Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-05-13

IA FHE MYSTERIES OF TRAFPIC.-The
mysteries of traffic, like those of some 9th
er things, are past finding out, except By
those who have beeniinitiated into the arts
of excepting what you've got and catching
what you can" of buying cheap and sell.
ing dear, and of converting the .'nimble
sixpence" into the .slow shilling.n 1t is
getting to be pretty well understood, that
when Government adds fosrth of cent
to the tax of anything sold by the pound,
the wholesale dealer a: once adds whole
cent to his price, and the retailer two, while
the additional middle men put on the per
quisite Of one to three cents each, so that
the consumer, instead of simply paying an
equal to the increased amount of the tax
actually pays an increased price. OF from
ten to twenty Eve per cent, because of that
twO.aud. "a. half mills which GO into the ma.
tional treasury.
There is another singular kirk in this
bushes of traffic, or, rather, in the mediam
of intelligence through which the seller
becomes informed of the fluctuations ia
the market. Let -four, sugar, coffee, meal,
molasses, fish, ETC.. advance only the mil !.
lionth fraction of cent, aud quick as the
electric flash the intelligence reaches every
retail dealer cOmeatable by lightning or
lightning expresses, and the consumer feels
the effect in the enhanced cost to him as
promptly as the water il the spout of tbe
tea kettle is raised by pouring on addition.
al quantity into the body ofthe vessel, but
let the came articles decline in price in the
Wholesale market, and the news travels TO
the retailer, aud through him to the con.
sumer, with the velocity of "a four story
brick block under the influence of Jack
screws. Oh course this is ali right and
proper, and We have not the slightest dis.
position in the world to complain; We only
refer to these things to illustrate how great
are the mysteries of traffic.
We have been led into this train of
thought by rejecting upon the di fficulty
which the people find ia telling on which
side their bread is Juuered This unctu.
Gus condiment-the taste of which. may
be remembered by tue more wealthy
classes, but which has become a thing of
doubtful recollection with very mauy-hss
been up. up, Ur, to such fabulous height
that the common people "couldn't see itn a
long time ago, and have probably seen
less aud less of it ever since. But while
it is still up here it has been tending
downward in the large markets tor some
time, though the news has not got about
to any extent in this latitude. The reports
in the New York Independent for Saturday
showed decline in that market to twenty
five cents. The best lump was at this
lowest figure. 1t fell ten cents per pound
in the week proceeding the report alluded
to. The Independent says:
"The reason, prices were run up SO high
was because old butter was sold to gold.
paying countries, aud followed the price
of gold closely. Now the new make of
hay butter comes in plenty, and is of such
character that il cannot be safely exported,
so down goss-prices by the run, as pre-
dicted in the Independent all through March.
This morning the market is more steady
at 259264 cts. iors good lots Of. new, and
we notice a few. trifiIpg sales on, European
account"
$50 down, goes prices by the ruu!n
Comforting, isn't it2 But how long will
it5take them to get asfar down" as down
here! That's the vital question with
those who would apply this intoxicating
article to their dry toast before swallowing
it. viii itrun down or Ego down by the
run" except under the heat of a summer
sum- We ask the question pro bono, pub
ieo; who will answer2 49,.
p9-NEw COAL DloGlNo MAOHxR.-At