Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-26
DUN's REPORT.
A Gradual Return 10 Normal Range Of Prices
Without Usual Heavy Losses.

| New York. May e5-R. g. Dun & Cos
! Weekly Review Of Trade Will say: Tran
sition To a more natural range of prices
after a time Of extraordinary buying,
speculation ana rise, is not wholly de-
lightsome. however ncedful it may be to
business health. But the gradual change,
this year. though welrying. has given
opportunity in various branches 10 avoid
losses. II is nearly SIX months since the
highest prices Of pig iron We're reached,
Nov. - and Of wool, Dec. !, while hides
reached their maximum, Dec. -. leather
ANA iron products. Jan. ~. boots and
shoes. J an. "A. wo"lens. Fen y. and cot
ton and cotton goods. March y. \ de
cline in cotton was rendered sensational
I'm the failure Of the nrm which mad most
strongly resisted il. and Toy some months
hIi led the campaign for high prices. III
The belief that stocks for the rest Of this
YEAR would scarcely meet demands. with
Tie next crop in doubt.
The weakness in wool. as yet not
enough to prompt heavy buying, mas him
Gercd free purchases Of goods without
doubt and there * OF late somewhat more
complaint of cancellations and of slow
collections. But the market Is waiting
rather than unhealthy.
The nominal price Of bcssemer pig is
held without change at Pittsburg ana
without transactions.
sudden ana extensive changes are now
reported in leather and boots and shoes,
apparently resulting from the unNleldlnS
refusal Of many dealers TO place any
thing like their usual orders for the sea
son at prices recently asked. Concessions
are now reported OF pig 10 cents per
pair in leading grades. 1t was doubtless
based in part upon considerable conces-
sions in leather, as II now appears that
substantially all staple grades have been
sold at prices half cent to lt2 cents be
low those recently quoted. the fall aver
aging about 81. per cent. Actual business
By railroad is now larger than in any pre-
ViOus year.
The movement Of breadstuffs has not
materially changed. Atlantic exports Of
wheat. flour included. having been in four
weeks 10 Al. ;97 bushels. against 500, loo
last year: Pacific exports. 319l, ~. against
a3o 7j3 last year, ana exports Of corn, -
OH 6Sl bushels against ~. 267. b62, last year.
Prices have changed very httle the eN-
citemcnt being concentrated upon cotton
Failures for the week have been IN IN
the United States, against az. laSt year.
and 90 in Canada, against To- last year.
r. q. Dun 4 Go. will say Of Canadian
trade: Trade has been somewhat inter-
rupted by the holiday but general condl-
tiOnS show a tendency to improve. q.
John repOrts activity i'll lumber Win
stocks light ana demand good, while Brit
has retarded retail sales of dry goods and
clothing at Montreal, ncceSsltatlnS osHle
renewals of mercantile paper, but no sefl-
Gus embarrassment. Quebec reports gen
eraI business fairly good and up TO eN-
nectations Wholesale trade in hardware
ronto, win groceries and dry goods larry
actiyc Hides are duh but manufacturers
busy Wholesalers report falr business
III Wi1nipeg but collections remain uh-
satisfactory and country retailers lnu
trade uuict Vancouver reports Il SllSht
Enforcement so far as there is any
change but collections are sun SLOW y IS
tnria reports 4 fair wholesale trade IN
groceries and dry goods but collections
are unsatisfactory.