Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-04
BUSINESS CONDITIONS.
Good All Around in Spite Of Strike and
Unfavorabie Weather.


New York, Oct 3.-Rradstreet's s. to-
morrow, will say. The returns of fail
ures, clearings and the other items
bearing upon the results of the three
quarters of the years operations at
hand point to conditions having been
largely favorable. Activity in stock
speculation and comparison with a
period year ago, when deplorable &C.
currences at Buffalo had thrown a
damper upon general business activity,
do not entirely explain the immense
increases shown in widely separated
sections and the only remaining con-
clusion is that unprecedented fall
trade, the moving of larger crops at
higher prices, immense cattle receipts
and unsurpassed industrial activity are
chargeable with the numerous and
heavy gains shown. Failure returns
too are almost entirely favorable, the
number of embarrassments being the
smallest with two exceptions, in 10
years and the liabilities being the
lightest with one exception in 90 years.
Trade kilograms to Bradstreets, this
week, testify to the fall and winter
trade already booked having been eX-
ceptionally good, and crop yields except
in some sections guaranteeing full
volume of business in the remaining
months of this year and the early part
of 1908.
AT the East a large distribution of
dry goods is noted. Hides and leather
are strong and active and shoe manu-
facturers are pretty generally well en-
ployed. Shoe shipments from Massa-
chusetts are much larger than last
week, ard this week. year ago, but
are still 10 per cent. less than last sea-
son. A scarcity of soft coal has be-
come increasingly manifested, TINS
week, and unless supplies increase
some industrial establishments VIII
have to shut down. Collections at the
East are generally classed as good eX-
cept in the coal regions.
Eastern cotton goods manufacturers
report a quiet demand, but this is as
much due to their own unwililnSness
to sell freely ahead as it is to the con-
sumers desire to wait on the raw cot
ton market. Exports of cotton are -
per cent larger than at this time last
season. although prices are fully halt
a cent higher. The strength of the for
eign demand for this staple. in fact
has largely offset the much heavier ana
earlier moving of the crop to market,
The government crop report was more
bulIish than expected. Wooden mills
are well employed both on recorders for
winter trade and as regards spring
business. and large interests are re-
ported to be actively buying wool this
week
the exports, this week, are the larg-
est for Is months. Wheat, including
flour. exports for the week ending oct.
9 aggregate 6,S1051S bushels, against
SOY .O70. last week. Corn exports, H.
423 bushels, against 1882, last week,
and 907. 924 last year.
Business failures for the week end
ing Thursday, Oct. ,, number 15i. as
against IT, last week, and 10 in this
week of last year.
Canadian trade advices continue very
good. Montreal reports a good bust
ness. recorders increasing, failures feW
manufacturers well provided with or
ders up to the end of the year and
shipments of goods to the interior very
large Wheat exports are large. but
much of this is said to be American
grain. which sells relatively lower than
Canadian wheat. Money is rather
tighter here and at Toronto. which also
reports a large business, based on the
increased immigration to the new
Northwest. Large sales of Canadian
wool for import to the United States
are noted. Road traffic is heavy ana
talk of car famine grows.
Bank clearings at Canadian cities for
the nine months exceed those of the
IL he
nine months failures are Is per cent.
fewer i'm number and liabilities are 80
per cent. smaller than a year ago.