The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-11-05
TRADE PROSPECTS.
The Outlook in New Y0rk--Many
Branches <0f Business Depressed,
While In Others There is u Feeling
Of Confidence.

| Of Confidence.
| From the New York Evening Post, Oct. 80.
The dullness IN the building trade af-
fec.s the carpenters, painters and plum b.
ers. as well as she stone masbns, brick
layers, and plaste-ers. to the number, in
the aggregate, Of perhaps 10000. At
the Mechanics and Traders Exchange
carpenters were found who had employ
ed hitherto as many as 100 men nearly
! the year round, who would be forced to
reduce their force soon to scarce doz-
/ en- for the winter. Work that is offer
7! ed is said to pay so poorly that it is not
worth the doing, and it has beec taken
in many instances for the sake of pro-
xiding good workmen with employment
rather than for the profit there was in
it.
Astove dealer who has occ upieo two
large stores in a central location was
found to have vacated enc building al ID
compressed his business so that it could
be done in half the former space occu-
pied. His factory at Greenpoint is still
in operation. but it will be closed next
month. and after the holidays he will
employ but half dozen men, where he
has now more than 100. There was no
apprehension for the future, however;
but the disposition to wear out old
stoves. and to make the best Of every
thing in the line of the dealer referred
to. rather than purchase new articles
outright. was an unmistakable indica-
ton that money had to be earned by
work, and that An equivalent must be
rendered for it to those who spend.
While the prospect for mechanics in
the building trade and the branches Of
industry intimately related to it are so
duh. the workingmen are disabled as
they have not been before in years, few
Of them having been employed so
steadily during the summer that they
were able to accumulate sufficient
money to feed and clothe their families
during the winter months. Regrets
have been expressed by some Of them
that they ever permitted themselves to
be drawn into combinations for the
maintenance Of extreme prices, aSthey
have reason to believe that much Of
the stagnation of the building trade
mas been caused by their short-sighted
obstinacy. There is no disposition ex.
pressed OF purpose to strike in any
branch of mechanics. as the fact be-
comes known that prices must decline
for labor as well as for provisions and
clothing. and the opinion is that there
will be no union demonstrations be.
tween nov and spring.
In the wholesale dry goods business
there is disposition to be reticent
about the future. Where admissions
are made they do not betray apprehcn.
sion, but rather su omission to sober
and safe methods, which are forced
upon them by the careful tactics of
country and city retail dealers. in the
retail trade, where there is just now &
better movement than there has been,
a cheerful tone prevails. A few large
establishments, which present attract
i've novelties, and offer opportunities to
shoppers in every department Of out.
fitting, report business as unusually
prosperous. Prices are as low as they
ever were. even before the war, and
some lines Of goods are working off at
positive sacrifice. The conservatism
of buyers is recognized as a healthy
symptom. An almost unanimous sen.
timent prevails upon the subject of
return to specie payment, the necessity
for an adjustment Of affairs on that
principle, though it would undoubtedly
ruin some houses, being deemed Of
paramount and immediate importance.
In strictly fancy goods there is less
activity than in staple articles, but the
trade in that respect is by no means
! depressed.
When the pockets Of the community
are empty they do not buy jewelry.
That there is more activity in this trade
than existed at this time last year is
ascertained by inquiry at several lead
ing establishments. The improvement.
is not thought to be altogether owing
to the approach of the holidays. One
firm is manufacturing fifteen per cent
more this fall than it was last season
The signs are felt to be encouraging
: and renewed confidence in the future
has been awakened in quarters where
r the outlook for many months past has
-. been exceedingly gloomy.
: A member Of firm doing an exten
: sive business in motions" on Chamber.
q street said that since the year 1856. Of
S when the process Of shrinking began,
e he would have chosen no period a
n which to have engaged in business il
q preference to the 1st of January. 1875
q He considered tho prospect, though al
Immediately gloomy one for large mum
:, bers of working people who we're t
r suffer for the mistakes Of others, a
s healthy and encouraging. Their house
!. though dealing in some lines which ar
# called 'fluxnries, we're doing well. Tn
). country was much more sound an,
hopeful than the city. and dealers on
of town were positive IN their refusal 9
mere snowy selections Of stock. A fe'
i years ago the "show" spirit became S
rife among dealers .of all classes tina
men We'd with each other IN carryin
;. stocks Of elegant wares, regardless {
8, the demands of their immediate trade
or the amount Of capital which the
could command