The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-06
Prospeots lor tIle SprIng rrade

(From tho N. Y. Cont Bulletin Of Thqrslay,)
In another column will hp found the re-
suits of careful inquiry among leading
merchants as to tho prospects Of otsr ner-
chandiso markets for the Spring months,
1t will lG seen that tho aspects Of business
vary considerably in tho different mar
kets, and that innonc is tho condition Of
things 10 entirely satisfactory as could DO
wished. Upon tho whole, however, the
prospect is ut least as good as has been
expected. Tho reaction which set iil'with
tho panic Of 1873 has been so deep and
thorough that 1t llas come to be generally
understood that tho best that can DO ok.
peCted Is q gradual recovery. The only
doubt felt Is Us to whether the process Of
recovery has set In and how rapidlyit
may be expected 10 proceed. Appear.
anOes leave no room orquesion that the
worstpoint Of depression has been reach
ed, and that we are now fairly on the way
towards a healthy condition Of business.
Tho testimony OF merchants elsewhere
given leaves no doubt on this point; but
II shows TINT the degree Of recovery
varies In the different branches Of trade.
The dry goods and grocery trades are
most hopeful; which might DO naturally
expected, us these branches supply tho
moro necessary articles Of CONSUMPTION;
while those trades which furnish goods
less necessary to subsistence or comfort
arc naturally Inter in exhibiting the
symptoms Of recovery. yf.
Upon the whole, reports are more sat
islaCtory than could have been expected,
The South, partly from the unsettled con.
dition Of politics and the serious mis-
giyingJ as to It's future suggested by tho
tenor Of current legislation at Washing.
ton, and partly from It's slow recovery
from The devastating effects Of the war
and the lndisposition to Contintlo the Gus.
tom Of advancing money or giving credit
upon the growing cotton crop, "a III a |
condition Of extreme mercantile depres-
sion. The merchants Of that section can
do tlcwith6nt credit from New York,
and pretty liberal one, rs to time; and
yet, under tile threatening uncertainties
that surround the cotton States, Ouk
merchants are disposed to contract such
credits very severely. For this reason
tho South Il almost ruled out Of the mar.
ket, aud whit goods II needs must be
mainly procured through hand.to.moutli
Cash purchases. tnthe next place, d large
amount Of population dependent on Tie
iron trade and upon the various famtfua.
tionS Of the railroad interest have found
no relief from tho prosGtatiOh TINT has
fallen upon them with greater severity
than upon any other class. And, again,
the extraordinary severity Of the winiur
has In q very marked degree checked
travel andatha, forwarding Of products
over nearly the whole populated area Of
the country. Under such discoutAginp
conditions, tho business Of the last two l
months must have been limited III any
case; and II is surprising Tint, In d leaiingI
branch Of trade like the dry goods BUST
ness, the demand should have been snfll.
Cient TO keep stocks within conservative
limits and maintain the value Of goods.
We do not find ihthe markets generally
any disposition to delay purchases arising
from distfUst "a to tho future Of prices,
nor yet any inclination TO press sales
from that motive. The jObbets from
cities which supply our large agricultural
sections are buying with about the Same
freedom as in ordinary times aud their
representations a. 10 TIE prospects 81 lhel
spring trade are generally hopeful and
are confirmed by tile extent Of theit opera
tionS.
We have this substantial fact to RELY
upon-that the agricultural population,
the main stay Of Ouf commerce, have suf.
fcred comparatively little from the panic;
they have had abundant crops the con-
dltion Of the foreign markets suggest the
probability OF better prices for the surplus
remaining from the hafvests Of 1874 and
there ia therefore every reason to expect
they Will teguitea an average quantity Of
goods, and tho more 80 "a the late de.
cline In prices has virtually increased
their purchasing power, II Is possible
that the caution Ot merchants As 10 credits
may In some measure limit sales. but
this policy hasits counter ADVANTAGES IN
the greater safety and more certain 6foits
Of business. II the maxim should be yefi. i
fed that "a severe winter means a 1ne
spring" then We may expect full com.
pensation for the present weather
distinctions In the stimulus that will
arise from seasonable weather inAprel and
May and certainly the probabilities favor
this prospect. So far a. respestsa majority
oil the trades, We seem to have reached 4
condi !ion In which a fair showoi activity
Wotld 0fAAuV aI4oN1t1,o,, ..,.f IN. =. II Il.