New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-25
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
RESULTS OF A BACKWARD SPRING.


city in regard 10 the condition Of the spring trade
show that il is in fairly satisfactory condition. IL
has not been so large as anticipated, owing to
the unfavorable weather; but it has been largo
enough to prevent any great dissatisfaction. Trade
in all branches has been backward, and the fact
that winter not only fingers in the lap of spring but
threatens 10 wait for the coming Of summer, ncccs-
sariy causes small sales in spring fabrics. But even
this has compromising advantages, enabling 1Der-
chants in the interior tn work of their remnants OF
winter goods. thus placing them in condition for
the purchase Of full stocks for the SUMMER and fall
trade.
The fow DAYS Of warm weather in tho last two
weeks have frightened mp what the merchants call
the nearby trade" Owing 10 the rapid means ci
travel and transportation tho tradesIncn living
within two ur three hundred miles of the city do not
order goods until they find sale for them. The
cold weather caused them to buy very few spring
goods. but when they found demand for light
fabrics owing to a change in the temperature, they
prepared at once TO meet it. This has enlvcnod
business with the merchants, and within few days
MANY houses have been obliged to work their clerks
at night. e.. -,
they were in two weeks ago when there was pre-
Valing feeling of disappointment, and many ncr-
chants contemplated the possibility OF carrying oyer
n largo part Of their spring supply; hut there has
a
distant parts of tho country merchants have 10
order their goods n considerable time IN advance "l
actual needs The blockade Of the railroads aud le
interruption Of business generally, because OF IEe
heavy storms have caused loss Of part Of this
trade Then is yet enough snow in the NUthw'st
and even in the northern part OF this state to nicr
fcre with travel off the line oi railroads. arm
work has been delayed, and the distribution OF rr-
clandiSc interrupted.
The 1nesfion Of how much has been actually lost
because of the backward weather is problemaiicaL
Some merchants say their business has been gr'l"r
i'm volume and in money vain" than i4sl year; hnt
thoy acknowledge that such r"sultDaN brrh
brought about hy greater ci1urt-an Increase ~ the
number of travelling salcsuIrn and, accordingly, an
increase in expenses II the cold weather should o
followed by wcather unusually warm many VIII
count the business that should have been done ~
the last works nf March and The beginning ui April
n, lost beyond recall IT the spring sOuld linp'r a.
winter has done. this would not be altogether the
case. 1900
The year $50 opened with what i known ~
'bo1n" in nearly all kinds of merchandise. aud
trade was stimulated 10 an undue degree. Pur-
clascrs bought heavy stocks Of goods. and every
thing went along hIiskly until the mi6dlc 81 March
when there was a reaction, and the remainder Of H."
season was decidedly dull. This year the cond ti"ns
ar reversed. Merchant, have bought sp1uncy ana
unl for actual urels and consequently they are ln
hralthful condition for large par 'a~'>. VIII q
certainty of quicker stlcS with continuous spf're
Wcai her. Diminishing 'rrI llosat the sralmitd lthl
the immediate futurr. Ih" drctcns ~ tie total al
foreign purchases a compared VITA the closing
months Of $50 and the opening Wontll~o l l~oc l'
taken 10 be- due 10 hrAlihful UlrtDn lu crni.i"r-
cial dealings from speculative tendencies. ~ cont
junction with the expansion oi export trade anu
the large increase IN immigration, THIS situation NAV
he regarded contributing 4" prosperous ont
conn. The value oi foreign g'rd- - Iri Tor con
.n9Gen zoo at this ge % Ga z7 in N Ma,Il VA
The exports amounted II 81 I9?i7. asa'u-t
50 90 ~ in March 1870. For the .rst %uaTi,r
If ISN the total value nf exports S'S i,"SO
and foT 1880. SsJ.37l.o27.
WHAT MERCHANTS SAY.
Mr. Robinson. of the firm Of VI. u. Clahin & Co,
in speaking Of the condition Of trade (" n TRIBUNE
reporter said " Trade i very satisfactory with
and n gard the outlook rs good. Retail dealers
feel "a little sore bccan-e the cold weather las r.
tarded business but n little more warm weather
will make up for Deficiencies IN that way
Last spring there was brisk trade up to March H.
when the boom COLLAPSED suddenly. This year
have had a good steady business which is rapid
increasing and will undoubtedly continue Ia the
end Of what We call spring, which means July. In
fact. trade Is the best with rs that have over
known. Prices generally are n little lower than
last ycaH The export trade in prints and cottons Is
good and rapidly Increasing m all directions. cS-
pccially with China. There has hrcn g""d mum
Der of southern men in hcmarkct wh0 have bought
freely. They have plenty OF money and Trade
that part 81 the country ~ III the best condition
ha,r ever known. In Chicago aud the northeast
the weather has retarded matters considrrnhly.'
Mr.. Reed Of Bates, Reed Il Cooley. said: I'VE
find trade III dry goods fair and have rrrson
Ia complain. In 1879 the crops were large, We had
resumed specie pay mcnts and the prospects Wcr ~
bright NJ Inc beginning Of 1850 that the merchants
In~hcd &" this city afraid that they wouli not B"
able ia puTrha~c all the goods they Waut,d. ~ Co.,
stocked. 40 that in the batter half Of that eIrug
Trade WAS poor. THIS year they have moved with
greater caution, md have bought lightly: but
think that thu trade for The remainder Of The spring
will nOrc than make up for any deficiency an the
carly part. 1hc streets Of CMc1go a. still filed
with snow. and u "ourS th" weather has had q bad
q 0rrt. Trade IS good with the South ! hr cutfun
crop was late in gathering last fall, and There j. =
consid Tabc stock yet IN the hands Of farutI- and
planters which has a tendency 10 make the cotton
trade dull. In Texas and the West III" country a. -
rich and prospt rous that cannot ht III lent have
steadily increasing trade thrrr; lhr failures aIr
fewer now and the percentage Of rriufs j. greater
than formerly, which ~ due IN mca~urr a. thr re-
peal of the bankrupt law. Prices are little lower
than last year"
The opinion Of Mr. Bentley. of lIastrd IIaincs 4
Co.. was ~ follows: " our trade hns been very
good this season. We have put few more men on
the road than last year which may IN part account
for the increase: Last year. dur the boom cot
tons principally bought. This year the trade
is better distributed in all departments. In some
branches the buying II not ~ large as last year,
owing 10 the weather but the business IL rapidly
increasing. One of our travellers in the nurthcr
part of this State has just returned stating that he
unable 10 reach all the places lac desired "a visit
because of the SNOW"
A member Of tl,c boot and shoe firm Of Benedict,
Hall u Co. No. 1856 'faiidNi, htiu: The boot ard
shoe trade il backward this year ~ compared with
last condition Of Affair." largely due 10 the weather.
no doubt. which prevents Vcr.ons ia the country
from coming 20 buy. | think the volume of
trade, however, will bo as large last year before
the spring is over. The North and Wost are the
places most Affected Prices are per cent lower
Than last year"
member Of the firm Of Nathaniel Fisher & Co.,
dealers in shoes at No. p Muray-st, expressed the
following opinion: can only speak tor ourselves
and not for the boot and shoe trade generally; but
our trade has been decidedly good. II is mostly
confined to points not far distant. Ii is better this
year than last"
MIR. Carhart, Of Carhari, Whitford & Co.. whole
sale clothing dealers, said: THE clothing trade
has undoubtedly suffered considerably from the
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