Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-03-10

The New YORK IHAcs gives review oil
trade in tina; city, which will be found Of
great interest at this time. TNea;y-nine
separate trades, including all the leading
branches of industry, are presented under
several classifcations In the tour trades
included in the first division, VIZ building,
painting and plumbing. business is generally
at a stand-still, AMI tie future Is not bright.
In the iron trade, prices are lower than they
have been since the war, and it i thought
that the loves; point has been reached.
There is very little demand for it, except for
the manufacture of horse shoes, aud some
activity in the trade for iron girders. No
railroad iron has been called for this year.
In the metal market, block tin is the staple,
and the market for it is il bad condition.
Prices have declined, and there is nc pros
pect of a rise In other metals, there is more
activity, but no permanent improvement Is
looked for till next year.
In the grain trade ,dullne,s prevails Prices
are low AMI stocks large, but favorable
movement i, looked for in the spring. The
wholesale grocery trade is also ddl, stocks
are low in the country, and the large houses
have to carry heavy amounts. The demand
i steady, but small The trade in provisions
principally hogs healthy and active.
The same may be said Of the country produce
trade It IS not very active hat steady, and
prices VA an average have not greatly de-
| cined The demand for cereal and flower
seed i, also good, and better Is expected
In the dry goods trade, dealers large and
small ale proceeding with extreme caution,
and little Is being done. MANY failures of
small houses have occurred, but those who
can tide over the present difficulties regard
this a. favorable to them. Collections have
been slow but the spring IS expected 10
/ bring better times. Roads are bad in the
country. farmers have not come in 10 make
their purchases, and county dealers are not
/ giving orders. Goods are cheaper than be-
| fore, and the Western trade seems more
active than the Southern Ia the boot and
shoe trade, there l., on the whole, little 10
complain Of. The mild winter has been IN
/ favorable to this industry, but manufacturers
| speak hopefully of their prospects. OF the
| hide and leather business. substantially the
same account Is given. 1t i a steady trade
and suffers little from fluctuations. In
clothing and furnishing goods, trade is quiet,
| but manufacturers seem to expect a great
revival in the spring, and some are making
extensive preparations for it. Stocks, how
ever. are very large. In fur, there Is moth
| Ing doing except in seal goods and in India
rubber clothing goods there j. absolute stag
nation, though in other departments Of the
rubber business trade Is reasonably active
In the carpet and upholstery trade there
i. general feeling of buoyancy. for trade Is
better than ii was last year. and promises 10
improve, during the coming season. The
piano makers are also in good spirits over
their business prospects. Leading houses
are turning gu. full amount Of instruments
| but collections ale reported to he slow. 10
china and glassware, trade is altogether
| stagnant, and the stocks On hand are large.
The carriage trade i also very dull. but
dealers are hopeful Of increased activity
during the spring and summer The jewellers
report that they are not doing bad... Prices
are lower and profits less than before, bat,
as compared with many other trades, they
have not such 10 complain OF.
In the wine and liquor business nothing
Is doing, though an active demand for high
er grades Of wine i soon expected. The
price Of whi,key is very low, and the de-
mand for it very small. The temperance
movements ar thought to have something
ID DO with this, but the more obvious reason
is the hard times, which have compelled
men to drop the expensive luxury Of whiskey
for cheaper lager and ale The brewers are
consequently kept very busy, and report
their business as being in excellent condi-
ton, with better prospects ahead. In the
confectionery trade, prices are very low, but
trade has been steady.
In ship, building, both of iron and wooden
vessels, the outlook is gloomy Nothing Is
doing, nor is there any prospects Of revival,
except that the boat-builderS LOOK for some
renewal Of activity in the Spring, mainly
On account of the Centennial. The printing
trade is dull, but the low price of paper and
other materials gives promise of an impoye
ment in the trade. The manufacturers OF
chemicals and drugs report business TO be
brisk, and much better than last year. The
sewing machine trade has not suffered much,
and the demand Is steady.
In every business above enumerated, with |
the single exception Of the wine trade, |
there has been a steady advance 10 the |
cash system and to extreme caution in |
trading. The hard times have had the good |
effect Of getting business upon the sounder
basis. Speculation has practically ceased. |
Buyers call tor no more than they immedi |
ately want, and pay for it cash down, or on
short time. In nearly all trades there i an
expectation that the Centennial will have q |
good effect in Ieyiying business but these
expectations are very moderate.