Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-16
THE YEARS REVIEW
Of Commercial and Industrial
Lines by Bradstreets.
A Remarkable Year Of Prosperity in
Trade and Manufacturing.
And Nearly 100000 Operatives Are Rejoic
ing Over Increase Of Wages.

New York. Dec. 15.-Bradstreet' s to-
morrow. will say: General trade III
wholesale and manufacturing lines Is
uuieting down but is undlSturbed pF
The money situation, the influences "l
which have been confined to Specula
tive circles Holiday trade on the
other hand. has been given decided
impetus. and comparisons with the
same periods OF preceding years are
uniformly favorable. little doubt re-
manning, that although retail trade IN
ceasonablp lines has been somewhat
affected in some localities by uhlaNOFa-
bic weather holiday specialties have
enioyed exceptional activity. As re-
CARDS prices it is a notable fact that
as many staples have advanced, TINS
week. as have declined, while by fal
the greater number of quotations have
remained steady and firm.
The strength Of textiles is still Il most
notable feature Of the general situa
zion. cotton goods are heavily sole
ahead by agents. and very large
Spring business has already been book
ed. Raw cotton is firm and unchanged
on the week, partly owing To light re-
CENTS ana to re-atfirmation Of snort
crop estimated by the department Of
aericulture. Manufactured goods,
whore not advanced. are firmly held.
Wool is less active than If late. but
prices are no less firm. and some finer
grades are quotably higher. Wooden
goods share the strength Of the raw
material and silk and its products are
also firmly held.
corn has displayed a specially strong
tone. owing to small receipts and de-
rIeted stocks Provisions have noted
some weakening after the recent ad-
vance, but lard and pork are still hlgh-
or than last week, and hog receipts are
rather smaller than expected. Wheat
has been steady.
In most lines of iron and steel quiri-
ness and firmnesS are CoinCident. Est
mates of production point IL littl" gam
in stocks. and a source Of strength IL
The claim made that Western furnace
capacity for the half IF next year a
least is already booked. Dealings IN
ore have been active.
Hardware remains quite active IN
demand at a number Of markets and
holiday specialties are notably in good
distribution. In other metals there S
considerable irregularity. The open
season, usually not regarded as favor
able in the anthracite coal trade Is,
this year. welcomed because it allows
of unimpeded shipments later than
usual.
In industrial lines the features OF the
week are the numerous advances III
which il is estimated that 1881 600 opa
atives North and South have had. n.
will have. their earnings increased
From Fan River comes report that
Il number Of mills there will soon pro
coed to run night and day, but low
water in many streams is credited
with curtailing the output at some New
England centers.
The present outlook is that 1899 Viii
90 down in industrial history as year
notable for numerous wage advances
ana for exceptionally few strikes ard
lockouts.
Bank clrarines. this week, aggregate
S1.9l2. l@0. 407. falling off of per cent
from last week. but gain Of II pei
cent. over the corresponding week =
year ago and Of 20 per cert. over 1897
business failures number for the
week only 2i0. as compared with 20
last week. and "a in this week yeal
ago
Holiday trade activity is reported al
an markets. At Western markets
whore colder weather has been expert
need. retail distribution Of seasonabl'
goods has been aided.
\ dispatch from charlotte reports
Southern manufacturers as agreeing OF
an advance in cotton yarns. New Or
leans gray trade in December vii
hr"ak all records.
Little Rock reports cotton all pcke'
and - Per cent. of the crop marketed
while south Atlantic cities report con
siderable cotton still held.
Wholesale business is. on the whole
quicter at the East. except in manu-
featured textiles, which are in goo,
can for next spring.
Wheat including -four shipment
for the week aggregate 3,25S, $40 bushels
against G,243 $50 bushels in the core
spending week Of 1899. corn export
for the week aggr, gate 4.O17.1S5 bushels
against 3.251. 936 bushels in this Wee
year ago.
For The first week Of December. - road
report earnings 81 S93it SO. 4 gain If
per cent. over last wear.
Irregular weather conditions nay
affected retail business In the province q
Quebec. Montreal reports improvement
in distribution however, As the result II
colder temperature.
\ haSty review If the years wor
brings only favorable features To view
Toronto reports business active with ,td
Nancin% prices. stimulating purchases
Labor is we'll employed and many t~ctr
H,E iOhf ma 4 y,