Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-20
\. 9. Dun,s REPORT. !
lhs War Has Rssuitsd II ! Remarkable Ex.
pansion 81 Business.

New York, Aug. 19.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'s weekly review Of trade. tomorrow,
will say A war which brought no
shrinkage of business while 1t lasted
has brought with its ending quite re-
markable expansion. Orders and pur-
chases have Increased in nearly all
branches, few as yet being of such ma
ture that they can be attributed to the
material enlargement of trade with
the lately Spanish islands which come
a little later.
1t is odd that the iron industry, while
reporting decline in products. shows
more surprising gain in business than
in any other The demand for finished
products expands remarkably. consid-
ering the enormous orders prior to
July, which crowd some OF the biggest
works until December. Grey forge also
advanced, and Eastern Anthracite and
Southern pig at Chicago have advan-
ced IS cents. There is general adj
vance in the minor metals. copper to
IL cents for lake, lead to 407h and while
tan and tin plates are unchanged, both
are stronger.
SHIPMENTS of boots and shoes in three
weeks of August are the largest ever
known. In spite of general refusal OF
buyers to pay advances asked, pur-
chases are continuous and keep works
busy, many having orders for a month
or two ahead. Leather has slightly
yielded in some grades with scarcely
any buying ahead of necessities, and
hides were a shade lower last week and
have not changed. There appears a
gradual accommodation Of prices OF
materials to the necessities of boot and
shoe distribution.
Such an adjustment is needed in the
wooden industry. for some mills are
closing, and others are selling old
stocks of wool. present orders for goods
not warranting present prices Of mate
4 rial. Yet other mills in equal number
are starting on different lines of goods
and in dress goods. instead of 50 per cent
plain, a large proportion of fancies has
been taken. though a heavy auction
sAle, Just announced, may effect the de-
1vAnd.
N cotton mills also, though few
Nave stopped. quite as many have
started and the demand for staples is
Increasing. and in prints and ginghams
is fairly good. The yielding in cotton
to 5M cents helps the mills and is not
surprising, with present prospects of a
great crop. Wheat has further de-
clined cents in spite of general hold
ing of better grades by farmers which
renders receipts low and visible supply
small beyond pecedents.
Corn exports are gradually declining
and prices are cents lower, rather
larger estimates of yield being now
credited.
Failures for the week have been 15i
in the United States against 233 last
year and II in Canada against 30 last
year.
pun's review will say of Canadian
trade: Canadian trade is fair for the
season and at all points prospects for
the fall are considered bright, with
symptoms of revival in inquiries at
Montreal. Collections are slow at S..
John. with unusual renewing, but fair
at Halifax, good at Quebec and salts
factory at Vancouver Prospects are
excellent at St. John, Quebec, Toronto
and Montreal.
Wholesale busiess is fairly brisk at
Toronto and Hamilton, improving at
Montreal. At Halifax no change APP
pears and at st. John both wholesale
:. and retail trade continue quiet.