The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-01-06
Bradstreet's Vermont Trade Report.

Bradstreets Vermont Trade Report.
Reports to Bradstreets for the
week in summarizing events of the
past year show a better condition
than is reported by figures represent
ing failures. Number of failures as
well as aggregate capital involved
was greater during 1909 than for eth
err of two years preceding. Some If
them were due to natural causes
such as inexperience and competi-
ton while others trace their origin to
depression period. There has been
during the year steady gain in vol
ume of business among manufactur-
ing interests, one or two lines except
ed, which nearly approaches normal
levels. The outlook for the coming
year promises much for the general
retail trade. Holiday trade was
brisk weather conditions favore
this. Labor is well employed which
indicates a good trade for coming
quarter. Fire reports for the year
show damage to mercantile interests
two per cent greater than during
1908; losses in the State aggregating
nearly three quarters of a million
dollars. The total number of do
nestle corporations was less al
though the amount of capital involv-
ed is twice that for the proceeding
| year.
Special investigation and reports
from leading lines of industry follow:
Monumental work shows a small
gain in both granite and marble
4 much to modernize their plants and
have spent large sums of money in
| that direction. Granite and marble
have also been in liberal demand for
building work The tie-up in labor
among granite workers makes predic-
lions for the immediate future diff
reasonably good year. In slate the belt
the year has been an exceptionally
good one among roofing slate men
but the market for manufactured
stock has been below normal; prices
were cut a good deal but during the
past two months there has been more
demand and prices have become
firmer. The machine industry is
the one that has shown heaviest
gains. The year opened with very
small demand and an accumulation
of stocks. The year closes with
stocks well reduced, plants employ
ed full time and over time necessary
to keep up with tue demand Scale
manufacturers are no exception, their
sales showing liberal increase. The
lumber market has been quiet gem
orally demands being largely for
immediate wants, but prices have
been maintained. Work for the sea =
sons cut has commenced and it is
expected that the usual amount will
be brought to the mills. The cutting
of small timber for pulp wood is Gre
ating a field in itself for additional
labor. The furniture business has
been quiet during the year but the
years close finds more activity in
that line.
1 Export trade in chairs compares
well with previous year. Manufac-
turers in this line anticipate a large
increase during the coming year and
some of them have enlarged their
plants for that purpose. Paper mill
men report conditions improved and
improving. Low water interfered
with that line of manufacture during
the year but plants are now operating
full force and time. Wooden mills
which the early part Of the year had
but little business during the past
three months have shown liberal
gains. The demand among knit goods
manufacturers has nearly reached
the high marks experienced, pre-
vious to the depression period. Tn
year shows several changes IN de-
mand among garment manufacturers
being more or less uneven, but the
new year finds liberal demand and
the outlook for future business
is good. The agricultural districts
report that the farmer is receiving
good prices for all his products, the
drouth during 1908, also 1909 affected
crops and at present the farmer is
said to be buying a good deal of hay
and grain which is drain on ready
money which he would otherwise
have. The output of dairies is said
to be 80 per cent of the usual market
but profit has compensated for less
product.