Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-14
LIGHT HOLIDAY TRADE.
Business Throughout the Country
Not What It Ought to Be.
Railroads Make Phenomenal Gain Over 1895
in Month OF November.

New York, Dec. l3.-Bradstreets, to-
morrow, will say: With the exception of
the cities in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska
and Minnesota, where the weather has
been mild, the colder weather has stimu-
lated the sales of seasonable merchandise
at nearly all points, only by contrast with
the preceding weeks. Wholesale trade Is
dull, the merchants preferring to reduce
their stocks at the end of the year to make
ready tor their annual inventories.
In the retail lines, particularly in the
holiday specialties. there has been IL
marked increase in demand, thus far, in
some Instances, but not equal to expecta-
tions. Irregularity is shown in mercan-
tile collections. General trade through.
out the country is relatively most salts
factory in the central Mississippi valley
Among the more conspicuous trade fea
lures are the disappointing Christmas
trade at several cities, the smaller volume
of business, except in Christmas goods, at
Chicago, the increased distribution of
heavier textiles, shoes and rubber goods at
st. Louis, and the continued depression
in certain lines at Kansas City, Omaha
weather.
Among the Southern cities a single in
stance of relative improvement is reported,
at Birmingham. Most of the distributing
centers expect an increased demand after
Jan. /. Cotton receipts are unusually
small at almost all Southern points, ex-
cept New Orleans, where they are liberal.
Galveston reports the Christmas trade as
smaller than year ago.
From Seattle advices are received that
the volume of general business is unsatis-
factory. There is apparently no unusual
activity at San Francisco or Portland.
Tacoma exported cargo of lumber to
Australia, Thursday.
In industrial lines, the wooden manu-
facturers report fair orders for dress goods,
at low prices. Philadelphia textile plants
running on full time are those at work on
orders for immediate delivery. Eastern
shoe factories report more orders, but job
bers regard the situation very conserva-
lively. Philadelphia manufacturers of
morocco have begun running on short
time. The COURSE of prices of staples con-
tinues downward. Leather and hides con-
tinue weak and unchanged after the recent
drop. Lumber remains steady without
particular activity, which is true Of rice
and sugar.
The quotations for wheat flour and oats
WILL, las for print cloths, remain unchanged.
Iron and steel continue we'll, but there
appears the regular weekly decrease,
though the reductions, this week, are frao-
tional. There is no likelihood of material
improvement in the demand for iron and
CIR wit hin tho Jar
and furnaces have orders into the new
year. The production remains the highest
on record for month.
The only advances in quotations re-
corded among the more important staples
are for petroleum. coffee aud cotton.
The exports of wheat flour included as
wheat) from both coasts of the United
States, this week, We're 2, 45S, 600 against
1856, 900 in the week. year ago, and
3,217, 900 bushels, two years ago. The ex
ports of Indian corn were 1891, 600
bushels, the largest total for any week
since that ending May 2, 1892. This is
due to the extraordinarily heavy outward
movement at New Orleans.
The bank clearings throughout the
United States, this week, aggregate 81,
1919 900, 900, decrease of 8 per cent. from
last week, an increase of 10 per cent. COM
pared with the second week of December,
1894, an increase of 90 per cent compared
with the corresponding week of 1898, aud
decrease of Ii per cent. compared with
the second week of December. three years
ago.
The November gross railroad earnings
make a surprisingly coed showing, when
the quieter trade and three fewer business
days in November than October are con-
sidered. The total earnings of 12l roads,
with 9S, 5s7 miles of main lire, aggregate
81, 237, 1863 for November a gain of 6. 8 per
cent. over year ago against "A gain in
October of 6.S per cent over year ago,
on considerably larger total value
volume of earnings than November.
The granger roads, coalers, trunk lines
and Pacific roads did relatively better in
November than in October The gain in
the Southern and Central Western road
groups are slightly smaller. The only
group in which ground appears TO have
actually been lost is the Southwestern,
which was uDfavorably affected by de-
crease in the cotton tonnage.
The earnings for the first week of
December point TO a larger movement Of
WIN, OhoCttihS ieiIiuS Oli III Npbtob.
There were more increases and fewer de-
creases of earnings in November than in
October. No coal roads, only two granger
roads and three Southern roads show de- |
creases from November totals, year ago |
November gains over year ago by the ST. |
Paul and New York Central systems are |
larger than in October, in spite of
the smaller November than October earn
ings.
The total earnings of III roads for II |
were s449, 600, 600, gain over
year ago of AS per cent This follows a |
decrease for the ii months of year ago, |
from 1898. of 10.7 per cent
There are 3l3 business failures reported |
the United States, this week, |
with 1888 In the like week of a |
year ago.
Maine Pensions.