Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-01-06
BRADSTREET'S VERMONT TRADE
REPORT.

The two or three days Immediately
preceding Christmas were marked
by pronounced trade activity.
Weather conditions had not been par
ticularly favorable for holiday trade
but the snow permitted residents in
the outlying districts to reach the
trade centers and the results will
probably show that the holiday trade
is fully up to the average. Returns
from many sections of the state show
that business is in a normal condition.
AS the end of the year approaches
many business concerns are busy with
inventories and in making such i'm
provements and changes as are need
ed. A slight labor trouble at Rutland
resulted In a strike affecting some five
workmen. This difficulty has been
adjusted and as far as reported there is
now no later disturbance in the state.
Sufficient snow has fallen in the state
to enable lumbermen to operate in
more satisfactory manner and if the
snow remains, lumber business will be
much stimulated as we'll as business in
other lines. Business houses gener-
ally are confidently looking forward
to large business the coming year.
Burlington reports holiday trade to
have been very satisfactory; large
number of buyers from outside have
| x;a To- bA o;f
appear to have no reason for COM
plant on account of the Christmas
trade. Local manufacturing industries
are we'll employed, jubbers are send
ing out the usual amount of goods and
collections are reasonably good. Many
of the granite manufacturers at Barre
and Montpelier are shut down for the
holiday season as business at this sea
son of the year is not very active and
manufacturers have taken advantage
of the situation by making repairs and
such preparations as are required for
an enlarged business which is hoped
for next year. Among the retail
stores the Christmas trade is reported
only fair. Stowe reports retail trade
fair, collections good, manufacturing
business satisfactory. Merchants in
Newport report their sales about the
same as last season with manufactur-
ing interests we'll employed. General
business conditions at st. Adams as
usual; Christmas trade was fair, dry
goods being very good. Bellows Falls
reports manufacturing business as
satisfactory, no one idle who wants
to work, and holiday and general
retail trade good, collections fair.
Business is fairly active at Brattleboro,
retail trade and collections fair. Rut-
land reports manufacturing concerns
to be fully employed, and retail mer-
chants say IChristmas trade has been
very good; general retail trade and
collections satisfactory. The princi
pal business Industries at st. Johns
bury are doing large business and
most merchants report an unusually
good holiday trade. Manufacturing
business at Bennington is fairly en-
ployed. Christmas and general retail
trade good, with collections fair. The
manufacturers of slate of Fair Haven
and vicinity pronounce business very
good; the usual depression in this
branch of industry at this time of year
is not apparent and orders are being
freely received; holiday and general
retail trade about as usual, collections
only fair. January 1st the price of
slate will be advanced in consequence
of increased cost of production caused
by larger wages to workmen and in
creased cost of material used in pro-
cess of manufacture.
Reports of record breaking holi-
day trade, of seasonable quiet in lead
ing wholesale lines, of exceptional
activity at top prices in iron and steel,
of sustained activity in other indus
tries, continued complaints of car and
motive power shortages, and gen.
eral hardening ofspeculative markets
for food products, are the features of
trade advices to Bradstreet's Journal
this week. The year closes with a
cheerfulness of feeling never exceed
ed even of late years, and with ex-
pectations of the new year as bright
as any that have gone before.
Business failures for the week num-
Der 219, as against 262 last week, 213
in this week last year.
Holiday trade in the Dominion has
beenvery large, although mild wealth
er hurt seasonable goods in Quebec.