Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-04-25
DUN'S REPORT.
Trade veryPromptly Responds
to Better Weather.
Labor Problems Being Solved and
Stimulation Is Very General.
Cotton Manufacturers Still Behind
Canadian Trade Fair.

New York, April PAR. G. Dun &
Co.'S. Weekly Review of Trade will say,
tomorrow: Trade responded promptly
to better weather in many sections of
the country. notable activity appearing
in seasonable lines of wearing apparel,
yet wholesalers report conservatism as
compared with earlier months, this
year. although business is more active
than it was year ago. Outdoor work
is vigorously prosecuted agricultural
communities endeavoring to make up
lost time. and structural undertakings
call for large quantities of lumber and
building materials, sustaining quota
ltions. Labor problems are being solv-
ed with encouraging celebrity; threat
ened coal troubles reaching a prompt
settlement, bridge workers resuming in
large numbers, textile controversies
failing to spread as was feared, while
many transportation companies have
made concessions and prevented any
interruption to traffic.
While dry goods markets have en-
joyed a better spot demand because of
fine weather conditions at the leading
textile mills have not materially i'm
proved
New England manufacturers of boots
and shoes report a seasonable lack of
new business. and further contracts
from jobbers are not expected during
the next fortnight.
Prices are firmly held and the local
johbing trade has improved. Wholesale
dealers report a great demand for pa
tent and enamel leather shoes.
Soft roads and activity on the farm
have restricted the marketing of old
wheat, yet Western receipts for the
week aggregated 1,SS4,194 bushels,
against l,475,172 bushels a year ago.
Shipments abroad have not reached the
volume that was promised by reports
of engagements, exports, including
flour. being only 1854, 225 bushels, COM
pared with 4,041 GA last year. Quiet
conditions prevail in corn, receipts of
1.574,SS4 bushels comparing with 1894,
479 bushels in 1902, while Atlantic ex-
ports were ,493, 1888 bushels against &c.
231 bushels year ago. Cotton declin-
ed and recovered, weakness following
increased port receipts and reduced eX-
ports, while there was strength on fur
Their delay to plantation work and an
over-sold speculative market.
Liabilities of commercial failures thus
far reported for April aggregate $780,
299, pa, of which IS, Isl, 205 We're in man.
ufacturing, $3,943136 in trading and |
$685. 1913 in other commercial lines. Fail |
ures, this week, were 166 in the United |
States against PIP, last year, and Is in |
Canada compared with Is a year ago. |
Canadian trade: Jobbers report trade |
still somewhat slow at st. John, al |
though there is some improvement over |
last week. but opening of river navi |
cation does not appear to have provided |
the customary stimulus. Retail trade |
is active. with encouraging indications |
for summer business. Wholesale trade |
at Toronto is active and the outlook |
favorable. Groceries sell freely and |
hardware is in demand while remit |
tances are prompt. Quebec reports sat |
isfactory trade conditions, with shoe |
manufactures especially busy and col |
lections up to the mark.
River navigation is fairly open at |
Montreal and sea vessels are expected |
soon. Output of butter and cheese is /
unusually heavy and exports will sur |
pass all records. Collections are fair |
at Vancouver and a slight improve |
ment is reported in the business situa- |
ton, although local trade in the city |
is hampered by the strike of railway |
employees.