The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-20
THE BUSINESS SITUATION.
The Outlook In Boston COndl.
ton Of the Planters Of the South
and Southwest.

ty. Merchandise is changing hands.
Merchants find that inquiries about
goods are followed by purchases. The
consumers have also come into the mar
ket to supply their wants. For two
years at least consumers have been study
ing and practicing economy, and what is
important to consider, not only consumers
but traders are either out OF debt or have
reduced tn cir liabilities to the minimum
When the demand for all descriptions Of
goods fall oil, traders reduce their stocks
as fast a. possible, and not only in New
England, but throughout the country, the
facilities for replenishing stock are so
great that instead OF making heavy pur-
chases twice a year, the smaller class Of
merchants buy, Us it were, from hand to
mouth. Wherever Geographic office is
opened this method, old in the more
thickly settled portions Of the country, is
adopted. The dull times that have pre-
vailed have forced honest dealers to be
careful in making their purchases, and
even commercial travellers state that 1t il
noticeable, that it is not so much the
price Of an article that will command
sales rs it is the readiness with whic,
traders can effect sales. They will no
buy what they cannot sell at any price
and the offer Of "a big bargain" is no in.
ducement whatever.
The country is very barren Of every
description ofgoods. There is not, and
there has not been, ten weeks supply Of
cotton goods, for instance, in first hands
at any time during the past three years,
while it is fact that cotton goods Of the
same quality are selling to-day thirty per
cent. cheaper in Boston than they are in
London. II we had in this country to-day
the class Of merchants engaged in the ex-
port trade that We had in 1860 our sur
plus cotton fabrics would find u ready
market in South America and other sec
tions Of the world. The Europeans can
not compete with us in the manufacture
Of cotton goods, provided we can be on u
par with them in currency. Neither has
the erection Of our cotton mills kept pace
with the natural growth Of the country ir
population and consequent demand. Our
, population increases about million d
year. Each million OF inhabitants will
consume u product OF $50, 900 spindleS, but
no one pretends that we have increased
; during the past four years anything like
, this ratio. The mills have been stopped
or have reduced their production because
consumers have been very economical
and properly 10, and the manufacturers
have sought to avoid over.productiOn be-
cause deprecated currency prevented
them from exporting their goods. Every
day, therefore, that we approach nearer
to specie basis we open new foreign
markets for our products, and what is nl'
80 more important, the dollar OF the Ia
borer approaches nearer and nearer to
the purchasing power OF a gold dollar.
The effect OF the crops upon trade
is so generally appreciated that the
. abundant harvest OF the year seems to
warrant the belief that the revival in
business will prove permanent. 1t Is moi
II mere temporary squirt. This view
: seems to be confirmed by information
which We append. A merchant Of BOs-
ton n few weeks since addressed his cor
respondents at the South circular letter
asking information upon business points.
The replies come from active business
men Of judgment and experience
| SELMA, ALA, October 8, 1s75.-We beg
to acknowledge your esteemed favor Of
the 30th ult., contents OF which have had
our careful attention. As n general
thing our large merchants do not buy q
large stock Of cotton goods, but order as
they sell, and some already are rePlen-
ishing their stocks. They by usually on
thirty days time, and some few get sixty
days. Trade up to the present time has
been good. The stock OF wooden goods Is
large and will not require to be increased
This section has made u larger crop than
for several seasons, and We look for a good
trade in dry goods, MS planters have been
compelled TO Use the strictest economy,
MEMPHIS, Tenn, October I, 1885,
Your valued favor OF the Both ult. duly
received, contents carefully noted. Ira
ders in this section have very light stocks
Of goods. Our Wholesale merchants say
the country trading with Memphis was
almost bare Of goods at the opening oil
the fall trade, and that merchants and
planters are disposed to buy quite freely
With the large crop OF cotton grown in
this section, even OF low prices, planters
will be able to buy and pay for consider.
able goods. They are less in debt this
year than they have been for several years
past
COLUMBUS, Ga, October 8, lS75.-Your
favor OF the 30th ult. reached us. II Ia
not probable that Southern traders have
bought much cotton goods ahead, on
credit or otherwise. Stocks OF dry goods
Of all descriptions are smaller than for.
merly. All our best dealers have become
timid by experience, and the increased
facilities OF obtaining supplies promptly
by rail and steamer when needed enables
them to trade on smaller stocks to he
kept on hand. AT this point receipts OF
cotton, so far, are short Of last year, but
there was much less Indebtedness on the
part Of the planter, and sales Of dry goods
are larger than last year. The country
is generally bare Of dry goods, and, In our
opinion, much Of the surplus proceeds
from sales Of cotton, after partly paying
debts, will be invested in clothing and ii
household supplies Of cotton goods, per.
haps more 80 because Of low and conse'
Qucntly attractive prices, which always
stimulate consumption.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, October 4, 1S75.-Upor
my return home yesterday found on
my desk your esteemed favor Of the 3Otll
ult. To-day | have Conyersed with n
number Of our largest and most intelli.
gent merchants in various branches Of
trade, and nm pleased to say that in re.
Spouse to my Inquiries respecting bust.
ness and It's prospects received most
cheering reports. The South, Southwest
and West have not been in MS good Condi.
ton for several years. The people-the
mnsses--are largely free from debt The
crops in the sections named are good
never better. Country merchants are
buying with great caution and for imme.
diate wants only. Still the country re.
ferred to is so utterly destitute Of sup.