The Portland daily press., 1867-05-02
PR ESS
Thu sday Morning, May 2, 1867.


Whether the country merchants of the State
generally have learned the fact that they can
make their purchases in this city from as well
selected and fresh stocks and on as good terms
as in Boston, is question we are not prepared
to answer. That many of them have come 10
this conclusion, after years of trial in both mar
kets, we know full well, as we also know tia'
our wholesale merchants, in almost all depart
ments of business, are prepared 10 sen W Tue
country trade on terms more interesting 10
them than can be found elsewhere. ln the I'M
nortant line of sugars and molasses, Portland
stands at the head 1t is the largest importing
Mace for the latter in the United States. AL
most daily cargoes of molasses are being de-
posted in our warehouses and upon our
wharves, from vessels direct from West India
merits, and which return there laden with box
and hogshead shocks, hoop poles, headings and
other lumber lifted to the markets of those
islands. Our three large sugar establishments
turn out vast quantities of sugars - of various
grades-which find market in Boston, New
York and even as far west as Chicago, and it is
very singular if the home market cannot be
supplied on quite as favorable terms as it can
be by going to those places and purchasing
the sugars to be re-shipped to Maine ,u FEC
In the line of corn, -four, beet, pork, lard ana
other kindred articles, there is. no good reason
why the country trade may not De supplied
here as we'll as elsewhere. our merchants
purchase in the same markets as the Boston
merchants ond purchase for cash and at the ,
lowest rates, and we are informed that for all,
such articles the price rules as low here as in
Boston. certainly as low when the increased
FREIGHT from Boston is added to the price
paid. Similar remarks are applicable to paints
oil, lead, duck, cordage, hardware, crockery
SC, any and all OF which are offered here to
the country trade on terms as favorable as are
afforded in markets further west
IL boots and shoes Portland manufacturers
are prepared to compete with those of Mass
or any other State. They understand their
business, have supplied themselves with the
most approved machinery in use, and, we are
satisfied, on the score of economy no Maine
merchant need pass through Portland in order
to purchase or replenish his stock in this gen.
eral line of trade.
In the articles of fish and salt no one pre-
tends that he can find better wares or lower
prices than in Portland.
Add to the above the large and splendidly
appointed Dry Goods jobbing houses, several
of which will compare favorably with the best
houses in Boston, and it will be seen that not
simply in heavy articles but even in the lighter
and more fanciful stocks, our city can offer a
tempting variety, so that by stopping here the
country merchant not only purchases at quite.
as good advantage as in Boston, but makes q
IN iterial saving in the items of time and ex-
penses. .g4.+5 s...t.. ..fl-a-,.,,, =,
In groceries generally, including teas, coffee,
spices, fruits, &C., &C., the Portland market is
always well stocked, and offers opportunity for
supply to the country merchant of an attrac-
tive oh aracter.
We have not attempted to enumerate all the
kinds of trade in which Portland wholesale
merchants are prepared to supply the mer-
chants of the country. In soap, kerosene,
glass ware, britannia ware, lamps, engine hose,
and a score of other articles, Portland manu-
features have achieved a deserved popularity,
and are prepared not only to supply the home
trade, but also to make liberal contribution
toward supplying the jobbing houses of Bos-
ton. r..r
Our merchants are generally men of oblg-
ing spirit. afable and easy of approach, whose
reputation for business integrity stands unim-
peached, and whose credit in New. York rates
as high as that of tho merchants of any other
city. We can only hope that, as the years roll
by, the communication between them and the
smaller traders in the country towns may be-
come more intimate, and the result, we cannot
doubt, will be found of mutual interest to all
concerned. Let Portland be trae to the rest OF
the State and she will find her merchants and
manufacturers will come to be regarded more
as a necessity of our States prosperity than
they have been hitherto