Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-21
WINTRy BLASTS
Has Somewhat Retarded Spring
Trade Movement.
But Heavy Snow Insures Success in
Winter Wheat Sections.
Production Below Demand-Prices
Firm-Transportation Slow.

New York. Feb. 20.-Bradstreet's, to-
morrow. will say OF the state of trade:
Wintry weather has retarded but not
checked spring jobbing trade which,
despite drawbacks, is still far in adj
vance of. a year ago. Retail business
has been more noticeably affected and
buying has been lessened temporarily.
1t has also further accentuated the
vexed transportation problem. The
favorable side of the weather situation
is unquestionably the heavy snow
which has covered the entire surplus
producing winter wheat belt, putting
that plant, temporarily at least, beyond
danger from seasonal changes. Other
developments of the week have been
mostly favorable. Largely as result
of manipulation cotton has passed the
10c mark. Corn, though in increased
supply, is firm, owing to the influence
of excellent export buying and wheat
displays remarka BILE steadineSs, with
prices close up to the best of the year
The price situation, indeed, taken as
q whole, is remarkable one. Country
produce, particularly butter and eggs,
has displayed exceptional strength
while the great majority of staples re-
tain all their old steadineSs except
where further advances are noted as
in the case of cotton goods which are
very strong at the highest prices in
years. Among the metals iron and
steel exhibit the effect of exigent de-
mand in close to the record high prices.
Production still falls below expecta-
tons owing to the fuel shortage, while
inquiry has become rather more active
and foreign material, in the absence of
domestic supplies is increasingly used.
The advance in copper, though claimed
to be largely manipulative, continues.
Stock speculation still betrays lack of
public interest, but prices as a whole
show great steadiness. Collections are
rather better as a whole, ranging from
fair to good the country over.
Reports from the shoe and leather
trade are rather irregular. Massachu-
sets manufacturers report q fairly
good business with shipments in ex-
cess of q year ago, while cold weather
has given a temporary squirt to retail
jobbing trade. Leather is reported
quiet except at the West where con-
siderable sales at full prices are re-
ported by tanners.
Retail more than wholesale trade
has been unfavorably affected by
weather conditions, but demand for
shoes and rubber goods has been bet
ter. Wholesale buyers are reported
more numerous in all leading markets
and Chicago, st. Louis. New York,
Kansas City, Boston and most north
western cities report active inquiry
and increased sales for spring account
with numerous recorders already noted.
Active preparations for a heavy build
ing season are going forward. At
Eastern trade centers the feature is the
continued widespread activity in all
lines of the dry goods jobbing trade.
Consumption still leads production in
the cruder forms of iron and steel.
Chicago notes increased inquiry for
pig iron. but the scarcity of coke has
caused shut downs of numerous fur
naces. The same report comes from
Pittsburg.
Wheat, including flour, exports for
the week ending Feb. 10, aggregate
2,713,792 bushels against 2,s56,439 bush
els in this week a year ago. Corn
exports aggregate 3.739,457 bushels
against 1S30.170 bushels, last week,
and 247,S30 bushels. a year ago.
Spot cotton is not far from &c. above
the lowest price on the present crop
and over 1c higher than the prices
ruling at the beginning of the year
Some large sales of imported cotton
specialties are reported for the spring
of 1904. The advance in the price OF
cotton yarns is reported to have dis
couraged business, but manufacturers
Offering to buy have done a fair bust
ness Wool has been dull and firm on
reports of active employment for mill
machinery and small available stocks
of the raw material.
r. G. Dun &, Co.'S. Weekly Review of
Trade will say, tomorrow: Failures,
this week. in the United States are pa
against 230, last week and $50 the cor
responding week, last year and in
Canada &c against 90 last week and 81
last year.
Canadian trade: Business is quiet at
Halifax and prospects are favorable.
Deep snow is reported at the interior
but at railpoints in the Montreal dis
triet trade is good. Dry goods travellers
are completing excellent spring trips.
Groceries are quiet. but there is brisk
demand for hardware, metals and
paints. Collections are well sustained.
A good volume of business is reported
at Quebec. mon on the road are send
ing III fair orders and payments are UP
10 expectations. Retail trade at Ham
iiton compares favorably with last
years and leading lines of manufacture
are busy. Wholesale trade is steady
and payments fair Future prospects
at Toronto are considered bright. The
weather has been favorable for trade in
heavy dry goods and sales of spring
lines are also heavy. Trade at VAN
couver is reasonably good but collec-
tons a little slow.