Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-20
HOLIDAY TRADE
Has Gone Beyond the Most
Sanguine Expectations.
Wholesome Conditions Prevail in
Most Sections Of Our Country.
The Great Drawback Is the Lack of
Coal for Fuel.

New York. Dec. 19.-R G. Dun &
| Cos. Weekly Review of Trade will saw.
tomorrow: Holiday trade has exceed =
ed even the most sanguine expectations
and retail dealings in all staple lines of
| merchandise are we'll sustained with
the better grades of goods in brisk de-
mand. Wholesale conditions prevail i'm
most sections of the country. ALTHOUGH
in parts of the Southwest the season
has fallen behind the average. Even in
these cases reports are encouraging fo..
the future.
industrial plantS are well employed,
orders running far into the future, and
labor controVerAaes are rare. The only
adverse feature fof the situation is the
fact that supplies of fuel are utterly
inadequate, both for household and
manufacturing hses, snow increasing
the delay of deliveries. With exterior
money markets there has been par
tial recovery in prices OF securities
Railway earnings thus far reported for
December exceed last years by AZ per
cent. ana those of 1900 by 10.4 per cent.
Two events of Importance have oc-
CURED in relation to the leading manu-
featuring industry. The United. States
Steel Corporation has greatly extended
its scope by absorbing many outside
plants and desirable railway connec-
tons
The other interesting event was the
announcement Of advanced freight
rates to take effect. Jan. 1. showing an
average increase of about 10 per cent.
on products of iron and steel.
New England producers of boots and
shoes are not seeking new business,
which comes forward moderately in the
form of supplementary orders. The
bulk OF spring contracts have been
placed. and most factories are assured
of steady operation until the end OF
March Forwardings from Boston ex-
ceed preceding weeks. but still fall
short of the corresponding week of
last year. Prices are firmly held but
no further advance is reported. While
shops have much work on hand. buyers
generally anticipate more prompt de-
liz cries of spring goods than they eX-
perienced on fall supplies. reduc-
ton in quotations of leading lines of
hleached cotton stimulated trading.
many buyers having delayed placing
contracts in anticipation of this change
This division Of the textile market is
now in good condition.
In other divisions of the wooden goods
market there is Il fair volume of orders,
in many cases exceeding available OF
ferings. Worsted and yarns are also
firm. while a few grades of raw wool
secured another advance. Heavy ar
| rivals Of silk have not weakened the
tone.
Halifax reports an earlier Christmas
trade than usual, owing to last week
| cold weather Cape Breton coal mines
are exceeding previous records OF pro
duction. but the price of fish is low ana
markets quiet. Wholesale trade at
Montreal grows quiet.
| Holiday trade exceeds previous years
At Toronto. Failures this week, in tne
United States are 261. against 2o?, last
| week. and 2O4 III the preceding week.
ard 265 the corresponding week OF last
wear. and in Canada, Is. against So
| last week. Il in the preceding week ana
| 81 last wear.