Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-12
A General Improvement in
Nearly All Directions.
Moderate In Trade Shipments
Very Fair In Road Sales.
Crop Situation Throughout South
Very Much Improved.

Tomorrow will say: Orders for future
delivery Indicate further moderate inn
provement in the trade shipment,
house as we'll as road sales expanding
in fair degree.
This is explained partly by the fact
the South is very favorably situated
as regards all of its crops. Talk from
buyers in general is optimistic enough.
but with all purchases on the whole
show that considerable caution pre-
walls. This attitude is especially ap-
parent among those catering to the
cereal producing regions where crops
underwent further deterioration in
July. 1t is noteworthy. however, that
recent rains have made for a better
| feeling as regards corn crop results
and in consequence merchants are fos-
tering more roseate anticipations.
though still acting conservatiyely.
Dry goods, allied lines and millinery
lead in point of relative activity.
Where demand for cotton goods has
developed the fact is brought out that
supplies of some desirable grades are
short, this being due to curtailment,
present and past. There is noted more
confident buying of raw wool this
week. On the other hand trade at
retail is characterized by mid summer
dullness and especially attractive bar
gain sales are very general. Com
modify prices as measured by Brad
streets index number for Aug. l show
an advance of seyen-tenths of l per
cent. over July l and incidentally the
highest level since March. The index
number is the highest. with two ex-
|ceptions, ever recorded on the date
mentioned, the exceptions being Aug.
l. 1910 and Aug. /. 1907. For the week
the swing in quotations for commodi
tiles have been rather confused though
beef and hog products display firm
undertone with suggestions of even
higher prices later on. Drought and
thigh cost of feed due to crop deterior
alton caused heavy marketing of live
animals earlier in the season, thus
leaving diminished supplies for later
in the year. Pig iron is tirmer under
increased demands but attractive bust
ness in finished products reveals the
existence of competition and some
price cutting.
The weeks price movement is Il
confused one. Wheat was strong early
in the week on reports of rain and rust
in the Northwest. while corn and oats
were weaker on rains and larger
movement. Better weather reports as
to wheat caused easing in the middle
of the period. with sympathetic move
ments in corn and oats. The govern
ment report was considered bull
Oh hut af oh
ward furry prices sold off, leaving net
changes in wheat and corn slight,
while oats were weaker. Flour sold
higher. as did hogs pork and lard and
kindrid products. The worlds wheat
harvest estimate is for crop lighter
than last year by about 1Je. 000, 900
bushels. Against this prospective
shortage in yield is large visible sup
ply carried over but commodity prices
generally are lower than year ago.
Cotton prices are moved erratically,
several days seeing a continuance of
the sharp rally that set in after the
last government crop report on cotton
but desire to take profits scaled the
advances down later leaving futures
10 to 10 points higher, while spots are
80 points lower.
Drought in the beet sugar growing
districts of Europe has caused excited
markets abroad and is reflected in an
advance of Il cent on raw sugars at
New York.
Finished lines of steel are being
turned out in larger volume, but at
tractive business develops competition.
On July 81, the leading interests had
3,5S40s5 tons of untitled orders on it's
books this sum indicating an increase
of $4,000 tons, or 639 per cent. of June
80 and the largest unfinished business
since July 81 of last year. Structural
material is in good demand and the
outlook is promising. Eastern ship
yards have considerable business pend
ing and if orders go through good
tonnage of plates will be required.
Business failures for the week end
| ing Aug. 10 were 20S; 231 in the like
week of 1910.
Wheat, including flour, exports from
the United States and Canada for the
week ending Aug. 10 as reported by
| telegraph to Bradstreet's, aggregate
2,G60,s67 bushels against 1,226,214 this
week last year. For the six weeks
ending Aug. 10 exports are 1921, 342
bushels against 7.549,957 in the corre-
spending period last year. Corn exports
for the week are 635.7S1 against $780,
| GIL bushels in 1910, For the six weeks
ending Aug. 10, corn exports are 3,717,-
$50 bushels against 1908, 1896 bushels
last year.