The New York herald., 1878-12-16
for general business do not yet appear very encour-

for general business do not yet appear very
aging.
The general condition of the oil business In this
city has been good il declared with losses than
for four or fye years. and It is now established on
cash basis. General results this year better than
last, and a larger and healthier business done
with profits comparatively small and more safety
in transactions. surplus capital employed only 10
extend capacity for business and there appears to be
more confidence among those in the trade than for
four years and prospects excellent. In the for
eign trade prices low, but oil in good demand
An oil dealer states that the general condition OF
their business has been good among the reners, and
larger volume OF business has been done this year
than last. Prices have greatly declined dnring the
year. which anticipated, but profits We're better.
Confidence has improved. and generally there is a
better feeling. Exports have been very large and
show average increase of ten per cent in the past
ports from the country 100000 gallons short of
last year.
LUMBER
The condition of the legitimate lumber trade has
been exceedingly poor during the year, even worse
than the previous year. and has been on the decline
since 1874 until it has ceased to be means of OBJ
tanning living. The trade has been entirely ruined
by class of men called ''scaipers who are broken
anv capital. who ,n,dersell the trade by peddling
small amounts from depot yards where the lumber is
consigned i'll The character OF the business has
been entirely changed, and scarcely any lumber
comes in large quantities at time to the market but
comes by the car load in amounts desired, thus CIV
ing small dealers good chance as large ones, SO
that there general desire the part of the former
large dealers to quit the business altogether But,
is improved in the regular trade. Weak houses are
gone and those remaining generally i'll good CON
dition as to capital. There has been a fair lumber
business done IN the city. but o much better one in
the country.
In the light leather trade there is improved con-
dition OF affairs among the firms which not
caught in the large failures of year ago, and this
has been their best year since 1873 Prices of new
stock have advanced considerably and firm and
the volume OF business done this year much
larger than last, and trade is healthier and more
satisfactory and business is done on cash basis
Raw material has advanced twenty five per cent, and
Inargins to tanners are very slim.
DRUGS.
There is a large manufacturing drug house here
selling specially article said To be the largest estab
lishment of the kind in the world. Their business
reaches every part OF the United States, to almost
every city, town and village, and information from
them may be considered valuable. They say that
their business has not been good during the clos
ing year i'll previous years This is the worst
season they have had for many years. for while the
amount Of their sales did not fall of to .
large extent they have had serious losses from
failures, &c. and their collections have not been
prompt. They have over fourteen thousand agents.
and their reports show that the storekcepers in the
cities appear to be generally better off than two
three years ago. but the country stores short
account of farmers Withholding payment. The crops
have been good. but i'll the West farms generally
mortgaged and the payment of the interest takes all
the cash the farmers can raise.
GROCERIES,. AND CoFFEEs.
There has been continued decline in the prices Of
goods pertaining to the grocery trade during the
year. The volume of business of the year is the
last but less than the average and much less
than 1t three years ago. Receipts have fallen off
considerably on account OF small prices and grocers
have been compelled to sell very close. Confidence
is gradually beginning to return, and there is
healthy feeng in the trade account of the settled
currency and not many failures anticipated for
year During the year there have been failures
among the wholesale grocers in Philadelphia, and
the average has not been two failures year for ten
years. There has been general shrinking of credit
among the grocers and it will still be curtailed. The
country stores during the have been slow to pay
bills and give the that farmers unable
to pay theln although their crops have been large
but they have received little nothing for their
produce and all speculation is dead among them.
The leading sugar dealer says the prospects for the
coming year excellent; that the West India crops
better quality and larger than for years before
that the gross business has been satisfactory making
better showing than the previous year, both to
prospects and general results, and that there IL
1t never in bad condition. He thinks the bus
ness outlook good, US crops have been good and
farmers made money, and there were few failures
Sugar rehners conservative, and their capital is
employed entirely in their business.
PROVISIONS.
prominent provision packer and shipper said,
in answer to the question as to what had been the
general condition of his line of business this year.
that it good far fancy were concerned
But those who handle. lard have suffered, and it
still the decline. As to the volume OF his own
business they had done thelargest OF any year but
it the closest-tnat il, smallest margins, with
smallest prces-of any yearin their experience run
ming over quarter OF centzlry; that there
investments Of capital in their line, but several
firms had retired from the business In their busl
confidence was much improved: they had lost
less money III the slA ufOntns tHau III
responding six months for two years The failures
in Scotland only affected credit far their foreign
trade with that country that prospects of their
general business were very encouraging; the export
demand was enormous, and by far better this year
than last but the prices were hover than ever before
Next year they thought they would make money, but
to business generally they could not any
marked Improvement.
LIQUORS.
In imported and domestic liquors the reports are
that the business for the has not been bad rcla
lively The receipts from sales have not been large
this year last. There il falling off in the guam
tty OF goods sod but the quality and prices have not
been high heretofore. The prevailing stringency
has injured the sales of the high priced wines and
spirits and increased the demand for the cheaper
brands. The importations have not been large ut
this port this year last and the sales of the oldest
and best domestic wbskeys have decreased There has
been increase III the demand for beers bottled
beers particularly, and the business is improving
JIwELRY AND sILvERwAIE.
The dealers III jewery and silverwarc take much
view Of the situation than those in almost any
other business. They say that people buy ing
literally and quickly, and that during all this season.
since January last there has been marked improve
ent. Their business this year has been double that
OF 1877. 1t has been of their best ycars-far
better than any since the panicand they think from
present indications, season will be their most
una afa in ftxpy fy- -fya vaara