Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-07-09
THE CONDITION OF TRADE.
Present Status Of the Iudustry. and the
Prospsos tor the Future.

ffOapoOt tor tno ~ utuEo'
From yesterdays Pituhuryh Post
Interviews were hal yesterday by
Pot reporters with differ, nj iron and
nail manufacturers. The general import
of the interviews were the same AMI
that had with Mr.. Alex. Laughlin, ot
the firm Of Jones Il l.aughln, may he
taken as a fair statement oi the manu-
iacturers' feeling.
The Iron Trade.
"What is the condition ot the iron
trade?" asked the reporter OF Mr..
l.aughlin. So.
II believe the market Is little better
now than Tor three or four weeks past,
VAS Mr.. l.auyhlins reply. Inquiries
are more numerous and the demand Tor
iron very fair" t 49,,
Are stocks pretty well exhausted"
"The stocks of finished iron are not
excessive; they are rather lighter than
usual. The mills haven't been running
to stock up. When they didn't have
orders Ia ill they generally closed down
What prices does your iron bring
now"
From = 2.l0t to = cents per pound
WOull tt ldil AhS setN
rates are -, and that is the retail price,
hut to large Purchasers the former rates
are given"
as not this usually dull season ior
the iron trade -!
From this time until the middle of
August il is usually dull. The siN
weeks following July LIST, are always con-
sidered the dull season for iron manu-
iaCturers 1t il not 50 dull this year AZ
usual at this time, though neither Ii
trade near 81 brisk as this time last year
About this time last wear, you remeni-
Der, the boom began spreading over the
country and everybody had to come to
see that the iron trade Was bound to
hum, although the boom Was then about
in its infancy.
An increased Demand Predicted.
What can you say about consumers
necessities"
Enquiries are pretty numerous,
which Indicate that consumers are pret-
" well out oi their stocks think the
demand will he steady and healthy
from this time forward"
"po You anticipate an advance in
prices
I'VE believe >! cents y fair price for
iron aud think the rates should really
advance to that figure, instead of resting
there nominally aud in reality being less.
We do not expect an advance beyond.l
cents.
They Don't Fssr the Campaign.
"Whal effect will the Presidential
campaign have on the iron trade"
The natural effect Of an exciting po-
litical canlpaign Ia to detract the atten-
ton oi people from their business, but |
do not think people will suspend this
year any work commenced, or any i'm
provement projected, on account OF the
cimpaign. The people are pretty we'll
satisfied that the country will be- safe
with the election oi either OF the Presi.
dental candidates, whether IL he Gar.
field OF Hancock. There is really no
question at issue in the political contest
that will affect our business, unless il
may be the tariff question" E"
How does the tariff question arise I'm
the Presidential ,ontest?"
"Well, don't know much about that.
don't really believe Il at question will
arise
What effect did the last campaign
have On the non trader
"in 1876 We had the Centennial. !
believe the advantages OF the Centennial
oyercame any bad results from the cam.
paipn. Wehsd u good trade during that
entire summer and fall.
We'll, what was the effect OF previous
campaigns ON the iron trade" persisted
the reporter, anxious to know how man
uiactures viewed from "hindsight' a
matter which gave them So much alarm
when viewed from foresight"
IL don think the Presidential cam.
paigns affect the iron manufacturers as
much AS the general trade oi the coun-
try. A man who means To build
house or put up line OF shaiting will
do it no matter whether he wants Hsp-
cosk OF GaIield elected. A said b.
tore. there are no issues At stake that
will affect our business"
The Hail Trade.
what can YOU tell me about the
nail trsde?'
The nail mills are under suspension
three weeks out OF four, with view Of
reducing stocks. The stocks throughout
the country are very greatly reduced and
there is very good demand ior nails"
What is the selling price now"
The card price is 81 25 per keg, and
then ii q nsn buys over two hundred
kegs he gets ten cents less than that on
each keg and In addition two per cent.
discount for cash pay yments. For large
lots sellers take tsenty-6ve cents per
key less than the card rates"
How about stocks held by specula-
tors?"
"The speculative lots are nearly all
taken. The Spectators have sold at
less rates than l gave you; they had to
do it to get rid OF their naila"
lis s. Is per kes fair price,
"with bar iron ct q cents. nails
ought .o.srinS es pSshss. ETe0as
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