Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-01
SEASON Is LATE.
REPORTS to Brrdstreets show That
Spring work IL behind Time.

Spring work Is behind Time.
Reports to Bradstrcets summarizing
conditions for the month in the State
show the season about two weeks late
but that the volume of business among
retail merchants. particularly in city
points. was fully as large. and in some
instances larger than for March OF last
year Tho general tone among manu-
featuring interests is better. While there
Is more or less complaint regarding coll
lections, the conditions does not appear
materially changed. with the approach
,e spring weather and tho breaking up of
winter more activity Is noted in building
lines and the demand for material has
been on the increase. In furniture line
manufacturers and jobbers are putting
moro energy into their spring campaign,
which has worked out some little better
results During the past week export
manufacturers OF chairs and kindred
lines note n moro active demand than
there has been for some time, with the
result that such plants are in n fair way
to he kept employed to the full capacity.
Retail trade among the country mer-
chants appears less than usual. attrihut-
cd to conditions previously explained.
Stocks, however. are In fairly good shape
and as the season progresses buying will
increase Farmers report snow being
very deep IN maple sugar orchards: on
hill places it is said to he from four to
five feet deep; this. together with the
prolonged cold weather. has della ed
work making the season two weeks
later than n year ago.
The month Of March also brings to an
end the first qua rter. Statistics regarding
failures show larger number for March
| of this year than during tho same month
| OF 1898. Six voluntary bankruptcies were
| reported for the month with liabilities
| of S27.917.37 and assets Of sl1s47.O2, as
| compared with ore involuntary and four
voluntary petitions IN March. 1905. with
assets of s7.377l5 and liabilities of s1i,-
712sS. The first quarter this year showed
fourteen voluntary petitions and one as
signment; same period last year showed
eight voluntary and four involuntary pc
ttions. but In the aggregate there was
| but little difference. liabilities in 1907 he
ing about $500 greater. while assets for
1903 were larger by s.400. Tho amount
Of damage done by fireduring the month
| Of March this year was over twice as
| much as for the same month last year.
| Reports show eleven fires. twenty-five
mercantile interests affected. with an
aggregate loss of s74.725 during the month
Of March. 1900, as compared with eight
fires during March. 1905 with loss Of
$25 600 The first quarter Of loNS. how
ever. showed heavier fire losses: thirty
two fires destroyed property to the value
OF s53. 900 during that quarter. as COM
pared with twenty fires for the first
| quarter Of this year. with an estimated
loss Of S141. zoo More activity has been
noted on the part of individuals to form
corporations this year. First quarter gave
eighteen domestic corporations with an
aggregate authorized capital OF s55i,"N
as Compared with eleven for the first
quarter of 1905. with aggregate capital
ization of $4,000. The month of March
this year contributed six new ones, while
March Of last year gave eight.