New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-16
THE SOUTHWEST TRADE.

NEw-YoRK.
lFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE rETBUNE
ST. LOUIS, May 5.-The commercial interests
of New York being closely intertwined with those
of the Southwest il is satisfactory in special de-
gree 70 find that in this city depression has given
place TO confidence and that the feeling Is common
that Missouri and the neighbOring States are now
on the hi On road TO industrial prosperity. The Hon.
Thomas Allen, President of the Iron Mountain
Railroad, whose large investments and extensive
experience in public life render him one OF the best
authorities considers that there is a marked im-
provement in the general condition Of the country
Resumption is regarded as permanent, and invest
ors are acting accordingly The iron industry Is
improving and the railroads are doing more busl-
ness The Iron Mountain Railroad last year moved
about 80 900 bales of cotton, the greater part Oh
which came to st. Louis, which Is now becoming
one of the best markets in the interior for that I'M
portant product. Years previously, little or no COT
ton was carried over the Iron Mountain Road BIT.
Allen considers that 1t would be to the interest OF
Missouri TO establish more cotton factories, ana
deems the competition of the southern lron-prO-
dncers oil more consequence to the Missouri IRON
masters than foreign rivalry which has been over
come by the reduction in the cost of production
While Mr. Allen regards the improvement of the
Mississippi as of the first importance, he holds that
the development of the trade of ST. Louis Is manly
due to the railroads which deliver annually SIX
times more freight in the city than comes to 1t by
water navigation. The regularity and convenience
with which railroads can move freight, must con-
tinue TO give them decided advantages over steam
boat and canal traffic. The Iron Mountain Railroad
is, Mr. Allen says, encouraging emigration, ana mas
difFused large amount of information regarding
Arkansas. which is capable OF great development.
REGARDING railroad communication with Mexico,
Mr. Allen considers that it may be best accomplished
bv the construction of a line from Texarkaua, Ark,
(where the railroads from Galveston and st. Louis
meet to the Pacific at Mazatlan. This line wonld
lass in southwesterly direction through the heart
of Mexico and would have a branch at Durango.
leading to the Mexican capital whence there is
railroad communication with the coast and the i'm
porant city of Puebla. This railroad would be the
shortest line from ST. Louis to the Pacific and would
likewise give the MeXicans the iron highway which
they desire to that ocean. Mr.. Allen is personally
in favor Of the construction Of this line which is
now occupying more or less, the attention OF West
ern capitalists. He holds that the Government
should speedily negotiate the railroad treaty winch
the Msxcans desire 50 that there NAV be no OBJ
staces in the way when the Americans are ready to
begin the construction of the proposed line.
Inrerarl TO the drygjods trade, Mr.. Frank re-
ports that the season which ended in January was
satisfactory the sales being larger than III the cor
responding period in 1877. Owing TO the
severe weather. the opening OF the Spring
trade was retarded about three weeks later than
in ordinary years Resumption has not affected the
current OF trade but it tends 10 impart permanency
TO prices The drygoods houses prepared for
theusual amount of business for the Spring, but
some improvement was expected. The tendency con-
tinues to replace foreign goods by those of domes-
tic manufacture. As in New York, foreign inporia-
tioas have on this account fallen of considerably.
A reasonable quantity of drygoods. such as linens,
embroidered hosiery handkercheis and dress goods
are imported direct by way of Ncw-York. Some
cotton goods are received from the South and West
they compare fayogably IN price and quality with
the Eastern fabrics. More heavy brown sheetnes
are procured from the South than from the East
As regards credit greater caution Is exercised, the
failures among country dealers being about az nu-
merous rs they have been in the past year or two.
In general Mr. Frank considers that there is a de-
cided change for the better in the condition of the
country since 1873. Freghts from New-York to
st. Loui, are still deemed high. A large share of
the dry2oois trade of ST. Louis is done through the
medium of commercial travellers.
The simmons Hardware Company, which last
March occupied large building 80 feet long by 100
wide. with five floors and an immense cellar, report
that the Fan season was prosperous in the hardware
trade the firm itself having sold more goods than
were disposed of by all the hardware stores in the
city during the corresponding season two
years ago. Resumption has not atfectedprlces
nor the general condition of the trade. Eu-
TOpcan goods 40 longer form a large portion of the
trade the firm recommends American cutlery in
preference 70 English and sells very much more OF
it, This is the case also in other branches of the
hardware business. Some files and sporting goods
are. however still received from England, whence
also the finn imports direct the pocket Buifes and
cutlery % well-knOwn makers. Cutlery is also i'm
ported from Germany. This firm sells with care,
and has accurate knowledge of the commercial
standing business men in consequence 1t has lost
httl. by falures IL has thirty travellers "On the
road" who visit the principal towns to solicit or
ders, carrying samples only Of cutlery and pistols
IL sells ont nearly its entire stock three times III the
course Of q year.
In the hardware trade the cOuntry merchants
usually buy at sixty days credit, and are then eX-
pectaI 10 remit: Most of them come to town in Oc-
tober an April to buy, goods. Colorado and Mon
taua are buying shOyels and other mining lmple-
ments ia large quantities. As no fancy hardware
is made west OF the Mississippi River, New-Engand,
Pem,ylyama and NeS-York still supply large
portion of tbs ronWare sold in this city. Heavy or
staple articles, such as hinges and shOvels, are
made here t. a large eXtent. The freights from
New-Yo7k to tn 5 city are considered very cheap in
the hardware trade.
ASregards the grocery trade Mr.. Nicholson, who,
with Scotch energy and perseverance, has built up
large business since 1913, when he first opened a
store on his own account in this city, says there
was q marked improvement from July TO the end of
the year; ii seemed rs if the country dealers were
all ont OF goods and there great activity in all
branches. A large quantity of European products
are imp Irted by way of New-Oreans. some New
York goods are also received through that potr.
For some time owing to the through rates offered
BY the steamship companies, il was possible TO
bring GODS direct from Scotch and English ports