The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-12
TARDY DELIVERY,
Erratic Wealth err and Unseason-
ably High Temperatures
All Act as a Bar to the Pro-
greSs of Business.
PRICES ARE HIGHER.
Car Shortage Condition Is Still
i'm an Acute Stage.
Bank Clearings Show a Decline
From Last Year.
PRICES ARE HIGHER.

Trade returns are irregular because of
the cratic weather, unseasonably high
temperature, restricting sales of heavy
weight wearing apparel at some points,
while business is most satisfactory in
colder sections. Freight bIockades
were relieved to some extent but there
is still much complaint of tardy deliv-
cries Mercantile collections are also
more prompt in some sections than 9TH
ers, but there is unanimity regarding
the large amount of forward business
on the books of manufacturing plants
and general confidence in the future
Building operations have been greatly
facilitated at the east by open weather,
maintaining activity in markets for
materials beyond the customary date.
Prices of all commodities declined al
most per cent during December.
Some steel mills are now able to make
deliveries more promptly, because spec
ifcations are less frequent especially
In respect to structural shapes and
few plants are rolling billets in the
structural mills, which relieves the
pressure very much in that department.
Eteel bars for reinforced concrete con-
Etruction are rapidly becoming a lead
ing feature, a single contract for 5000
tons being placed at Chicago. Forward
business in pig iron is very heavy at
Pfttsburg, orders covering the output of
some furnaces for almost the entire
year, prices varying according to the
date of delivery, but sales are not re-
ported at less than $3.50 to $22, valley
furnaces This strength is the more
remarkable because of the unprecedent-
ed rate of output, all monthly records
having been eclipsed in December.
Demand for cotton goods in the pri-
mary markets is somewhat less urgent,
but there is no prospect for lower prices
in the near future owing to the abund-
ance of business on the books of the
mills. Mills are making good profits on
present business, after long period in
which dividends were irregular and the
position. Improvement is noted in wool
en- goods considerable business being
accomplished in the mems wear di-
vision, but this movement is only fairly
started and it is not yet possible to
ascertain the exact status of the mar
ket
Strength and steadiness mark the
course of the market for footwear.
Most New England producers have all
the spring contracts they can convent
emily handle, and buyers are numerous
in the Boston market taking samples
for next fall. JObbers and wholesalers
report large distribution and the only
adverse news comes from retailers who
have large stocks of oVerShoes and rub
Der boots because of the clement wealth
er thus far. Leather is quiet, but prices
are firmly maintained. Tanners of sole
have no surplus stocks on hand and
shoe manufacturers usually buy freely
prevents any weakness in response to
the present dullneSS.
Higher prices have prevailed at the
leading commodity exchanges. In wheat
there was q natural reaction from the
preceding decline as the short account
took profits, and the recovery was car
ried still further in response to reports
from winter wheat states that a sharp |
fall in temporal ure threatened much |
damage from frost because of INSULT |
cient snow covering. Interior arrivals !
rho1c @f =
with 3,995,0S1, and Atlantic coast ex-
ports were only 1, 490, 272 bushels, against |
b,970.s11 in 1906. Cotton was fairly |
steady.
Liabilities of commercial failures thus
far reported for January amounted to
1925, 450, of which 81, 511, 844 were in |
manufacturing, $1,469,319 in trading and |
&2S7 ,2S7 in other commercial lines.
Bradstreet's.
Bradstreet's says:
There are some croSS-currentS n /
trade which prevent generalization. but |
as a whole the situation loses little by |
comparison with preceding years at this |
early stage of the season, The need !
out the country. In wholesale and job |
bling trade spring season activity is not |
marked yet, but it is to be noted that |
q number of lines of cotton have been |
advanced, that eastern shoe manufac-
turing centers are filled with buyers |
looking around, and that shipments Of |
L.
The western centers also bring rather
more buying from country merchants
and some liberal purchases of agricuI-
Gural implements
In Industrial lines previous activity
continues without change. Some few
lines of iron and steel, notably struc-
tural shapes and cast iron pipe, are in
less active request. but other finished |
lines are active, and the market as a
whole is strong. with leading authori- |
ties making optimistic predictions as
- 1T,r1r
ing of prices on far off deliveries is
shown
The car shortage question is still
active, though mild weather helps the
railroads. Special complaint comes
from the northwest, where the fuef |
and grain movement is checked, from |
the Pacific coast, where the supply of |
fuel is scanty; from Oklahoma, where
building in the new cities and towns is
affected by inability to get material.
From the cotton and lumber produc-
ing sections, which complain of the
car shortage affecting shipments.
The money situation is easier in a
few centers. notably the southwest,
where the banks are reported well
supplied with money, but collections
in the northwest are affected by back
ample of the cross-currents affecting
trade settlements. As a whole the
market is firm and higher than a wear
ago at this time The general stu
6AAOA III LIE ACbdAf tId0G Is backward.
that some few lines of wholesale trade
seem to be taking a breathing spell.
but that the heavy sold ahead condi-
ton in most lines guarantees a future
large turn over.
Leather moves freely on past or
ders.
The situation in raw and manufac-
tured textiles is very strong Relative
ly best reports as to current trade
rome from the dry goods lines Heavy
clothing feels the ruling effect of mild
weather. Dress goods are in good