The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1871-02-03
CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.

OLlAOAUO OOhnICl ONDLNOLs
The Snow storm-The Wheat Market
Pork observation-disclosures Failures
Trade-Business Observation-Disclosures
Enterprise-The Advance-Lectures-
Concerts Latest Novelty - Amuse-
ments.
CHICAGO, Jan. q. 1S71.-The late snow
storm the most severe that has occurred here
for years-has proved a serious interruption
to business. The delays Of freight trains
much more protracted than the stoppage Of
passenger trains-haye been quite embarrass-
ing to the public. But mild weather, the OPEN
ing Of the usual thoroughfares, and the re-
sumption of travel and trade have restored
our wonted activity, and Chicago looks like
herself again, at this season, save that there
is an unusual quantity Of snow and slush. The
freezing sleet did some damage to the trees,
and farther south was quite destructive. The
storm extended over a larger region of coun-
try than usual, and the amount of snowfall
was almost unprecedented.
H WHEAT MARKET
Has been quite active the past week, No. 2
selling for 81. 22L-an advance of about 20
cents in a month. The receipts are small,
but next week will probably show a large in
crease.
PORE PACKING
Has been very active through the season up
to the time of the January thaw, when it al
most entirely ceased. But it Is being re
sqmed again, with a large supply of live hogs,
Thus far there has been a large increase on
last season in the number of hogs packed, and
about twelve per cent. increase in weight.
But prices have ruled much lower than last
year.
BUSINESS FAILURES.
The number of failures here has been larger
than was anticipated six weeks ago. But they
have been chiefly of that class of houses that
have been weak, or embarrassed, for some time,
though their condition was not known to the
general public. Some of them were expected,
but a few were a general surprise. One cause
of failures-aside from the stringency of the
money market and the partial failure Of crops
the past seasons the sxorbitant prices of
rents, IN some cases absorbing all the profits
and part of the capital of the merchants. We
shall get dow to hard pan and ante-war prices,
prices of everything. But not until we have a
return to specie payments.
TRADE.
The volume of trade, despite the complaints
of hard times, has been greater than ever be-
fore, but business men represent that their
sales have been made at small profits, one
house assuring me that on sales of $500, 900,
since July, they had not made a cent This,
however, may be an exceptional case. But
the general margin of profits has undoubtedly
been quite low, though the larger houses have
done a very satisfactory trade.
BUSINESS PROSPECTS,.
There have been large preparations for an
increased trade the coming season, many new
and capacious stores having been erected for
that purpose the past year, or viii be complet-
ed in season for the spring trade. There is 4
marvellous energy and elasticityin the Chicago
business man. He may be disappointed in
this direction, or in that. But hope springs
eternal in his breast, and if he fails in one en-
terprise he tries another, and another till he
succeeds. A well known firm here, not worth
a DOLL" in 1855, though doing a large bust
ness, are now worth q million and a quarter.
RELIGIOUS ENTERPRISE.
The energy manifested by Chicago, in bust
ness pursuits, Is equalled by her activity in
religious enterprises. In this respect, she
obeys the command, Whatsoever thy hand
fndeth to do, do it with thy might" Not
only are large sums raised to build churches,
endow religious seminaries, sustain Christian
associations and support public charities, but
her religious newspapers are conducted in the
same liberal and ~enterprising spirit, and no
material or intellectual resources are spared to
make them represent the genius, and supply
the mental, moral and spiritual wants, of the
great Northwest. They are more truly nation
al organs of religious sentiment than any pub
ished at the East, are managed with equal,
if not superior, ability, in . broader and more
catholic spirit, and better comprehend the
spiritual needs of the West than Eastern
journals can.
Pre-eminent among this class of religious
newspapers, Is
Il ADVANCE,
published by the Advance Company, at $3.50
year. Its editorials are able, dealing frankly
with the live questions of the day, and arr
supplemented by articles from 4 large corps Of
the best thinkers and writer's of the time. 1t;
commercial department is reliable, its misceI
lany and family reading is of the highest order
it has able and well-informed correspondent:
at the great business and government centres
and s~ustains the great religious and humani
tartan enterprises of our times, and truly rep.
resents the Christian progress of the age
Within three years it has attained a wide circu.
lation. 1t offers, as a premium, a splendid
chrome picture of Henry Ward Beecher-tht
best 1 have ever seen-11 by II inches-wortl
&c, to any who will send three new subscrip-
tons, one new subscription for three years, OF
for two years and g additional, or for one
: year and 80 additional.
LECTURES.
We have had a surfeit Of lectures, from per
sons eminent and some not so eminent. 4
few, like Sumner and Phillips, have draw
large audiences, but most of them have had
moderate attendance. Even Miss Edgarton
the pearl of the Platforms her friend
designate her-and the delight of the anti
women suffrage folks, had but few hearers
Mrs. Stanton is to lecture on Marriage anC
Divorce, next week, Wednesday evening.
CONCERTS
of various kinds, and for various purposes
have been numerous, and have gratified tht
music-loving, at a moderate cost. But thu
Nilsson concerts have eclipsed all others.
THE LATEST NOVELTY,
which will interest the ladies', is an electr1,
sewing machine, in which the motive rowel
is electricity, superseding the treadle. 1t il
easily managed, can be applied to all kinds o.
sewing machines, be made for half the usua
price, and be run for three ce9ts a day, fol
lightning.
We have the usual attractions. for the lover
} of the drama, at the various theatres, the par
ticular star being Mrs. Bowers, in Mary Stuar
and Queen Elizabeth, at Mcyicker's. B.