The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-03-17
GheGtteLliae1Iee
Business Prospects.

Both in New York and Chicago the
prospects for spring trade arc pronounced
cheering. The New York Tribune has in
quired Of a large number Of merchants
Of that city, and reports very satisfactory
results. Stewart finds business as brisk
as ever at this season, with every prospect
otan unprcccdontcdly heavy spring trade
Lbrd & Taylor see evidence that lCss cx-
trayaganGO exists than formerly, butnOte
no spcciaI indication Of financial pressure
among their customers, President Edison,
of the Produce Exchange, reports good
prospect for the export trade, Clothing
houses look for au active season for sales
and healthy condition as to settlements,
In Chicago the Inter-0ccaa has made
extended inquiries, und,repOFts that the
results In almost every branch were
cheering. "Nlerchants and manufacture
crs," 1t says, "arc counting upon great
commercial prosperity, and point to un-
mistakable indications in support Of their
views" In the grocery trade the panic twas
scarcely iolt." In boots and shoes 1t was
believed that merchants "hithertO accus-
toned to buy in the East would undOubt-
odly purchase nearer home this year"
Field, Letter 4 Co, say "there will be
good, legitimate, healthy trade. The
country is in good condition" Clothing
dealers had been selling good quantities
Of spring goods for two months past. In
iron and steel revival Of business was
looked for because Of the reduction in
labor and material and the rapid tlcstruc-
ton Of rails during the severe winter. In
several other branches OF business or man
uiacturCs the Mtcr-0eedn reports similar
encouraging, symptoms, though the real
estate business Is mentioned rs being in.
active, with property unstable and rents
falling of, the bankers do not look for
any very great improvement.
We see excellent reasons for believing
that some recovery Of business may safely
be expected. First, wo have hal year
of severe economy; purchases have been
restricted; people have been wearing out
old clothes and living economically; rail.
roads have been using up rails and ma
tcrials, and everybody has been 'postpon-
Ing purchases aS far as possible. Hence
there has resulted u general deficiency
which trade and manufactures must now
supply. Itdocs not follow that We shall
leap back to the old wastGful and cxtrav'
agant modes, nor that the aggregate vol
ume Of consumption or production will
Immediately be recovered. But for d
time, ut least, people will have 10 pur
chase largely TO replace articles which
during a year Of unusual ecOno
my have .becn consumed Then
another Indication Of certain i'm
provcment Ia the marked increas,
of savings and Of deposits in sating
banks. Another Is in the fact thu
farmers of the West and South huv'
realized upon very fair crops, and ma!
bc expected to purchase much NOR,
freely than they did last spring. Again
Congress has adjourned without any leg
islaLion causing commercial distrnst, o
danger Of serious difficulty at the South
and Southern trade and industry mr.
likely to improve considerably. Finally
wages and prices have been so far reduce,
that production in most branches ca
now expect solid foundation, rs far a
II Is enabled to re.cstabli,h itself at all