Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-11
Dun's Report Speaks Of
Trade Conditions.
Weather Still Unsuitable for
Retail Distribution.
Dealers Show inclination to Prepare
For Fall and Winter on Large Scale
Reaction Continues in Cotton
Market Past Week.

New York, June 1O.-R. G. Dun &
Co.'S Weekly Review of Trade will say,
tomorrow:
Current trade conditions are without
change and collections continue slow
as a rule. but there is growing conf
dence in the future, dealers exhibiting
an inclination to prepare for fall and
winter on large scale. There is still
much complaint that the weather is
unreasonable for retail distribution
ana payments are not prompt. 1t is
ercoura ging to find that the best au-
thorities concur in the opinion that
present unsatisfactory results will be
temporary and several branches Of
manufacture are operating on this
basis.
List prices for iron and steel pro-
ducts are maintained in most cases.
mainly because of agreement rather
than the support Ot consumption. De-
mand is extremely limited and it is
claimed that concessions are made in
many cases by independent concerns
in order to keep machinery occupied.
The only new business of Importance
was furnished by several large orders
for cars which provided demand for
plates. and n desultory movement of
structural steel for railway bridges AMI
buildings at Baltimore.
Some evidence of weakness is noted
i'm hides, both domestic and foreign, al
though actual changes i'll quotations
are small. Similar Indifference is noted
in the leather market, shoe manufac-
turers operating cautiously and on or
derS Of any size concessions are Secur-
ed. Fewer new contracts are received
at shoe factories and the situation is
without special feature. Lack of supply
is the only obstacle in the way of ac
tivity in russell and tan shoes. Lower
quotations for raw material have made
possible the resumption of some idle
cotton machinery. but business in the
primary market for goods is still dull,
with orders limited to immediate re-
quirenents rs n rule. Thus far. prices
have altered but little and forward
business is restricted. The best news Of
the week was more inquiry from China
for lightweight cotton goods. Mems
wear woolenS and worSteds are in
steady demand but the market for
piece SILKS IL less
| clusion of the large auction sale has
removed many buyers from this mar
ket and local jobbns dry goods trade
Iii. eniiet. 4 tSS
Reaction continued in the cotton
market until the price of spot middling
! unlandS was lower than on the cor
responding day in 1903, and the July
| option fell to a point So a bale be-
! low the highest points Of the crop
year or more than the entire value of
| Il bale during some recent seasons.
! Moderate recovery from the lowest
point was natural, as the decline had
developed Il large short account. Low
| er prices We're to be expected in view
of recent favorable prospects for the
growing crop, an absence Of demand
! from Spnncrs and indications that
supplies of old cotton would not be
exhausted before the new cotton be-
came available.
Grain became irregular as the time
| for the official report drew near, but
/ best prices of wheat yielded to the in l.
huence Of private estimates promising
4 slightly better conditions for wheat
and very bright prospects in the spring
II wheat states.
II Failures this week numbered 22l in
i the United states. against 215 last year
and :" IN Canada. compared with IA