The Portland daily press., 1879-06-02
MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 2.
New York Times.l
Springs Promises Kept.
Evidences of Prosperity on Every Hand.

Evidences Of Prosperity on Every Hand.
The promises OF returning prosperity in all
branches of trade and manufacture, as given
in the Times a few months ago, have been kept,
and the reports then gathered have been amply
verified. The correspondents OF the Times
have gone again over the ground covered be-
fore, and the results of their researches, as well
as those of many other correspondents from
sections hitherto not heard from, confirm the
impressions of our recent canvass. A full sum-
mary of these reports, coming from about sew
enty-fve different points, in thirty-one States.
and occupying page of the Daily Times, near
ly all the important centres of trade and man.
ufacturing industries being represented, is pub
lished below.
In England, manufacturers of all kinds
appear to have felt the revival of business
most strongly. Except in one or two cases in
Rhode Island and Connecticut, where recent
financial endorsements temporarily interfere,
factories are running on full time, with brisk
demand for their products. Lumber mills are
busy, but prices are low. Jobbers report good
Spring trade. Sales are rapid, but on small
margin of profit. Retailers alone complain,
being the last to feel the evidences of return
ing prosperity. Business is transacted on a
sounder basis. Fewer credit is given and less
asked, and collections are generally easy. Less
Idle men are seen on the streets, owing to fac
tory resumption and emigration, and skilled
labor is in demand. Wages are lower.
What has been said of New-England is true
of the Middle States. New manufactures are
being started in some places, low wages rem
dering possible the running of the works Oh
lower scale of profits. One indication of the
revival is the increased traffic of the railroads.
New-Jerseys silk factories now employ nearly
twice as many hands as year ago, and her
iron and machine makers have hard work to
keep up with orders, even by running night
and day. In Pennsylvania, one firm has ad-
vanced the wages of its employees. The i'm
provement is hardly SO apparent in the dis
tricts where coal interests are prominent, and
here the furnace men are very fearful of
threatened advance in coal rates. Delaware's
ship-yards are full OF work: Confidence is ex-
West, and the skilled mechanics who remain
find work enough. AS in New-England, the
retailers are more cheerful over prospects than
present business.
From Baltimore, which has lost much of its
Southern trade, comes cry of distress, mingled
export trade Taking the other Southern and
Southwestern States, the general expression is
very cheerful, South Carolina only reporting
trade dull. Virginia finds great impetus Civ
en- to tobacco manufacturing by the reduction
OF the tax. West Virginia grumbles, with
glass and nail factories in full blast, because
profits are not 100 per cent. The cotton States
report reviving business, based on the prom
Use OF the crops The other States report good
general feeling, with the exception of Ken
lucky. In almost every State, building opera
tious are brisk, and finances are growing sound
er, as shown in the payment of old debts and
less desire for long credits New-Orleans has
some fear OF quarantine which may en-
barrass business.
Throughout the West the same evidences of
prosperity are shown, but are more seIf-assert-
ing than in the South. No failures or rumors
OF failures in trade; collections easy long cred
its neither offered nor asked-these are the
chief financial indications All the manufac-
ries are busy. Those which, supply material
and tools for farmers and new settlers are par
tlculafly favored with orders The millers of
st. Louis only have shut down, but for local
reasons. Jobbers report that trade has been in
some places 10 per cent. better than last wear.
The retail trade, again, is the least affected by
returning good times, but the farmers are now
hard at work, and have little time to spend in
shopping: Building is going ON rapidly every
where. Emigration is very large-some of the
more western States even appear to feel crowd
ed. There is plenty of work everywhere. as
one correspondent says, for muscle and capital.