The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-02-11
miscellaneous.
BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
A Cheerful View from q Canadian Stand Point

A Cheerful View from q Canadian Stand Point.
lFrom the Toronto Globe.l
The depression which has existed in
commercial and financial circles through
out the United States for some time past
appears to be gradually passing away,
and the people are beginning to take a
hopeful view of the business situation.
The general belief of the mercantile
public in New York undoubtedly Is that
the main causes of the crisis have been
removed, and that slow but permanent
improvement may be anticipated. In
the Western States BUSINESS men are
congratulating themselves upon the fact
that trade is brisker there than else
where, and that, though the recent
financial troubles dealt a heavy blow to
to their industries, the effects are sapidly
disappearing. The South is slowly but
surely liquidating its outstanding liabil-
tiles. Its people are reported as, ON the
whole, eontented and doing well, Sec
tional and race animosities being sunk
in general desire to regain the position
held by the Southern States in ante
bellum days. Cotton and tobacco are
again being successfully and largely cul-
tivated, and cotton factories are appear
ing in several of the Southern cities,
where the raw material and labor may
be cheaply obtained. The new lines of
railroads which are being constructed in
several districts are attracting settlers,
and the growth of some of the towns in
the Carolinas has given encouragement
to the Southern heart. In Alabama and
other States the rich and unexhausted
lands have increased in value-an evil
dence that increased attention is being
given to the cultivation of the land.
That the Democratic party now controls
tie Lower House of Congress is, more
over, esteemed favorable circumstance
in the development of the South; and,
indeed, there can be little doubt that
measures adapted for the improvement
and utilizing of its vast natural resour-
ces will be enacted ere long. In New
England the progress toward brighter
days has been retarded by strikes in
several of the mills and manufactures,
but as soon as they have been adjusted
a comparatively brisk business will be
done in some departments of trade. In
Michigan numbering operations are re-
ported dull. Owing to the lack of snow,
and determination on the part of lum-
berers to curtail the supply, the produc-
ton of the present season, according to
the estimates of the trade journals,
will not average one half that of for
mer years. This state of affairs, while
it is disastrous to the employees, is re-
garded as a fortunate event for the fu-
ture prosperity of the lumber interest.
Although large stocks are OH hand, an
advance on all grades is expected to be
placed on paying basis. Such being
the state of trade in the principal sec
tions of the United States, it is quite
probable that the people will find them
selves doing good business during the
ensuing year, although with lcss profits
than formerly.
Nor are we without indications of a
favorable change in the commercial
affairs of this Dominion. Here, as in
Michigan, the season has been unfavor-
able for log hauling, and numbering
operations haye been curtailed. This
fact will have large tendency to ease
the lumber market, which is still heavy.
and, with a reduced supply and improved
demand in the European and American
markets, will come better prices, where
by relief will be afforded to the banks
which have supported many of the luln-
bering firms during the recent dull
times. The agricultural position of
Ontario is most favorable. The crops
have been abundant, and have realized
fair prices Many farms have been sold
during the past few months at prices
showing tendency to high values.
While other classes of the community
are struggling through hard times, the
farmers, who comprise the bulk of the
population of this province. are un-
doubtedly in comfortable circumstances.
The dull times have pressed most heavily
on importers, manufacturers and dealers.
Wherever there has been over-trading,
financial trouble has followed, and the
trader has been called upon to suffer for
his folly; but whatever steady trade has
been carried on, especially with the
agricultural class, embarrassments aris-
ing from bad debts have been avoided,
because, having well filed barns, they
are we'll allie to pay for their purchases
Very few important failures have oc-
CURED in Toronto or the other cities in
Ontario. In Montreal and throughout
the Province of Quebec the prospect is
not SO favorable, for the Lower Cana
dians have suffered more than their