The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-10-07
Bradstreet's Vermont Trade Report.

Bradstreefs Vermont Trade Report.
Reports to Bradstreet's for the
week indicate a good feeling among
manufacturers at large. The month
just closed has brought in new BUSH
ness and with the opening of the
month Of October, number of the
mills have resumed on full time with
an increase in working force. Labor
is better employed and the general
situation shows a liberal gain over
what was reported year ago. While
there are still opportunities for an
increase, the present situation points
to a firmer condition approaching
normal. Fall trade has been active
and retail merchants are looking for
a good winter trade and anticipate
that holiday trade will be greatly in
excess of last year, although purch-
asses are not particularly heavy in
the market as some stuff was carried
over. The week has been a rainy one
which has retarded a larger retail
trade but the fall of rain has been
beneficial in more respects than one
as it has relieved the situation among
certain manufacturing interests and
helped fill the streams. Monumental
men state that general business is
more or less quiet but new business
is coming In for spring delivery. In
the granite line spotted conditions
exist. Some plants are literally sup
piled with work, while others are
running short. Labor, however, con-
tinues wei employed. Collections in
this line are unsatisfactory The am
cunt of new building work during the
month of September shows up better
than it did a year ago. Work pre-
viously commenced is well under way
an considerable new work has been
received. Lumber dealers have re-
ported the demand good and prices
holding up well. Agricultural dis
better than at first expected. Corn
has been less than an average and
short hay crop has forced prices up.
The apple crop in certain sections is
large, while in others the yield is
small. Prices on all kinds of pro-
duce are high, except potatoes, which
are being sold in car load lots at less
than 40 cents bushel. Failure re-
ports for September include one
compromise and two voluntary bank
ruptcies with liabilities of $2,637.32,
and assets of $2,147. The same month
last year showed five voluntary bank
ruptcies, with liabilities of $21,565.S9
and assets of $4,SS3.12. The close of
September brings the third quarter
reports which are here shown, 1909
gave two compromises, two invol-
untary bankruptcies and two volun-
tary ones with aggregate liabilities
of $44,519.45 and assets of S34, 02O.95;
1908 showed one assignment and no
voluntary bankruptcies, with liabil-
tiles of $50,231.2S and assets of $780,
S93.67; 1907 reported seven bank
ruptcies with liabilities of $S5,14S. SO
and assets of $50 5554S, while the
quarter just closed shows the largest
number of failures, it will be noted
that the actual loss was little over
one half that of two years ago, fail
ures being confined principally to
small ventures. Fire losses for the
month just closed include nine fires,
damage to IL mercantile interests
with aggregate loss of $4,000, which
is the smallest loss for any month
since May, 1908, which month gave
damage done at less than $4,000. The
third quarter, reports for respective
years follow: 1909 gave 23 fires, 25
people of firms affected with damage
of $SS,S30; 1908 gave "a fires, AZ
firms affected, loss $171,OO0; 1907 |
gave IS fires, 20 firms, damage $685.
800. September of this year report
ed five new corporations with total |
capitalization of $363,O0O as against |
nine with capital of $1S0,000 for |
September 1908. Third quarter sum-
maries show the following mercan-
tile corporations chartered: 1909, 20
with capital of $ss9,OOO; 1908, 21
with capital of $41S.OO0; 1907, II
with capital of $9OS.OOO.