The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-02-09
CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE,

Pork Packing-Business Failures
Trade-Busi ness Prospeets-Religiou
Enterprise-The ADMINISTRATIVE
Concerts - Latest Novelty - AmUse-
ments.
CHICAGO, Jan. u, 1871.-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-have 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
il 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 larger region of coun-
try than usual, and the amount of snowfall
was almost unprecedented.
THE WHEAT MARKET
Has been quite active the past week. No. 2
selling for S1.221z-an advance of about 20
cents in month. The receipts are small.
but next week will probably show a large in
crease.
PORK PACKING
Has been very active through the season up
| to the time of the January thaw, when it al
most entirely ceased. But it i. being re
sumed again, with 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,
4 hr-t faxu nya
of failures-aside from the stringency of the
money market and the partial failure of crops
! the past seasons the exorbitant prices of
rents, in some cases absorbing all the profits
and part Of the capital of the merchants. We
shall get down to hard pan and ante-war prices,
| by and by, and have fewer fluctuations in the
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 very satisfactory trade.
BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
There have been large preparations for an
increased trade the coming season, many new
and capacous stores having been erected for
| that purpose the past year, or will be complet-
ed in season for the spring trade. There is a
marvellous energy and elastlcityin 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
dollar IN 1865, though doing large bust
ness, are now worth million and a quarter
RELIGIOUS ENTERPRISE.
The energy manifested by Chicago III bust
ness pursuits, Is equailed by her activity in
religious enterprises. In this respect she
obeys the command, Whatsoever thy hand
tindeth 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
ilshed 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
THE ADVANCE,
! published by the Advance Company, at &. so a
year. Its editorials are able, dealing frankly
with the live questions OF the day. and are
| supplemented by articles from large CORDS of
! the best thinkers and writer's of the time. Its
| commercial department is reliable, its mscel-
lany and family reading is of the highest order;
! 1t has able ana well-informed correspondents
at the great business and government centres,
| and sustalns the great religious and humani-
! tartan enterprises of our times, and Truly rep
| resents the Christian progress of the age
Within three years IL has attained a wide crc1i-
iatlon. IL offers, as premium, splendid
| chrome picture of Henry Ward Beecher-the
best have ever seen-1l by Il inches-worth
Sc, to any who will send three new subscrip-
| tons, one new subscription for three wears or
| for two years and 81 additional. or for one
year and 50 additional.
| LECTURES.
| We have had a surfeit of lectures from per-
sons eminent, and some not so eminent. A
few, like Sumner and Phillips, have drawn
| large audiences, but most Of them have had a
moderate attendance. Even Miss Edgarton.
the Pearl of the Platform"-as her friends
designate her-and the delight of the anti
women suffrage folks, had but few hearers.
Mrs. Stanton is to lecture ON Marriage and
Divorce, next week, Wednesday evening.
| CONCERTS
| of various kinds, and for various purposes.
have been numerous, and have gratified the
| music-loving, at a moderate cost But the
Nilsson concerts have eclpsed all others.
THE LATEST NOVELTY
which will interest the ladies' is an electric
sewing machine, in which the motive rover
| is electricity, sIperseding the treadle 1t is
easily managed can be applied to all kinds of
sewing machines, be made for half the usual
price, and be run for three cents day, for
lightning.
ADJUSTMENTS.
We have the usual attractions. for the lovers
of the drama, at the various theatres the par
ucular star being Mrs Bowers, in Mary Stuart
and Queen Elizabeth. at McVicker's. R.