading
cities, placing additional spring orders.
and most fall lines that have been open
ed are meeting with an encouraging re-
ception. Despite occasional requests for
extensions, collections are more prompt
Oh the whole.
Manufacturing returns are all that
could be desired, building operations e5r-
banded as the season advances, and
agricultural prospects are better than
normal There is little friction between
ca pitai and labor, most new wage scales
being arranged on the old basis, and in
some cases advances are granted, while
the number of unemployed is steadily
decreasing. Freight traffic is very
heavy some congestion occurring, and
railway earnings in March were 80 per
Gent larger than last year. Foreign
commerce at this port is very heavy,
exports for the last week exceeding the
same week in 1904 by 81 $50, 7O9, while
imports increased S1,975, 296.
again the increase of wages at the
plants of the greatest iron and steel
producer is another tangible evidence
of the improvement of that industry
stantly and 1t is probable that the ton
mage of advance business on the books
now surpasses all previous high water
marks. although there is some discus
sion regarding the low prices at which
come of this business was accepted last
Gall. Railway equipment of all kinds
continues to find steady market and there
Is seasOnable activity in structural steel,
EThile machine shops in all parts of the
country are working at fun capacity.
Increased activity is noted in the
hide market, Improvement is also seen
in leather. New England footwear fac
tories are receiving a. fair volume of
southern contracts FROM western and
southern jObbers, but duplicate spring
orders are scarce Little that is new
has developed in the textile industries.
The cotton situation is somewhat re-
markable, because buyers make little
EFFORT to prepare for the future al
though such scarcity exists in many
lines that not only are premiums paid
FOR prompt delivery, but poorer quality
and short lengths are often accepted
without questioning. More export bus
mess has appeared. and It is evident
that domestic buyers of this class of
goods viii be compelled to resort to
much substitution.
Commercial failures this week in the
United States are 232 against pa last
week, 235 the preceding week and 235
the corresponding week last year. Fail
ures in Canada number % against 81
last week IS the preceding week and
50 last year.
Bradstreet's says:
Trade, grain crop and industrial re-
ports are in the main very favOra Bile
exceptions being noted in the south
where cotton planting is backward and
q reduced acreage is expected, and at q
9eW points in the west, where Indictment
weather and bad roads tend to check
the otherwise full tide of spring activity
Western merchants who earlier in tbs
season bought cOnservatively, are now
bordering freely. Money continues
easy at most points Collections show
improving tendencies, though many
cities report them only fair.
Gross railway earnings for March
indicate a gain OF 9 per cent over a yeal
ego.
Relatively the best reports come
from the great west, the buoyancy OF
Rdvices from which is in marked con
Grast with the same period a year ago
Estimates of the quarters business al
the leading western markets range
from 8 to Is per cent gain over 1904 tbs
heaviest increase being in dry goods
Lumber shoes, paints, glass, clothins
and millinery all show gains over last
year Trade is slower than year age
at the south, but has measurably i'm
proved from the depression existing
earlier in the present year. Uniform
good trade reports come from the Pa
cifc coast. At the east some lines o.
business are very active, but the DRY
goods trade is spotted owing to thu
backness OF demand in some lines o.
cotton and wool. Linen and silks anC
such fabrics are inactive.
Measures of recently past trade and