Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-15
ENORMOUS BUSINESS INCREASE.
Never Before Mas Such Volume Swept 0vsl
Our whole County.


Co.'S. Weekly Review of Trade, tomor-
row. viii say: There is still increase in
all legitimate business and the produc-
tive power OF great industries increases
evening though some OF their stocks
decline. The sharp reaction in specu-
lation, a week ago, in no way affected
the producing capacity of furnaces or
mills. and has been in part recovered.
while the disturbance of business
caused by the formation OF great COM
binations has in large measure
ceased.
1t is not owing to speculation alone
that payments through the chief clear
ing houses have been so per cent
larger than in the same week Of 1892
and 1888 per cent. larger than last
year. New York transactions far ex-
coed those of any previous week ST.
46S, 500, 100 in amount, but outside New
York the clearings were AIS per cent.
larger than in 1898 and 44.6 per cent.
larger than in 1892. The truth Is that
no such expansion in the general bust
ness of the country has ever been seen
before. and if such records only We're
considered there would be ground for
fear that wild passion of trading had
again lifted the whole business commu-
nifty off it's feet. But instead there is
found surprising increase in the chief
industries. Raw silk imports increas-
ed 81 per cent. for eight months of the
fiscal year. over last, hides 40 per cent.
India rubber. 26. tin. 81, and fibres, 10
per cent.
The output of pig iron, April 1, was
y
March l.. with 115,11S tons decrease in
stocks unsold and $500 in warrant
stocks. indicating consumption in
manufacture Of 1.056.043 tons in March.
The haste of 40 other furnaces to get
into operation, has helped to keep
prices of pig quite steady, although
strong, but the demand for finished
product is far from satisfied. Steel
bars rise SO per ton at Pittsburg and
the demand for sheets makes prices
very irregular, with many orders re-
fused.
The Connellsville coke product, 49,
163 tons for the week. surpasSeS all
records, and prices are steady as before
quoted. Lake copper is strong at 1S12
cents, and scarce, and tin went up
swiftly with London, declining only to
25k cents. Shipments of boots and
shoes from the east in two weeks OF
April, Is per cent. more than last year.
Business is increasing though manu-
facturers are again insisting on higher
prices. Rough hemlOck and oil grain
leather are a shade lower. but sole
leather is in heavy demand at the re-
cent advance and Chicago packers
have advanced prices of nearly all
grades of hides shade. In spite OF
some strikes because wages were not
raised as much as hands expected, the
cotton industry has a very good deal
and most of the mills are working sat-
of fine goods makers is proposed. like
isfactorily. A Southern combination
Of fine goods makers is proposed, like
that of Fall River mills, which has
kept prices quite steady of late.
Wooden mills have begun to buy wool
more largely, though at prices much of
their own making but there is improv-
ing demand for goods with light weight
purchases containing surprisingly for
the season. Sales of wool at the three
markets have been 16. 1872 900 pounds. i'll
two weeks, against 1886, 1000. last year.
Wheat advanced about u cent, on
account of injury discovered since April
1, experimenting the government. Elk
ports have been reduced. Atlantic -four
included, amounting to 3,960,3S0 bushels
for two weeks. against 5,285, 1913, last
year, and Pacific to 564,562 bushels.
against 2,093.942 last year, with other
exports S06,377 bushels. Corn is
shade stronger, and in two weeks ex-
ports have been 6,184,693 bushels,
against S,146,6S1. last year. But West
ern receipts of wheat in two weeks
have been $685., SOS bushels. against g.
307, 6S7. last year, which does not indi-
cate that farmers in the great wheat
growing states realize that the crop
has been greatly damaged.
. Imports of foreign goods continue
heavy. Until navigation opens not
much gain can be expected in exports,
but the imports were $12,2ls,00O against
SO, 900 last year
Failures for the week have been 1SS
In the United States, against 254. last
year. and % in Canada, against IS. last
year.