Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-27
UNPRECEDENTED.
Greatest Years Business in the
Country's History.
Holiday Trade Rounded Out a Season
Never Before Experienced.
And Every Indication Points to Con.
tinuance Of Prosperity.

Dec. y, Will say of the state of trade:
Satisfaction with the old and conf
dence in tie new year are the dominat-
ing features as 1902 draws to close.
The enormous holiday trade. exceed
ing in most respects all records. proved
to be fit ing crown to year of almost
unprecedented business and industrial
activity. Additional reports received of
trade distribution for the year confirm
these hitherto given of an enormous
volume of business, modified, it is true,
in some respects by higher cost of ma
terials and wages limiting profits. Re-
ports of results i'm banking circles, this
year are that good profits have been
gained as a result of the comparatively
high and at the same time steady rates
for money.
The holiday spirit has ruled in whole
sale lines, this week. Not only are
spring goods being ordered with free
dom and confidence but prompt de-
livery of the same is being urged.
Advices to Brandstreets from all the
leading centers. except in parts of the
South, indicate increases in the volume
of business this year of at least 10 per
cent in dry goods, 10 to i per cent. in
hardware. lumber, agricultural nipple
ments. clothing, millinery. hats and
caps. and except at the East, in boots
and shoes. Eastern shoe shipments. it
is true, are 81. per cent. less than a
year age, but 1901 showed q gain of i6
per cent. over 1900 and the present sit
uatiOn. even with Eastern manufacture
ers, who, by the way, are in possession
of larger orders than were held q year
ago, is eminently satisfactory. 1t is
true that the advance in leather. which
within the past week has shown some
signs of being resumed has reduced
profits in the last named industry but
the feeling Of confidence which is found
in this trade, leads to expectations of
satisfactory results in the fuure.
Weather conditions the past week
have favored the rubber and foot wear
trades. The covering of snow over the
Writer wheat crop has been increased
and the demand for gas and oil stoves
-is-sti4- said to be far excess of the
supply. Prices of refined oil are nearly
40 per cent. above last year. Textile
trades generally return satisfactory re-
ports. Textile manufacturers note an
increase of from to Is per cent. in cot
ton and wooden yarn output over year
ago. CottOns are rather quiet. except
where accumuIations in bleached
goods have been moved at slight re-
auctions. Raw wool is very strong and
rather more interest is noted in low
grades at loading Centers this week.
Australian adviceS are very bad be-
cause of the drought and great short
age in the production of wool is eX-
pected in that country.
A little more confidence is noted in
the cotton market bull side. Although
the January situation has been some
what relieved there is still reported a
large short interest in that month and
actual cotton Of good spinning quality
is reported quite scarce. The lumber
trade situation is a satisfactory one
and the year closes with prices s. to s.
per 1000 higher than at the opening.
Wheat. including flour, exports for
the week ending Dec. "a, aggregate g.
$50, 4s6 bushels. against 3,256O37 bushels,
last week, and 1921, 543 bushels in this
week. last year. Corn exports aggre-
gate 1.502551 bushels. against 1926 14l
bushels. last week, and i24,3S bushels,
last year.
I'uSHieSS IdiiuteS Ior tiie "eeh cru
ing. Thursday, Dec. %, number 161. as
against 225. last week, and 219 in this
week. last year.
Amcng the great industries, iron and
steel naturally quiet at this season of
the year. still notes the projection into
it of the fuel scarcity affecting produc-
ton of merchant furnaces in the East |
and West. The larger interests which |
control primary sources of fuel, are
however, doing well, and the net reduc- |
ton in output due to the coke trouble |
will be smaller than earlier anticipated. |
The better one noted in the demand, |
last week, still continues. Structural |
iron still leads IN strength and demand. |