Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-14
OUTLOOK PROMISING.
Bradstreet's Weekly Report Of the
Business Prospect.
Labor Troubles Cloud Present-Good
Crops Assured.

New York, June 13.-Bradstreet's, to-
morrow, will say: Labor troubles cloud
the immediate outlook, but good crop
prospects fairly Well assure future
trade. The anthracite coal strike af-
fects distributive trade in a wide area,
and higher prices for fuel reduce pro-
fits of manufacturers generally through
out the East. AS to the future, only
favorable conditions present them
selves. Crop prospects are little less
than perfect. Confidence in fall trade
seems to be growing. Export business,
notably in manufactured goods, is GER
tainly improving. Cotton goods and
copper, minerals, oils and lumber are
all moving freely. Cereals, provisions
and raw cotton shipments in May were
however. smaller than a year ago. The
rail traffic outlook is apparently of the
best.
Building activity is unimpaired, ex-
cept where labor troubles interfere.
Prices, affected by some modified crop
reports, have strengthened slightly.
Some lines of trade heretofore de-
pressed, notably boots and shoes and
WOODEN goods, are displaying a better
tone, though new business is still mod
crate at the East. The scarcity of hides
keeps prices firm. Shoe shipments are
3 per cent. larger than last week, but
% per cent. less than a year ago.
Farm products strengthened slightly
in price this week. The government
wheat crop report did not meet bear
ish anticipations fully and rain in the
Southwest, coupled with less satisfac-
tory European crop reports, induced
hardening of values and a fractional
advance in that cereal, shared in by
corn and oats. Cotton strengthened
slightly on the report that rain was
much needed.
The feature in the dry goods market
has been the improved recorder bust
ness reported by Eastern and Western
jobbers. A heavy business in brown
cottons for China was done toward the
close of the week and our export bust
ness in cotton goods as whole COM
pares strikingly well with a year ago.
The strength of the raw material held
cotton goods steady. There is talk of
higher prices for Woolen goods. In
ouiry for raw wool is rather better and
stocks of the old clip are closely cur
tailed.
Wheat, including flour, exports for
the week aggregate S,400,314 bushels,
against 4,79I,1 bushels in this week
last year. Corn exports aggregate 94,-
9S1 bushels, against 2,569,254 bushels
last year.
Business failures for the week num-
Der 165 as against 1873 last week.
Cooler weather has quoted Canadian
trade. Toronto reports the retail and
the iobbing trade Quieter for the week.
Staple goods are i'll better demand
from Western buyers, however. I'M
plement manufacturers have orders
ahead for seven months. Strikes are
fewer and old troubles are being set
tied up. Montreal reports export trade
heavy, cotton mills are busy and con-
fidence in a good fall trade is general.
Victoria and Vancouver report large
shipments to the Klondike. A heavy
canning pack is looked for. All Winni-
peg business is good and the fall out
look is promising. Failures for the
week number IL. against II last week
and Il in this week a year ago.