The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-04-05
BUSINESS PROSPECTS.
Encourn aina Outlook In the World Of Trndc
Increased Activity i'm the Dry Goods
Line.

Encoura gins Outlook in the World Of Trndc
Increased Activity in the Dry Goods
Line.
Since the settlement of the vexatious
Presidential question, says the New
York Herald, there are highly encour-
aging indications of a revival OF trade to
the same degree of activity it once en-
joyed before panic, want of confidence
and hard times generally settled over the
country. Nearly every business man of
note who has been addressed on the sub
ject speaks hopefully of the future.
There is a healthier spirit of confidence
gradually spreading itself through the
business community, as trade is being
placed on q surer basis than ever before.
The large dry goods houses feel the bene-
fit of the change most sensibly, as in the
vast variety of their wares there is some
thing to suit every class of customer.
"Our business" said a gentleman con-
nected with Broadway house, I" is the
best trade barometer you can find. If n
mans business be dull he must econo-
mize, and his wife or daughter cannot go
to the dry goods merchant quite as fire.
quently as before. When business IS
brisk man naturally opens his pocket
| book to his family and we reap the bene-
| fit of it."
"How does your business compare
with that of last year2"
Z" Very much better There has not
been falling off in any one department
and decided gain in some. A few weeks
of fine weather will have n wonderful
effect on our trade, and have not the
| I - L,,@ ~ will nnpfin11 ia
active far into the summer. 1t is about
time, too, for n change. L have seen
some of our customers, who in former
years would look at nothing short OF
high priced article, come down to calico,
and grumble about the price at that.
"Do you think that the settlement OF
the Presidential question has had any
thing to do with encouraging trade?
Undoubtedly. Anything that tends
to harass or disturb the public mind in.
jures business, especially national
question like that of deciding who shall
be the Chief Magistrate of the republic.
But. then, the revival in trade was
bound to come; it was impossible fol
stagnation to last much longer"
At the other leading houses opinions
exactly coinciding with the aboye were
expressed. The openings or the displays
of spring fashions this season were more
literally patronized, and the attendance
was much larger than for some years
past. There is also decided improve
ment in the wholesale dry goods trade, as
the orders from the country dealers are
pouring in with gratifying celerity. One
merchant was convinced that the country
was fast approaching an era of prosper
ity and that the days of wild specula
ton and wanton extravaganza had de
parted forever. cit is better for all,
he said, "that the business should n
last be fixed on firm, sound basis thar
to be conducted in the reckless mannel
of former years. 1t was in the natura
course of things that business not bull
on a solid foundation could not resis
the shock of adversely, and we mus
reach hardpan some time or other.
: Another gentleman said that the rcvlva
in trade in the fall would as
tonish every one, as there l
plenty of money in the country, ant
when confidence is restored it will b.
put in active circulation. He was yer,
} sanguine on the question of our expor
trade, saying it would increase steadil
J until it regained its highest standard
5 With a good market for our wares an
money coming in constantly from ou
customers across the Atlantic, business
: he thought, would be brighter and NOR
: enduring. The decrease in prices ger
, orally is considered by some merchant
5 as n good sign, as it tends to bring every
, thing back to ante-war rates, and is
S strong barrier against speculation. A
together, the prospects of trade are II
2 garded by some OF our prominent mel
E chants as very encouraging.