Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-10-20
THg TRADE.
RemarEabIs Revival IN n Rich and
Pr0misinE Field Of Business.

-
RemarkabIe Revival IN n Rich and
Promising Field Of Business.
Philadelphia North Americana
The remarkable revival Of the South
ern trade this season has not been sufi-
ciertly commented upon by the journals
of the Northern commercial cities. OF
the TACT itself there can be no doubt.
Whatever the causes may have been, the
recovery has been general and surprising.
Il was looked for last spring, but failed
to make its appearance on account Of
the political agitation and uncertainty.
But with the lapse Of time and the bar.
monizing Of the Earring sections, COM
mercial confidence seemed to spread and
to acquire strength. Surprise has fire.
qnently been felt aud expressed 10
former years, that this restoration Of
Southern trade had not followed the re-
sumption Of Southern crops, mining
and manufactures. 1t was said, how
ever, that the deficiency was among the
Southern merchants and tradesmen,
who regarded the situation with nervous
apprehension, and therefore made no
effort in the way Of business enterprise.
Owing to this cause the unusual exer-
lions Of the British manufacturers and
merchants, after the civil war, to take
advantage of the intense animosity be-
tween the North and South to monopo-
lie the trade OF the latter, utterly failed
of success, To the same cause may be
traced the embarrassments of Southern
railways, and the failures Of some i'm
portAnt Southern industries. Since the
settlement of the Southern question was
made by the Hayes administration, the
absence of all public agitation has been
followed by q revival of business at the
South, and the result is seen in the large
amount Of sal to that section By the
Northern commercial cities during what
is usually termed the fall trade.
The trade of that section was always
large and valuable before the war, and
perhaps the proportion Of losses sus.
taiRed in it IA not larger on the aver
age than those formerly incurred 10 the
Western trade. In the prosperous times
of that traffic, many of the largest North
ern jobbing houses in New York and
Philadelphia made it their chief aim.
Two classes of goods were in great de-
mand at the Sonth-the costliest and the
cheapest. But since the wal the demand
for the former has been very small. Now
seems to be settisg in again, and this
is which gives the Southern trade its
peculiar value. There has been a grow.
ing belief among shrewd Northern oh.
servers that there must be much more
money at the South than the country
wore the appearance OF having, This
was based on the profits of the crops
the war and the extreme closeness
and economy practiced by the Southern
aud well-to do classes. And
remarkable activity Of the Southern
trade this season appears to sustain the
1t is manifest that since the war
millions Of dollars have gone South to
move the crops, aud have remained there
aud not returned to US again.
Most of the Southern cities and towns
are now much larger, more populous aud
more furnishing than they we're, and
the iRvsrisble report from all of
them since the war has been Of poverty
and want Of means, there has this season
been q mysterious change. Money has
come out Of its hiding places Trade
has doomed large where little was ex.
and things generally are rapidly
assuming the old aspect. 1t is true that
he ruin wrought by the total destruction
AL The wealth invested in the Confed
crate cause let a fearful waste at the
But q wholesome period Of
hard work, stringent economy and close
management has done wonders, and il is
20 exaggeration to say that the average
condition of the Southern people is very
much improved over what it was in 1860
This will be rendered more apparent
hereafter by the progress Of trade.