Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-02
BRADSTREET'S.
Floods Have Checked Spring
Trade Conditions.
Eastern Shoe Shipments Are Behind
Last Years Record.
Good Weather's Advent Will tavoraoy
Affect Business.

New York, April 1.-Bradstreet
state Of trade will say, Tomorrow;
Low temperature. heavy rains, bad
roads and Hoods the latter in the Ohiu
and tributary valleys, have checked
sprjng trade, delayed collections, dis
co,,raged Faster demand and closed a
three months period Of rather back
ward business ia the North, East and
West At the West, weather conditions
have been unfavorabIe as for Some
time past. Drygoocs distribution IS be-
hind last year at all leading markets
Textile machinery is not runnig 1ull'
cotton goods demand is backward
from agents and high prices are oar
TO activity Department stores nave
done less than usual in tn" way Oh
spring trade. There is more lie III the
shoe trade at Philadelphia and tanners
are buying more freely OF hldes there
at Boston. Eastern shoe shipments,
however. are 5 per cent. behind laSt
last wear. and March had a rather poor
month in leather in Boston. In all
lines the advent Of good weather. IL IL
hoped, will favorably affect business
The labor disputes and strikes at New
York are Il drag on trade IN lumber,
building materials and builders hard
ware
Bradstrert's Baltimore correspondent
reports that the great confiagration re-
suited In Il % per cent. loss in trade.
because merchants in that city could
not immediately duplicate burned
stocks and buyers We're forced to other
markets. Late trade and recorder
l., lao. h1 nIla,1 hnJyaytr
The unfavorable season has caused
dryeoods trade to fail behind. but shoe
manufacturers ana iobbers are well sit
uated, all things considered.
The iron trade situation looks well
as whole Sales of pig iron are small
er than Of late, recent advances based
On good buying tending to stay buy
ers hands.
The price situation has been irregu-
lar but changes have not been import
ant Cotton has shown most strength,
the government ginning report and
small receipts having more than bal
anced poor trade reports at home and
abroad Wheat has weakened after ir-
regular Quotations. due to better crop
reports and less satisfactory flour
tradU advices. Corn has strengthened
on short covering. reports Of Armour
buying being numerous, and oats are
also higher, with a diScOuraging effect
on export business. Hog products were
firm early. but weakened later on lar
ger hog receipts. Cattle and sheep are
higher on light receipts. Butter has
strengthened this week and sugar slow
~ hardened. Petroleum and tin have
lost slightly. while copper has remain
ed Iirm. The great mass Of commodi-
ties show continued and notable
strength.
business failures for the week end
ing with March 81 number 2l2 against
145 i'm the like week Of 1903.
Easter buying and better weather
conditions have helped Canadian trade.
BlOckades hava been largely lifted al
though some accumlations limit trans
portation facilities. In British Column
bia industry is active and retailers are
buying actively. Building is active in
the larger cities. In Manitoba trade
matters are assuming the normal APP
pearance following the big snow storm
of last week. Retailers are buying and
immigration is large
Failures for the last week of March
number II. against Is in this week n
year ago.