National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-29
THE FALL TRADE.


" over. The cool autumn nights calling
for blankets and the hot sunny DAYS still
demanding the shelter Of the umbrella and
parasol sdmonish us that the summer is
over and that the labors and duties of the
fall are about to commence. The business
men Of Washington have had particularly
hard task to perform since the panic of last
fall, which broke upon them and this CON-
munity generally with much more than
average severity. By the failure Of the
Cookies many millions of active banking
capital were locked up. The suspension
Of the Board of Public Works, later on, de-
prived our merchants Of the use Of large
sums which they had counted upon realiZ-
ing early in the session of Congress. The
multitudes of laborers thrown out of en-
ployment had to be fed or left to vagrancy
and starvation. Our tradesmen and butchers
were obliged to accept their certificates
of Indebtedness in payment for goods and
await the slow gait Of a ponderous govern
ment for their cash. To their credit and
honor be it said that they nobly sustained
the board and exhibited their confidence in
its integrity by honoring their orders and
saving the families of the laborers from
starvation or from absolute want
The First National Bank, with its capt.
tai Of one million and its deposits of several
millions more-including the accounts of
other banks for which it was agent, and the
funds held as Government depository-was
able to furnish facilities that appeared al
most inexhaustible, when aided by what
was supposed to be the impregnsble house
of Jay Cooke & Co. The summary depri-
vation of these facilities was shock which
in an ordinary and more speculative COM
munity would have dealt ruin on all sides,
which, followed up by the virtual suspen-
sion Of the District government for months,
upon other millions of Indebtedness, would
have broken every merchant In the vicinity.
But we have abundant cause for congratu-
lstion that our banks and bankers, and our
rers, with but few exceptions, by standing
shoulder to shoulder and assisting each
other, have been able to weather the storm
and to emerge once more into a smooth
ses.
The Citizens National Bank has re-
placed the First National Several private
banking firms have entered the field to
compete for the business formerly trans
acted by the Cookies, and the new District
government has now got fairly at work
IF tba ;,JabtaJ,as. % tba o1d o,J
unclogging the wheels of industry. Labor
is employed once more upon our streets, and
the tradesmen are receiving their rewards
for their long patience. Money is again
comparatively plenty, and almost every one
is out of debt, or have made large advances
in the line Of liquidation. Old scores are
settled, if not entirely wiped away, and all
are ready for q renewal of trade for cash or
account.
The sgriculturists and fruiterers of the
vicinity are also rejoicing in abundant har-
vests. The proceeds of the farm garden,
dairy and poultry yard have all commanded |
liberal prices during the season, and they
are able to indulge themselves and their |
families in new furniture clothing, carpets, |
harness, &c. All these things portend a |
good time for the merchants. For year |
past their customers have been on the stool |
of economy, and have confined their pur-
chases to necessaries. But now that they |
have paid their debts and have the sssur-
ance Of more work, they will begin to in
dulge again in luXuries.
We take this opportunity therefore to
our business patrons upon this
review of affairs, and the 1attering pros
pect which it presents of good and thriy
ing fall trade. And perhaps it may not be
taken amiss if we remind them at the same
time that those who advertise judiciously
in popular family paper like THE Ma
REPUBLICAN are sure 10 obtain the |
lions share of the trade.
Our citizens, who are now about return
ing from the country, must lay in winter
fuel and clothe up their children for school,
purchase their textbooks, quite tax do
up their preserves, refit and refurnish some
portions of their houses with furniture, up
holstery, curtains, carpets, paint and white
wash. Then comes their winter supplies
Of various kinds of vegetables and proyi-
5ions, which must not be forgotten. In
short, whatever a merchant has to sell
should be advertised, and now is the time
10 do it, and THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN
is well known to be the best channel
through which to do it. We have no time
10 make boasts of the immsBsity of its cir
,ulation, either comparatively or relatively.
We will content ourselves with the asseve-
ration that all citizens of intelligence and
worth are readers of it, and will see your
advertise ments if you insert them in it.