Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-11-21
DUN's TRADE REPORT.
The Prospects for Business Outlook
as Conditions Promise.

| New York. Nov 20.-R. G. Dun &
| Cos. Weekly Review of Trade, tomor-
row, will say: Labor organizations are
| wisely accepting reductions in wages
| without controversy, which removes
one threatening industrial factor, and
| in several branches of business orders
are more numerous, but in the steel
| industry there is little expectation of
| liberal buying until 1904. Construction
| work is decreasing, despite optimistic
reports of more building permits issued
| last month than year ago. Mild
| weather still checks distribution OF
| merchandise usually in brisk demand
at this season, which is reflected in
restricted activity at wooden and wor-
| sted mills and clothing factories. Fail
| ures are numerous and mercantile col
lections only fairly prompt. but the
monetary pressure is being relieved by
! moderate imports of gold, while the
total gold coin and bullion in the vaults
of this government has established a
new high record, over $665, 100000. A
week has passed without any further
material reduction in prices of iron
and steel and sentiment in the trade
favors stability at the present position.
Orders for cotton goods increase
. gradually both for immediate ship
ment and forward delivery, and there
is less disposition on the part of the
purchasers TO secure concessions in
quotations. Trade is by no means ac-
tive, but supplies are low and consum-
ers are beginning to realize that aside
from speculative flurries, the level of
raw cotton prices must continue high.
Stocks are light, and it is becoming
imperative that they be replen!shed
even at high prices. The mills have
no surplus for spot shipment of large
lots and there is growing tendency
to ask advances on contracts for future
delivery. Export inquiries are more
numerous, but actual business is small.
Wooden goods await the stimulus of
lower temperature; meanwhile the tone
is not firm.
Eastern shoe shops have about COM
pleted inventories and are starting on
next seasons business, except where sup
Elementary fall orders claim attention.
Jobbers have large supplies of season;ible
goods as Il rule but wholesalers are more
inclined to keep near actual requirements.
October proved quite as remarkable q
month in respect to foreign commerce as
weekly reports indicated. the feature be-
ing the almost unprecedented outgo of
cotton. OF exports valued at slG0 So 5S,
cotton alone supplied SEQ. 2S3, 412 an amount
only exceeded in one other month in the
nations history-October, 1900 when the
movement was about 0.Oo0 bales larger
but in value the difference was less than
100000. owing TO last months average
price of 10.1 cents a pound. In total value
of both exports and imports this nationa
foreign trade in October far eclpsed all
records, with the single exception of De-
ccmber. 1902 and the margin in favor OF
that month was insignificant.
Liabilities of commercial failures thus
far reported for November, amounted tc
$a.S97,79S of which 1920, 1870 were in man
$5,1lG,Sii in trading and 81, 49,
AZ in other commercial lines. Failures
this week. wer. 249, in the United States
against 2G6. last year, and II in Canada |
compared with "a a year ago.