The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-24
MAINE.
The Crops and Business Prospects of the
State.

Mr.. 7. Frank Jones, manager Of the Mer-
camille Agency, issues to his subscribers to-day
circular OF interest to all our readers which
we tappend. He could also have added the
failures have been less the past few months
than for the same period for several years
back. The Portland business men have done
from 20 to 30 per cent. more business the past
September than for any September since the
war. Country credits are healthy. The farm
ers are getting good prices for their crops and
there seems to be free circulation OF money
throughout the State with a corresponding
stringency in the cities. The following is the
circular:
OFFICE OF THE MERCANTILE AGENCY,
No. SO Exchange Street,
PORTLAND, Oct. ~, 1881:
Dear Strive beg to submit to our supscrlD-
ers the following opinions as to the crops and
business prospects in this State, based on
close observation and diligent enquiry made BY
our travelling reporters who have personally
visited every county.
Not the least important is the potato crop.
In the Aroostook the unprecedented yield OF
1880 induced farmers to plant 20 per cent.
more this year. The drought immediately fol-
lowing retarded growth and the subsequent
almost continuous rain produced rust and rot.
The yield opens out, however, better than
was expected, but the general impression is
that the gross results in the State will fall far
below last years crop and of smaller size.
The hay crop we fear is deficient in quality
and quantity. The wealthiest farmers, with
improved agricultural appliances, harvested
their crop well during the limited good wealth
er; the majority, however, in the State were
less fortunate. The anticipated advance may
benefit dealers but we predict the net result in
dollars realized by producers will not equal
that OF last year.
Wheat has rusted and is deficient in quanti-
ty. Oats are somewhat beaten down by rain,
but fair crop. Buckwhsat looks well.
The impression prevails that fully an aver
age stock OF legs will be cut, though advance
in supplies will deter some, while present
favorable condition in the lumber market Will
encourage others to increased operations.
La every direction we notice evidence OF
thrift; increased acreage under cultivation in
Aroostook is quite apparent; large amount
of new buildings and repairing OF old ones is
observable all over the State; mortgages can
celed or redaced, and the rate of interest les
sened. The demand upon us by subscribers to
report new concerns is unusually great and is
positive evidence of growth and that the fall
trade among our jobberS and wholesale dealers
will be heavy. We are hard at work prepar-
ing our January reference book which in point
of completeness and accuracy, we propose
shall excel all former publications. The de-
tailed reports as to capital, character, capacity,
and credit, available at !the office to all sub
scribers have been thoroughly freshened and
put into great completeness through our trav-
elling reporters, who have made special fea-
ture of examining the county and town rec
ords, which will be kept Systematically re-
vised throughout the State by weekly returns
from every registry. We urge and invite our
patrons to avail themselves more freely of this
the most important of our facilities.
We congratulate our subscribers upon the
past summers profitable business, and the
brilliant prospects for fall and winter, and
shall use every effort to keep them promptly
advised of any unfavorable change that may
occur. Yours respectfully,
T. FRANK JONES, Manager.