Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-10-07
Gold and the Markets.

4
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The gold fluctuations of Wednesday
were from 203 l>2 down to 1917 IL and
from 1877 l-2 back to 203 12, the OPEN
ing and closing prices being the same
The general markets were dull and but
little business was done. Prices were
generally little better than on Tuesday,
but there was not demand enough for
any variety of goods to sustain any ma
terial advance. The auction sales for
the past few days have shown a great de.
cline, as much as so or 60 per cent on
dry goods, the decline on foreign goods
being much more than upon domestics.
And even at that decline there are hard
ly bidders enough TO make lively sale,
showing that bidders anticipate still low
er prices. Cotton has declined 68 cents
pound since the 9th of this month, and
of course cotton goods must be cheaper
than then. AT New York sheeting has
declined Is cents yard and so cent
prints are offered at 40 cents. The New
York merchants accept this decline of
prices as permanency, and are marking
down their goods to correspond with the
quotations of gold. Following in their
train, though very slowly and cautiously,
the merchants in the interior will by and
by drop a little. When prices were 60
ing up they kept even pace with the
Wholesale dealers at New York, but they
will be little slower in coming down.
The losses incident to this decline in
prices will not fall very heavily upon reg
ular dealers, as but few goods have been
bought at the highest prices, but those
who have invested in stocks for specula-
ting purposes, and are obliged TO sell,
will find it loosing business. Woolers
are cheaper, as well as cottons, the best
beaver cloths having fallen So yard,
and other goods in like ratio. There is
general eagerness on the part of hold
ers of goods, both domestic and foreign,
TO sell out Immediately, and an equal in
disposition on the part Of buyers to buy
largely at the present decline. The stock
of goods in the country is neither very
large nor very small, but is amply sufli-
cient for all legitimate trade demand
The advance in prices has greatly dimin-
ished consumption, for people who bought
cotton cloth freely at y cents a yard
have bought it very sparin2ly at Is cents.
The lesson of economy has been a good
one, and its value and benefit will partly
compensate for the extra drain upon our
purses.
At Cincinnati the holders of pork, ba-
con and lard are trying to sell at a mark
ed decline, but they are puzzled to find
puiShaSClS' hV uuuAAulJ duCtioH eHlG
of Scranton coal at New York, Wednes-
day, showed decline of 81 ton with
sales Of $4,000 tons. The supply of coal
in almost every city is large, and at Pitts
burg and Philadelphia the supply is
ahead of the demand, and it looks as
though the prices Of diamonds in black
must come down. Altogether the pros
pect of life for the autumn and winter to
those whose fixed salaries and incomes
have shared little or none of that imitation
that has so marvelously enhanced the
prices of almost everything eatable, drink
able, wearable and enjoyable, is much
brighter than little while ago. Let US
hope that the clouds are lifting, that we
have weathered the hardest of the storm,
and that, by and by, we shall find our
selves sailing in smooth waters and with
favorable winds,-.Sprtnqfeh RepabG-
can.