Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-08-30
VERMONT TRADE REPORT.
Bradstreet Tells of Conditions Prevailing
During Last Week.

Bradstreet Tells of Conditions Prevailing
During Last Week.
Inquiry in Vermont through Brad
streets Burlington representative, re-
veals the following conditions: A feat
ure which is quite conspicuous in sec
lions of the state is scarcity of
workmen. In some branches of industry,
particularly in the slate and in the
granite districts, active demand for
products has resulted in full employ
ment of labor and at present sufficient
help is difficult to obtain. The weather
has been warm the past week and more
or less rain has fallen. On the whole,
late crops are looking we'll, pasturage is
good, and those industries which are
general throughout the state, such as
lumber, creamery and agricultural lines,
are in good condition. In Burlington
business Is substantially the same as last
week. There Is good demand for
staples in the Wholesale lines and collec-
tions are good, retail trade is fairly active
and prospects are favorable for both
iobbing and retail trade. Business IN
nearly all branches is very active in
Rutland the marble interests in that
vicinity are tested to their full limit to
fill orders, and the money put in clrcula-
ton through their pay rolls tends
materially to increase the volume of
local trade. Nearly all other lines of
manufacture, consisting of scale works,
mach. ne shops, creamery supplies, etc.,
are busy. la Poultney and Fair Haven,
where is centered the principal slate
business in the state, the quarries and
mills are being tested to full capacity.
There is large demand for roofing slate,
which Is the leading finished product of
Poultney, and stocks are very low. In
Fair Haven the mills are busy in the
manufacture of slate for electrical and
other purposes. Retail lines which are
largely dependent, indirectly, upon the
slate business. are corresponding pros
porous. In st. Johnsbury the scale
works are well employed and other lines
Of manufacture are busy. Retail trade
and collections fair. Business is good at
St. Adams. The weather has been
favorable for the sale of light clothing,
which is manufactured here. Collections
good. Stone cutters and other mechan-
les and laborers are well employed at
Barre. Retail trade as usual. Collec-
lions fair to good. Manufacturing in
terests at Montpelier are active and co.
lections reported fair. At Springfield
business Is very active IN the machine
shops. Collections reported excellent
and retail trade is good. Brattleboro re-
ports business in all lines unchanged
from last week, with collections fair.
Bradstreet's Journal, in summing up
conditions at large. says evidence
multiples that the tide of trade has
turned, and that it is now setting strong
ly In the direction OF an enlarged bust.
ness at steady or higher prices. At the
great Eastern centers distribution is
going forward in as good, if not better,
volume than year ago. A more favor
able view of crop results, continued
good railroad earnings. and the growing
belief that the steel strike will be soon
ended, create renewed confidence. Bank
clearings show gain of , per cent over
last week, of 33 per cent over this week
a year ago and of 10 per cent over 1893.
Net railway earnings for the half year
are II per cent over year ago.