Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-25
BRADSTREET'S REPORT.
Holiday Trade Is About All There
Now Is in Business Circles.
FURRY in Iron and Steel-Cotio Rises
Wheat Exports-FaiIures.

New York, Dec N-Bradstreets, Sat
qrday. will say: The arrival Of the holi-
of annual. stock taking have further
checked the volume of wholesale bust
ness. Only filling-in orders are being re-
ceived and trade Is slow. The retail de-
mand for holiday goods has been active.
but 1t is for cheaper grades than in pre-
vious years. In other lines the distribu-
lion OF merchandise has been smaller
at n number of distributing centers
The failures of important banking in
situations at Northwestern cities tend to
unsettle the confidence in commercial and
banking circles. Very few statesmen re-
main on the road. but most of them are
preparing to 20 out within a fortnight
The moderate trade revival which fol-
lowed the last Presidential election has
been disappointing in that aside from the
Christmas demand, business has been
more unsatisfactory for n month past
than at corresponding periods in many
years.
The confidence with which merchants
and manufacturers have been looking
forward to the delayed trade revival
early in February next. is less pro
nounced than it was. and the prospect for
legislation. next spring and summer
looking TO tariff revision. and Congress
sionai anxiety to take charge of affairs
abroad is more than likely TO put off a
permanent revival in business here until
fall.
The shakeup in the iron and steel prices
Is nearly complete. quotations FOR besse-
gotten down TO the level of those FOR
OF her staples.
The break. last week, precipitated spec
rlation in bessemer pig iron and biiiets.
consumption have been made-norc than
800, 900 tons of billets-some of il as low as
sI5 a drop of 81 IA ton The billet pooi
has been patched up nominaiiy. Besse-
fner pig which went off 10 slo-p on the
break and on the prospect of a roadiust-
ment of costs. is hrmer and has sold at
)slI
Anxiety IL felt in the iron and steel
trade as to the uncertainty Of the price
Of Lake ore under the new combination
TO control that staple. A Pitisburg con-
Germ Is shipping 2a@ tons of steel bars to
sheet bars TO the United Kingdom. and
Southern pig iron furnaces report fur-
ther sales in England. Sheet aud I'm
plate bars have sold down 10 siu5b. RaiiS
ere firm at S2i. but that does not show
the shrinkage suffered by billets.
F'reer receipts of cotton tend To cncour-
ge the high crop views and account for
he reaction in price. Lard and pctro-
leum are lower Unchanged quotations
are reported for wheat -four, sugar. pork
q nd coffee. as well as for print cloths. al
though the heavy stocks of the latter are
having a depressing effect on the mar
ket and are likely to cause a restriction
Of the output in the near future. Prices
for hides are higher. as are those Tor
" heat. corn and oats
on the Pacific coast the principal activ-
ity in commercial Hines appears to be In
exports OF wheat ana hour Win Etllrtal
merchandise TO Japan and Central
! merica.
Manufacturers of wool have not opened
heavy weight samples vet. and are not
inclined to buy raw materials except 10
complete orders in hand. In MaSsachu-
setts the mills have booked fair spring
orders. but the industry in Rhode Island
does not appear TO be so well situated
and two large mills expect to shut down
soon.
Exports of wheat flour included As
vvhean from both coasts of the nited
States, this week. were >. i02 bushels.
against > - pn In the week. a year ago.
Exports OF Indian corn. this week. Were
. ~ e01 bushels. compared with i&HH"
in the week. one year ago.
There are 321 failures reported through
ont the United States. this week. II more
than the corresponding week. a year ago