New-York tribune., 1874-09-21
TRADE PROSPECTS.
BUSINESS MEN ENCoURA'

BUSINESS MEN ENCOURAGED.
,Ypcu,NTs IN NEARLY ALL BRANCHES sAIi'fiLD
WITH THE SIGNS or HEALTHY AUTUMN A''O
WINTER TRADE. III
Following the panic Of year ago and ai'el a.
possibility of a revival OF Fall or Winter trl'i'
mast many calculating upon the necessities oil peo',
at large prophesied an enormous and unha. ma
bueiness in al branches trade n the SprinG A''J
tboueht everybody should be largely stocked 40 ai,
ticipation Of such rush, that prices "ouii iV'N
their own. and the evil effects Of the panic oe hoiS
than balanced by the sudden and complete re'iFHi
Of trade. Others took the gloomy view o. the 'i'u-
alton brooded over utter decentralization ot Jus
ness. and the overthrow of al confidence Nei'noi
the one nor the other Of these theories mas o1'N
worked out The expanded notions IN either nlle0-
ton were the offspring Of the sudden accIinu ''iOn
If fortunes consequent upon the war, which had set
the average tradesmen aflame with high hopes anu
dangerous schemes for rapid wealth. They could
see nothing but great gains or destructive io''v''
Fortunately. however. there were not a few VINO
kent their heads, accepted the reproof when tne
financial crisis gave to almost all business men, SO"
the dangers. and sought to insure an easy letting
down from, the high and fictitious basis upon whlch
they had been building. They made quick saies at
reduced rates cut down their stock TO WorAlne
amount lessened expenses. and prepared lot tne
worst result that was possible. Thus the severe
blow which threatened them was IN many cases
warded off and confidence began 10 be gradually re-
stored But even BY these steps the generai lhhu-
ence of the panic could not be DESTROYED IN day OF
n season; the great Spring sales were not made' :
buvers were exceedingly cautious sellers were care
fu to run no risks; both were satisfied with sina
bills small profits, and cash or short-tlme safes
Little money was made, but losses were few' anu
shrewd men foresaw that all manner OF business
was becoming surer and speculation unpopular
With the Fall healthy but yet not unusuai traue
has appeared There are many purchasers as ever
Int theyare not disposed to load their shelves with
any larger stocks than the is likely to turn 10
their profit. I'VE want better goods" they say
and smaller lots and they buy what they are sure
of selling Accounts from the several departments
of business represented below show that business
men are not discouraged or gloomy, but on the con-
trarv moderately satisfied with the present business
and prospects, From the agricultural parts OF the
country orders are nearly as large as usual, and
money is EASY; and, although less can be SAID Tor
the manufacturing sections, there is no marked ue-
pression of feeling Most city dealers and JobDers
are expecting only a fair degree of business this
| season but say that there rs nothing IN the con-
dition of affairs to warrant complaints or anMety'
In most branches trade through the Summer ana
thus far this Fall has compared well with that OF
Last year. which up to the time of the panic was
unusually good 1t is not difficult now TO find those
VINO talk discouragngly, but where there were
hundred year ago, there are barely half dozen
now and the great majority of mercantile men are
very confident that the permanent good OF business
will prove to have followed from the financial crash
of 1873.