Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-21
DUN'S REPORT.
A Good Season Is the Prospect
for the Farmers.
All Other Industries Will Feel the
Stimulating Effects.
General Conditions of Business Are
Generally Satisfactory.

New York, May 20.-R. G.. Dun &
Cos. Weekly Review Of Trade will say,
tomorrow:
Reports of increased trade are re-
ccivcd from a few favored points, but
the nation as a whole has not improved
its commercial position during the past
week, in SO far as current distribution
Of merchandise or manufacturing ac-
tivitics are concerned. Prospects for the
future have improved somewhat, how
ever, on account of the progress made
in agriculture. Unless the crops suffer
an unusual setback hereafter it should
be good year for the farms, and all
other industries will feel the stimulus.
Lake traffic is seriously interrupted by
the strike but otherwise the labor sit
uatiOn is not alarming. Boston reports
weather adverse and trade below nor
NAL while building operations are also
reduced. At Philadelphia the proper
ton of idle textile machinery has in
creased, but wholesale trade is fair.
Leading branches of manufacture are
extremely quiet, the recent slight gain
in iron and steel having disappeared
and transporting interests are not
last year IcSullS, IdliW
earnings thus far available for May
showing a decrease Of &c per cent.
Foreign commerce at this port for the
last week was decidedly against this
country, exports of merchandise fall
ing $1.654,075 behind the corresponding
week in 1908. while imports increased
$1,970,000. Gold has gone abroad in
great bulk without disturbing the
money market, although rates are
fractionally hrncr. Sales of securities
were much smaller than Il year ago,
which partly accounts for the loss Of
81 per cent. in bank exchanges at New
York
New England footwear producers report
additional contracts for heavy fall goods
from Eastern jobbers, but factories are
only running about half time on supple
mcntary purchases of summer goods. Tho
only evidence of Improvement in the pri-
mary market for cotton goods has been
furnished by exporters and the new bust
ness was only accomplished by further
concessions in prices. The percentage of
idle cotton machinery has increased, yet
the only changes in prices have been
downward and buyers continue to limit
purchases to immediate needs. The large
auction sale. next week. should stimu-
late trade in dry goods and several job
bling houses arc announcing special sales.
Buyers of woods and worStCd mems wear
have shown moro interest, fairly numcr-
Gus supplementary orders being placed
Though these sales were individually of
small size. in the aggregate a fair volume
of business has been transacted. The
movement is believed TO indicate that
wholesale cothicrs have recently met
with better success in Gsposing of fall
garments than they were placed on the
market.
Liabilities of commercial failures thus
far reported for May aggregate s3,7o9 Gl
of which 700 were in manufacturing.
81, GOyGS, in trading and SCENTS in other
commercial lines Failures this week.
ElImber .36 in the United States against
19l, last year. and T. in Canada com
pared with IA a year ago