The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-17
cided adyantages arlsIng from that method

J
\ M FURNITURE.
In al departments Of the house furnish.
Ing business the demand has been largely
for substantial and cheap goods. Sales Of
high priced furniture have been the ex.
ception. There has been heavy decline
in the prices Of all classes Of furniture, so
much so that the unfortunate pair who
were compelled to set up their household
at war figures would faint away with sur.
prise Of the vastly diminished cost OF the
same class Of furniture as sold to-day,
The business has been as good for 1873 rs
for years previous, but atprotits which are
Of the nartowest pattern.
MANUFACTURES.
The iron branch Of our manufacturing
interest has been the subject OF such
frequent discussion in the public prints,
and so little can DO added, that this re.
porter did not see III to subject any OF the
managers TO the inQulsitnrial rack.
GLASS.
The glass works Of Wheeling and yicin.
ity have for years enjoyed high reputa.
ton for superiority Of goods. The great
concerns in tho city have been conducted
with eminent success. The relations be.
tween the employers and employees have,
with but slight Interruptions, been most
gratifying In character, and the result has
been steady employment for the artisans
and uniform production by the works,
The business, however, has been subject
to the yfcisSttudes which have fallen upon
oil the business OF the country, und while |
the production and sale OF goods have
been very uniform, there has been but |
shade Of profit. Our manufactures have
engaged 10 some extent In foreign expor. |
tation, and their goods have been very
iayorably received, but commercial con. |
ditions are not yet Of character 10 either
facilitate direct trade or make It profitable.
some. goods have been shipped 10 Ger.
many, but hemanipulation Of thereyenue
system, by Bismarck, renders Il doubtful
whether that market will be open any
great length Of time, Our manufacturers
regard the financial difficulties OF the prin.
cipal European nations as Of such char.
acter as TO preclude, for the present, the
possibility Of any commercial arrangement
which will let our manufactured goods
into their markets upon any profitable
tooting, Some trade had been established
with Brazil and several South American
states through the medium OF New York,
but alter the American centennial there
seemed to have setin q mania for shipping
manufactured goods OF every description
to South America, especially TO Brazil, and
as q consequence the market was glntted.
The business for 1878 may be set down
as but moderately remineratiye, In.
qniries Tor goods at present are consider.
able, and the manufacturers whilehopeful,
are not sanguine about the future.
SUMMARY.
The result Of our inquiries among the
business men OF our city, we are free to
confess, has not been so bright as We had
anticipated. 1t was plain 10 the casual
observer that vast amount Of business
had been done in this city during the year
1873. We entered upon the interviewing
business IN the expectation OF being able
70 show that our business interests had
begun to feel the influences OF that better
time which has been no long promised,
and 80 patiently waited for. That we have
not been able to make a better showing Of
profits is not our fault, but that Of the
times, While the city Is financially healthy
aud makes an aggregate showing Of bust.
ness equal to that Of any city OF its
size in the country. The most de-
cided communist could scarcely de.
mand further distribution Of the
proceeds than has actually taken place
under the pressure Of business contingent.
cies. The only thing We can boast Of Is
that our commercial interests have been
with great skill, and that the year {
1878 ended without financial disaster wor.
thy Of note.