Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2011
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, Pre-tax amounts:
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, Pre-tax amounts	$ 214	$ 2,110	$ 499
Reclassification adjustment for credit losses recognized in earnings, Pre-tax amounts		313
Net unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities earnings , Pre-tax amounts	214	2,423	499
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, Pre-tax amounts:
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Pre-tax amounts	(381)	(125)	(245)
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in interest expense, Pre-tax amounts	445	164	436
Net unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, Pre-tax amounts	64	39	191
Foreign currency translation, Pre-tax amounts	(183)	(85)	214
Defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, Pre-tax amounts:
Actuarial (losses) gains, arising during the current year, Pre-tax amounts	675	(1,660)	(2,669)
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of actuarial losses, Pre-tax amounts	138	97	114
Reclassification adjustment for settlement losses, Pre-tax amounts	70	107	126
Net defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, Pre-tax amounts	883	(1,456)	(2,429)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Pre-tax amounts	978	921	(1,525)
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, Tax expense/(benefit):
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, Tax expense/(benefit)	88	866	193
Reclassification adjustment for credit losses recognized in earnings, Tax expense/(benefit)		126
Net unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities earnings , Tax expense/(benefit)	88	992	193
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, Tax expense/(benefit):
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, Tax expense/(benefit)	(156)	(51)	(101)
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in interest expense, Tax expense/(benefit)	182	67	177
Net unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, Tax expense/(benefit)	26	16	76
Foreign currency translation, Tax expense/(benefit)
Defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, Tax expense/(benefit)
Actuarial (losses) gains, arising during the current year, Tax expense/(benefit)	276	(678)	(1,094)
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of actuarial losses, Tax expense/(benefit)	56	40	46
Reclassification adjustment for settlement losses, Tax expense/(benefit)	29	44	52
Net defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, Tax expense/(benefit)	361	(594)	(996)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), Tax expense/(benefit)	475	414	(727)
Net income, After-tax amounts	72,900	62,582	68,504
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, After-tax amounts:
Unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities, After-tax amounts	126	1,244	306
Reclassification adjustment for credit losses recognized in earnings, After-tax amounts		187
Net unrealized (losses) gains on auction rate securities earnings, After-tax amounts	126	1,431	306
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, After-tax amounts:
Unrealized gains (losses) arising during the period, After-tax amounts	(225)	(74)	(144)
Reclassification adjustment for loss included in interest expense, After-tax amounts	263	97	259
Net unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps, After-tax amounts	38	23	115
Foreign currency translation, After-tax amounts	(183)	(85)	214
Defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, After-tax amounts:
Actuarial (losses) gains, arising during the current year, After-tax amounts	399	(982)	(1,575)
Reclassification adjustment for amortization of actuarial losses, After-tax amounts	82	57	68
Reclassification adjustment for settlement losses, After-tax amounts	41	63	74
Net defined and postretirement benefit plans adjustments, After-tax amounts	522	(862)	(1,433)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), After-tax amounts	503	507	(798)
Comprehensive income, After-tax amounts	$ 73,403	$ 63,089	$ 67,706