Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-20
BRADsTREEI's TRADE REPORT.
Cold, Rainy weather Has Affected Some Lines
General Situaii0 Favorable.

New York April 19.-Bradstrcct's.
tomorrow, will say: Cold, rainy wealth
er has been unfavorabe to distributivc
traders. this week, special complaint
coming from the central West and
parts of the Northwest. A similarly
rctarding effect upon crop planting Is
noted at the South, where cotton and
corn cultivation. and termination are
reported from one to two weeks late.
With the exceptions, however. trade
Developments OF the week have been in
, the main favorable. Wheat reports
are unusually good and less Is heard of
lIessian ny damage.
distinctivcly satisfactory feature
has been the apparent averting OF
what bade fair To be a most disastrous
strike in the country'5 leading indus
tries-iron and steel. This would have
been particularly hurtful. because de-
Inand in those industries is active and
prices show aggressive strength.
The current large volume of general
business and the enormous size of the
financial operations now proceeding are
reflected in record breaking clearings
not confined. however. to disputative
Of the country.
Current gross railway earnings CON
tnue favorable, though the ratio Of
gains is not as great as in recently pre-
ccding weeks. Net earnings are very
good, and furnish ample basis for
come excited movements in securities.
In foreign trade the feature Is the
relative disposition occupied by the
agricultural and the manufacturing
Industries now as compared with a
year ago. Practically all of the $50
hno.0n increase in exports for nine
months over a year ago Is accounted
for by increased shipments Of bread
stuffs. cattle. provisions and cotton.
but manufactured goods though going
abroad IN smaller volume than a year
ago. still maintain an active move
mcnt.
There arc few notable changes In
prices. this week. cereals having fiucfult-
81 within narrow range. Rcfnet sugar
Is again higher In sympathy with the fur-
thcr gain iu rswg. AMI cotton has also
gotten back small portion ~ itS recent
loss. Pork prod tets are W nor lower on
~" week. ana tho same ~ true ~ dairy
products. hut hides ana leather are iirnI-
cr. notwithstanding the quict hctw .'u
reasons character ~ business IN the man
ufacturcd shoe trade
The feature ~ tn" iron trade aside from
the continued activity ani aggressive
strength of prices. has been the apparent
breaking away 81 ihe strike clouds which
have m"DaCcd that industry.
fns1ti~factory weather reports. heavy
rains high Winds ard rnld. rctarding the
growth oi vegetation. cnNticd with talk
10 and some actual Clriaiimnut in New
England and al tho South have advanced
cotton. hui The gain has been small. large
rf-t4fF e. tH-u sFHfa rtrsts
The improved tone az cotton goods has
proceeded entirely from ia" curtaIimcnt
talked az bccaus" now business at large
Eastern CtutcrS has been small and The
good trade in Gry goods. early this spring.
At the West y not vet 'f"Ct.d in re-
orders a. the East. Wool has been du;
market hut smaller manufacturers are
buying sornc. Territory woe are in chicf
request but rather more has been done
in Australian wool at Bost on
Bank Clearings aggregate &.hiN.i2i a
totai Of i52 per cent. larger than the
highest previous weekly total recorded
that for tho second week in January of
this YEAR Compared with last week there
IL an increase Of p per cent.
business failures for tho week number
~. aS AGAINST ~. last week. and Isl III
This week. a year ago
Gross railroad earnings Ger February
We're favorable. bat net earnings are even
month rcrort gross earnings of $>i.t5i. iS7
an increase Of Ii PER cent over las
year. Ect earnings amount To s.. 795. -
a gain OF Ill per cent.
Wheat inrludinE -four. shinmcnts for
the week aggregate 5.:W.2i7 bushels
against $S2l.t5l bushels III III" correspond
ing week o. 1910 Corn exports for Va
week aggregate :. l-'6 ini bushels. against
S.l5S7is bushels in This week year ago
Canadian trade conditions improve aS
the season of water navigation approach
-. Largo quantities Of freight are ac-
C;IuIlatiD- at various ports and ship
mcntS promise tu he very heavy. Toronto
reports that trade for the first four
months Of the year Viii heavily exceed
last year. Canadian mtis and factories
are busy On oriCrS. railway building Is
active. lumber operations are large and
, staple goods are firm. while failures arc
few. Canadian banks AT" lending money
In New York Montreal reports business
picking up it.wisc. and the outlook gen
orally Is satisfactory while collections are
much better. Improved weather has
helped business at Halifax and coiicCtnni
are. very good. Failures for the week
number Is as aCaius, p last week. ~ III
this week a year ago. Bank ClCaringS
for the week aggregate $sS9S,ei1. a gain
Of - per cent. over last week and OF IL