The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-13
ABOVE NORMAL.
Business Is More Satisfactory
Than at This Time Last Year.
Confidence in the Future Is the
Ruling Sentiment.
RAILWAY EARNINGS.
Show Gain Of 81 Per Cent
Over 1904.
Real Estate Transfers Heavy
Throughout the Country.


Throughout the Country.
New York, May 13.-Dun & Co.'S
Weekly Review of Trade says:
Unsettled weather still retards re-
tail trade and uneven distribution of
moisture prevents crop prospects from
attaining an ideal position but the
general result is much better than
normal and far more satisfactory than
at this time in 1904. Mercantile pay
ments are fairly prompt money is
easy and abundant while confidence in
the future is the ruling sentiment. The
decline in Wall street to the lowest
average for the sixty most active rail-
way securities since last January has
had no perceptible effect on business
and railroad earnings continue to
make favorable comparison with last
years figures. the early return for
April showing a gain of 81 per cent
Manufacturing activity is undated.
Foreign commerce has again shown
an increase at this port over the same
week last year imports gaining So
106,066. For the first time in many
weeks the comparison as to exports
was unfavOrable, but the decrease was
only $215,353.
Real estate transfers are very heavy
IN all parts of the country and in ad-
dttion to the large amount of building
operations in progress the number
of permits indicate that much more
structural work is contemplated Lit
tie interruption from labor cOntrOver-
sleS IS still cause for qualification.
While the hide market has lost none
of its strength it is less active, but
there is notable scarcity of country
hides which are especially firm.
Failures this week in the United
States are 1877 against 212 last week,
2O4 the preceding week and 236 the
corresponding week last year.
Failures in Canada number 81
against p last week and the pre-
ceding week and % last year.
Bradsreet's Report.
Bradstreet's says: wholesale trade
for fan delivery has been stimulated
by good public and private reports as
to winter wheat but heavy rains or
continually cool weather have inter
1ered with retail trade, except in a
few sections, and unquestionably re-
tarded corn and cotton planting,
which appears to be one to two weeks
late. Spring wheat seeding, however,
has been finished and the increased
acreage, helped by abundant moisture,
has had good start The iron trade
displays increased quiet in the cruder
forms, with price concessions offered.
Buyers display a holding off ten
dency. Finished trade reports are
good because of large orders previ-
ously booked and owing to the re
ceipts Of additional good orders for
rails and structural material. The
building trades, as heretofore, offer an
immense outlet for lumber, hardware
and building material generally. Rail
way tonnage in April fell somewhat
behind March but the gain in earn
ings over April, 1904, is fully 81 per
cent against a gain in March of 1O.3
per cent.
TRADE on the Pacific coast is of a
between seasons character at whole
sale. Reports from the south are
maintained. Eastern trade centers re-
port rather favorably The improve
ment in the cotton goods manufactur-
ing trade is more marked at New
England points.
"The eastern shoe and leather
trades report increased sales at the
higher prices ruling. The wool mar
kets are very high and at the west ex-
element reigns with sales of wool on
the Sleeps back bringing prices 10
cents higher than the eastern level.
The proportions of the advance in raw
material are giving concern to the
manufacturing trade
business failures for the week
ending May II number 1873, against
1913 last week POI in the like week in
1904 1S2 in 1903, 1870 in 1902 and 1872
In 1901. In Canada failures for the
week number Is. as against % last
week and 2 in this week a year ago. -