The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-29
AGRICULTURAL.

PROSPECTS OF TRADE. We stated few
DAYS since that the prospects of an improve
ment 10 the business Of the country were
beginning to manifest themselves in various
sections of the country. We are now graf
flied to perceive this opinion is confirmed
BY that of Mr. Appleton of Boston, one of
the soundest and most sagacious merchants
in the country. In the carly part of the
winter, the Secretary of the Treasury, in
obedience TO an order from the House of
REPRESENTATIVES, addressed circulars TO the
collectors of the revenue, in which he re-
ouesed the opinions of prominent mercantile
men on several points relating 10 the Com.
merce ofthe Union. Among the objects OF
the inquiry were the probable amount of
imports during the present aid ensuing
wear, and the expediencv of establishing
ware housing system. Among those who
at the request of The Collector of the port OF
Roston, furnished answers to the inquiries
Of the Secretary, was Mr. Appleton. and we
fad bv his letter which is published in the
Boston DAILY Adyer,iser,,hat he believes the
period Of stagnation and depression has
nearly reached its term. He says, "The
country is moi in debt abroad. Large
crops are iu the process of finding market
Which even at tho present low prices, pre-
pare the way for an increased consumption.
A great check upon importation has exist
ed for six MONTH, and The stock Of foreign
goods is by no means excessive.
II IRRITABLE that a very considerable i'm.
provemenl ia trade should take place DUR
ing tho first half of the year 1913.
The importation, however, during this Pc
1iLd will be moderate; but the year CON-
mencing with July. 1912. will doubtless be
one of average activity, and the i'm, ,orta-
lions Of foreign merchandise reach their av.
rage amount. which | should estimate at
sl2O,OOo.O0o. From the imports into
New-York and Boston, with which have
bcen furnished, | suppose the whole import
Of merchendise into the United States Tex
elusive OF specie) will not exceed 35,000..
roo for the Inst half of the present year.
1872. On which the nett revenue will not
probably vary much from 100000 The
import for the six months ending Both June
1913, will think be something greater
say from Sia,000000 10 S45,OOO.OOO,
WliiCA give Il iGNChdC VI llOui .SIO,
100000 to 100000"
Mr. Abbott Lawrance, another eminent
merchant and manufacturer was also ad-
dressed by the Collector at Boston. From
his reply we make the following extract:
The causes for low prices may be found
in the large stocks on hRnd after the passage
oflhe tariff. Many persons imported goods
in anticipation of higher duties; and others,
from France and England, were brought in
under the expectation of low duties. or no
duties a, all. There has been, too, severe
disappointment in the amount of business
done the present season. The demand
from The South and West has been very
small, and that of the Middle and Northern
States much less than was anticipated.
These causes have produced general de-
preston, which time only can relieve.
am inclined to believe that these large
stocks of merchandise will have been clear
ed off by the 1st of July next, when impor'
taiions will then be free, and the revenue
gradually increased through the year.
should not deem it safe 10 estimate the rev.
enue for the first half year at more than
three ifths Of the amount of the correspen-
Oino perlOu VI lie last year, anu loI liIe year
ending on the Both of June, 1874. | should
estimate the revenue at S24,OO0.0O0. AZ
ter this period, have no doubt that larg.
err amount will be realized.
With these opinions of Mcssrs Appleton
and Lawrence. our business men generally
concur, we believe, in all our chief CONNER
cial cities. IT, therefore, their antici pations
shall be realized, we may look forward to a
return of "be,ter times" during the next
six months, so far as the general business
OF the country is concerned.
There are some sections, however, in
which the revival of business will probably
be postponed to more distant date. We
mean those sections of which the chief sta
pies are wool, iron and lumber; as is the
case with Vermont and Northern New
York. The amount of wool now in the
hands OF the farmers of those sections is ver-
ylarge. and will soon be increased by a
new clip. 1t is not probable therefore that
any considerable Improvement will take
place during the present year, in the price
of,his article. Nor is i, probable that there