New-York tribune., 1876-09-30
PROSPECTS OF TRADE.
A cHgERING BusINEss OUTLOOK.

The prophecies which have from time to
time appeared regarding the revival in all branches OF
trade this Autumn and Winter seem, judging from the
reports received from large business houses and from
all indications upon which such conclusions
orally based be approaching funlment II is stated
that tho dygoods trade is generally considered to be
very indicator OF business in general, as any
marked nuctuation In the former usually precedes
similar 1uctuatiOn In all other branches OF trade.
The marked activity In the dry goods business which has
manifested during the last month Is therefore
ceiyed very hopeful indication OF increasing I'M
provement in all branches Of industry The reports OF
sales show I'm classes Of goods, decided advance
those Of last year, but the whole the trade
this Fa, In the matter Of prices, has been about the
that Of similar months IN 1875 but on shorter
market Many Of the large dry goods dealers say that
much larger sales would undoubtedly have been made
had there been enough OF goods to meet the demand
This scarcity In the supply Is clearly manifested In
cottons and prints The demand for these goods just
Gar enough ahead Of the supply to keep prices firm In
consequence Of this fact many manufacturers who
daring the Summer compelled to stop work
account Of the du market have been encouraged to
resume other mills which had been stopped by the
scarcity Of water manufacturing their full com
pement OF goods The commission merchants report
that business s not good it week or two
ago. The OF this temporary hl ne they consider
It. is that Obbers throughout the country, anticipating
decided advance prices have purchased large stocks
they dare TO carry, and waiting until further
purchases become absolutely necessary. II Is tradition
IN the trade that year in which there is Presidential
election is a bad year for business, and many
are afraid to burden themselves with more goods
than they can clear prospect OF selling
Immediately. The jobbers say that the merchants are
buying cautiously Many especially from the West,
bring money with them, buy their goods fog cash.
The tendency Of al IL 70 take the goods upon az short
credit they feel able TO afford, while the jobbers
naturally prefer TO sell upon short time possible
Many buyers from the West been brought to ths
city by the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia While
prices anctuating account OF the le<ge aueOn
this city. these dealers preferred 20 buy their
goods small quantities of the Western Iobers. rather
than run the risk buying IA New-York where values
varying every wsek Now. however, the stability
Of prices esusc y the unusual demand has had great
Influence dp0u their buying In this marx IL seems TO
be general impression that permanent reaction IN
business has set IN, and that while II may be OF slow
growth there Is a healthier feeling manifested through
out all branches In many classes of goods the prices
b&ve considerably advanced dIrng the month. This IL
especially noticeable anaels, watch worth II per
cent than they during the GUNNER and there
seems every probability Of even sill greater adj
vance. It was stated by firm. dealers in hanncs
only that their sales during the past seven weeks had
surpassed those OF any equal period for years Tney
also that the Southern and Western trade h greater
than IL has been since 1871.
Mr. Janray of the firm OF f. T. Jafny & Co said; 1--WE
seem to be having sound healthy revival in trade af
ter having had FIVE In which there seemed 10 be
total lack of oouhlsnee au sd"s. think from all
the Indications that shall have good and increasing
trade the next ave yea. Tao inquiry seems to be
principally for low and meiumpriced goods and popu-
lar thcse IN greater demand than they have
years In this respect the revival is similar to
which took place about Il months after the panic Of
1887"
Mr. Dale Of Klyne Spring Dale Co, Successors to g.
b. CRittenden q Co. when asked aboHt the effect which
the in trade had had upon their business, said
Our business haS been extremely havy since the mid
die Of August The sales been made In small lots 20
buyers who need tic goods foT Immediate use but the
number OF these large that the total sales reach
large hs1Ire think the Centennial has had tIe effect Of
bringing large humber Of buyers from the West into
this market but be accounted for principally by
the confidence which h returning to all classes Of busi-
ness ueu will probably continue hsFraiter
10 mako their purchases In this market, A.
New-York City is naturally the great distributing
center OF the country. and there never IA but one
such In any country Efforts tn draw the trade froT
Sew-York ths large Western cities will fail sgnaS
In my opinion. Many houses still In an unsound
condition. aud hope To regain footing by this revival
but scarcely think they Will succeed Manufacturing
has been very generally resumed throughout the coUn
try and a5 we are beginning find foreign outlets for
our surplus goods DO not apprrhend any further di
Guilty from over manufacturing"
In the ooIen trade about the same condition Of hngs
vas found to exist Mr. Collins OF the rm OF Collins,
Downing A Co., said that they DONG yeIy large
;;sIres. principally n cless OF goods Buyers
aveared o be very cautious and only took what goods
the meant t0 FOR They were bsuchtng oE te tAct
that seyerl Large houses In their line were retiring nom
business.
ALL NJ Bates & Co.'S Mr. Bates said: al anticipated
very active trade early In the Summer and made every
preparation for IL. Ny antidpatons have been more
than realized We have had an immense number of
buyers from the South and the Southwest Many weak
and nsolyent have been closed out and heso
saes at auction OF banrupts stocks have denorazcd
the retail trade, but that 20 be and western
men are coming feeling encouraged and confident Of
better tneA Inquiry Ia made principally for cAeap
date use as retailers aI Jobbes have learned 20 bo
ous, aud are no longer buying for speculative PURPOSES
many years, labor increasingly In demand auh when
Idle population Is provided with work We sahu DO
fairly launched on the high road TO permanent pros
periLy."
TRIBUNE reporter, In conversation With uber Of
OF the large jobbng houses elected ta foiiowng
facts regarding the comparative values and amounts Of
cotton woolen and silk goods sold In trs months
Of 1878 and 1876 Cotton fabrics IL said, with all
the advance that has taken place since the remarkable
depression OF May st sell at prices ten per cont less
than during September Of last year On the other hand
the value OF the goods sold Will be y per cent
tha month than In the corresponding month Of 1878
There ss consequently much larger amount being dis
posed OF at present than at that time,
Wooden goods, IL was estimated by three competent
Judges selling per cent higher than last Nay but
fifteen per cent less than year ago. The valuation Of
the present sales Is about per higher than last
September.
THE SILK TRADE UNSETTLED.
Tho silk market continues TO be In very unsettled
condition owing to fact that importers and iobbers
are 70 many cases Offering their goods at prices widely
different During the period In the Spring when silks
fell their lowest figures many of she heaviest obbers
bought very large quantities, much OF which they stn
have ON hani and offer at low rates But sIks have
risen fuy 20 per N value since May In England and
France Importers have OF course advanced their prices
nrcordfngIy Hcuru the undetermined condition OF the