Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-06
RusINRsS TALKS.

BUSINESS TALKS.
Confidence is the most essential ele-
ment to business prosperity whether 1t
relate to the operations OF an individual
or a community. The lack OF 1t Is
blighting even when other clrcum-
stances are favorable, but when II once
takes possession OF business circles there
are no adverse conditions that can long
stand in the way OF increasing prosper
ity.
That such feeling peryades the busl-
ness circles OF our city rs well as oil the
country at large, no one who Is not
thoroucblv obtuse and unimpresslb'e
can be in doubt. The improved spirit
difFuses itself and is everwhere contag-
ious. This alone is sufficient guaran-
tee of advancing prosperity and the har-
binger of better times.
We regard the situation as even more
promising, in that it is not the out
growth Of a sudden and spasmodic ad-
vance in prices, OF in many cases even
n very lar,e increase in the volume oil
business. Those who know best the
condition Of trade in our city are aware
that this feeling of confidence does not
rest exclusively or chiefly upon either
large increase IN profits or sales. Inc
man who goes about to estimate the
"boom" from such data may be dlsap-
pointed, and inclined 10 believe that II
does not exist. Nevertheless, where he
finds what he may regard, from such a
standpoint, the lack OF any evidence
of revival, he will not fail 10
find confidence. The eye OF the
business man has scanned the
horoscope, and though he may not
be able to sum up, in logical FORM all
the evidences or reasons for "the faith
that is IN him." he k,Ovs there IS fair
weather ahead, just rs the rheumatic
knows the storm is spent when the ache
begins to subside.
We have found this to be the situa-
ton as regards business in our city, by
casual chats with our business men.
While business has been the popular
topic outside as well as inside OF 0usi-
ness circles OF late, We have endeayored,
for our own profit, TO draw the dlStlnc-
ton between that whica was mere spec
ulation or hearsay, and that Of men who
speak from experience. We have IN
mind some impressions derived from
conversations with the latter class, oc-
curing within few days past, and
while not assuming to report these con-
versations specifically or accurately 1t
may not be Improbable to give them
somewhat in detail, as well as the
sources from which they come.
We took occasion TO catcchiSc Mr..
JAMES maxwell few days since, as
one whose judgment and actual contact
with business matters in the city, make
his opinions OF some value. We did
not find him specially jubilant over ac-
tual business results within the city, al
though the sales OF the present sea-
son in his line Of business compare
fayorably with the corresponding
period oi last year. Nor has
there been any material increase
in the line Of merchandise, groceries,
in which Mr.. MAxwELL'S firm deals.
There il one day an advance OF &c on
sugar, or lc on coffee, by which the
brokers may endoavor To stimulate the
demand. but the next day it viii 20
back, and while there has been no az
tual advance in prices, or large increase
in sales, the market is in healthy con-
ditiOn.
Mr.. maxwell believes that the Gus
tom of selling through "drummers, or
travelling statesmen, now 50 general IN
the country, is, at the present time, one
of the most perniciouS with which mer-
chants have to contend. Ii not only re-
sults in disaster 10 those by whom they
are sent out, through the ignorance
end eagerneSs of statesmen to sell
10 ANYBODY and everybody, but II offers
10 adventures in business an oppOrtu-
nity to establish themselves IN compe-
tition for a brief period, with established
and substantial houses, and cripple
their business by putting goods on the
market at prices with which men who
do legitimate business cannot COM
pete.
This mode Of selling, however, Is so
generally adopted that men who sell
must resort to it TO maintain themselves,
and men who buy fall in with it because
they find it convenient and profitable to
do so.
In regard to the money market, Mr..
NJ. states there is more money than can
find profitable investment. The banks Of
the city have, for some time, been car
rying large quantities OF idle capital,
with nothing to call 1t out. a lew years
since the banks did a good business IN
discounting the paper of the various
manufactures in the city. This has
been very much diminished by pur-
chasers from the mills paying cash or
having their paper discounted at home
and having their bills by checks. The
result is that much OF the capital OF our
banks has been compelled to seek in
vestment in neighboring States.
The firm of Messsrs. SIMPSON * REID
have much the same experience in the
grocery business as that given above.
They find no material advance in prices
or increase in the volume OF business,