The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-08-29
The Business Outlook.

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II Is worse than idle 70 deceive ourselves.
There Is no widespread and substantial pros
perity. Wecan 6Hd no class Of manufactur-
ers, merchants, agricnlturisis. artisans, or
common laborers who are steadily earning a
profit, or have fnlland coutented employment.
Every device or shin BY which money is made
or a stipend gained, seems to be temporary,
and hence ai business affairs are very much
unsettled. The merchants are not oversiooked
with goods, but they are trying to loan their
capital on call, or take turn with il in some
speculative venture, rather than to employ i
in gathering an assortment Of wares in which
they deal. Theconsnnlers take hold still more
sluggishly, and purchase only for immediate
necessities. Everywhere there is sense OF
depression and discouragement to activity, an
attitude Of waiting without any foreshadowing
of the form OF character OF the relief to be
expected.
We take the above from that thought
full paper, the New York journal Of Chm
meree, Sanguine people have imagined
that the depression in all branches of bust
ness under which the country has so long
bean suffering would soon pass away, and
that the bountiful harvests would give a
tremendous impetus 10 the fall trade. We
are sorry to say that We see no prospect Of
the ful6llment ofthese expectations. There
is but little business doing anywhere, but
Of what there is We are happy to say Bal.
timore has her share But the outlook is
not good, especially at the South, where
there is heavy back indebtedness to
make up, The West, too, viii have to
contend with low prices for grain, owing to
the unusually good wheat crops abroad
and the consequent lighter demand for
export. Forcorn it is possible the demand
may be equal if not in excess of last year.
But whilst the reports Of the cotton crop
are highly favorable, and those concerning
grain indicate an enormous aggregate
yield, there are exceptions In some parts
of the country the grasshoppers have laid
waste aud worthless many acres of grain,
and in Maryland the early promise Of our
grain aud fruit products has not been full
filled. The wheat grew vigorously through
out the greater part Of the season. The
straw was abundant, and the farmers
calculated on at least twenty bushels to
the acre But the heads did not fill well,
and the yield after thrashing was found
to be from one-third To onc-half less than
what was anticipated. So also with corn
and tobacco. Owing to the long-continued
drought in the lower counties
nearly two months-the corn has suffered
greatly willis; the tobacco from the same
cause gives at present the promise of an
equally short crop. The peach crop Of
the Peninsula, which in ordinary seaons
is from four to five million boxes and
baskets, will this year fall short of one
million. There are miles of peach orch.
ards on the Eastern Shore which this sea-
son do not show single peach, the hopes
of the early spring being shattered by the
late frosts aud the subsequent drought
In the western part Of the State, in the
Valley of Virginia, and generally through
out Pennsylvania, the crops have been
good, and so far as our dealings extend in
those quarters a fair business may b. ex.
pected. Large quantities of the surplus
grain of the West viii doubtless be for
warded to the seabcard before the glut
brings down prices much lower than they
now are. But, We repeat, there does not
seem to be any likelihood of that great
revival of business for which all have been
looking SO earnestly. Speculative enter
prises of all kinds are viewed with distrust;
credit is given more spar;ngly, and country
merchants themselves seem 10 prefer 70
buy in email quantities, on running
account, rather than to lay in st once, and
as of old, large aud well-assorted stocks Of
goods.-BdLimore Gdxette.
New YoRK.-The outlook Of the com
ing fall trade is now engaging the atten-
tion of the large mercantile houses in this
city. They are all ready for business, and
regarding prospects predict moderate but
safe sales. Only the advance guard Of
buyers, principally Western merchants,
have yet put in an appearance. Buyers
from the South are in a minority. In
domestic dry goods, buyers from the West
are conservative, only purchasing sufficient
for present wants. Foreign goods also
quiet. Il is not expected the regular
trade will begin before the latter part Of
September, and the extent of purchases,
especially from the South, depends upon
the result of crops. The belief seems uni
versal, however, that September and Octo.
Der will develop brisk business FROM the
best firms West and South, with ample
prospects ofprompt payments.
=
PHILADELHHIA.--f the assertions of
some of our business men are to be credit.
ed the fall trade viii open rather favorably
and large hopes of brisk season are in
dulged by them