Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-29
DUN'S REPORT.
Favorable Weather Conditions
Has Greatly Assisted Trade.
Railway Earnings Show Increase and
General Business Is Strong.
Some Textile Troubles Settled, While
Others Still in Progress.

New York, March 28.-R. G.. Dun &
cos. Weekly Review of Trade, tomor-
row. will say: Favorable weather great
" facilitated Easter retail trade, the
volume OF transactions in all lines of
wearing apparel being of exceptional
magnitude. Activity was by no means
restricted to these special lines. how
ever. the general distribution of mer-
chandise exceeding that of previous
seasons, with prices well maintained.
A distinct evidence of the vigor of
legitimate trade is found in the decline
Of only PA per cent. in bank exchanges
at New York. Notwithstanding the fact
that transactions at the Stock Ex-
change were not more than a third of
those in the corresponding week last
year, while at other leading cities clear
ings exhibited a gain of 9.S per cent.
over last year.
Another undeniable indication of eX-
pansion in the nations business is the
increase of 4.G per cent. over last year g
i'm railway earnings for March, while
compared with 1900 the gain amounts
TO l4.4 per cent.
Industrial activity has suffered no
diminution, the Civic Federation ad-
others are in a fair way to reach peace
full termination. Textile mills at the
East are still the center of strife. all
cotton spinners demanding an advance
similar to the one granted by Fall
River manufacturers, although cOndi-
tons are very different.
Demands for an 8-hOur day after
May / by the blast furnace men was
-, H.
and steel industry and this is not caus-
ing much alarm. as an agreement Will
probably be reached during the inter-
vening month. Production is now be-
yond all previous records.
A severe reaction occurred in cotton,
due entirely to excessive speculative
purchases which made the market top
heavy Vigorous operations for the
short account precipitated liquidation
and forced prices downward sharply.
Dispatches from the South endorse
earlier statements of scanty stocks re-
naming, a canvass by the Journal of
Commerce making the stocks at UNI
counted towns 50 per cent. less than
year ago.
Weakness appeared in the cereals
early in the week, when there was
certain unanimity about encouraging
weather reports and increased acreage.
subsequently there was partial recov-
cry. owing to less oh erful news from
Kansas and Oklahoma, but the net re-
suit for the week was a decidedly lower
range of prices
Railroad securities established a new
high price record. Monday for the 60
most active stocks at s1O6.11. Bright
IA l. La,
but there was more support from pro-
fessional operators in a few specialties.
Even the buoyant tone did not attract
liberal buying by outsiders, and total
sales were not half those of the same
day last year.
Failures for the week numbered POS
in the United States, against 206, last
year, and 90 in Canada, against 90, last
year.
Canadan trade-millinery, dry goods
and clothing-are in good demand at
st. John. but many other lines are
rather quiet. Collections are very good
for the season. Halifax reports cloth
ing. dry goods and millinery greatly
stimulated by Easter business. Lum-
bering operations have been retarded
by lack of snow, and the New Found
lard seal catch was also small. Manu-
I'acturers are busy at Hamilton. Whole
sale trade is fairly active at Toronto,
with liberal sorting-up orders for
spring goods. Hardware and metals are
more active than a year ago. and pay
ments are prompt.
Bad roads have made dull trade in
rural districts. but in Quebec the
weather has favored sales of dry goods
millinery and kindred lines Montreal
reports similar conditions and adds
that shoe factories are still busy. while
there is a good export demand for
leather. Trade is active and payments
fair at Winnipeg. but Vancouver re-
ports disappointing conditions. partly
owing to the late season.