New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-09
PROSPEROUS FALL TRADE


MENT OF GOoDs-TRAPFIo or srP.n,o-
LINES.
Hotels crowded with country mercb,n,.
saesrooms filed with the hustle OF buying and 80
OF loaded trucks thronH1g the streets and wateys..
have testified for several weeks 10 ths activity ,,,
which the autumn trade has opened all the prlns,
branches Of wholesale business. The recent inaur -
purchasers OF goods from the East the West and ~
South has taxed the hotels to the utmost OF their accom-
modations There has been scarcely a hotel Iarve !.
small which did not have every occupied ds,,.
the latter part Of August and the most OF septe,ph
The bedroom capacity Of many Of these hostelrie. IA.
been doubled wherever possible, and in addition man,
have been able to favor their patrons only by putting M
cots IN parOrs and other not ordinarily used n,
sleeping purposes The worst OF the orOwdng l. ma.
over, but when it at its height IL some rs
poets, It is stated. unprecedented in Its extent Eve,
tho hotels which are the fayorite resorts \,
merchants visiting the city to make their autumn mn,
chases well He'd. To the most casual observe,
these signs Of prosperous business plainly eyden,
canvass Of the leading houses In various departments
ofwhoesae business by TRIBUNE reporters other aa
brought out assurances to the yigOr with which TIA
seasons trade has begun and the satisfactory cOndo,
Of business reported from all parts Of the coun,ry
JObbers and manufacturers alike unite in attesting ia
sound health OF the mercantile situation With free buy
ing and hopeful feeling on the part Of country mer
chants Is also reported gratifying state Of ears a.
regards collections The movement Of goods has been
and Is brisk profits fair and the Of prices In
most has shown no violent unnatural fuctua
tons. From the West and the South the testimony /,
general to the satisfactory crops and this has
infused spirit buyers and cheerful belief In Tia
continuance Of the suspicious circumstances which hay,
attended the opening OF autumn operations Business
IL reported in most lines to he from 10 tO25 per cent
br.ncbcs ~ roC nor,icnari1 mot ~ nv go,a d,s
say that taking all things into consideration the season
promises 10 be more satisfactory than any for years
Nearly every branch. where this cannot be said 81 Il 4
marked with signs Of health and soundness. Especial
stress IL laid by merchants the significant facts that
development OF larger demand has been uniform from
all parts OF the country: and that the buying clearly
for legitimate wants and Ia not influenced BY speculative
motives. Another important feature Of the business
situation X the absence alike OF u surplus and
deficiency OF production. The flow OF merchandise Il
free and smooth and at the same time the channels d
consumption are commensurate with the supply.
TALKS WITH DRY GOODS MERCHANTS.
Levi NJ Bates, the senior member OF the dry good,
house OF Bates. Reed & Cooley. expressed himself a.
extremely gratfed with the condition Of trade IN hs
line of business 1--WE have had good sales all through
the season." he said. Our business in July a.
great it in the month last year in August
il greater than last year. and for September It h1
shown large and steady increase upon the business Of
the co responding month In 1881 The autumn season
did not open earlier than II opened last year but af
beginning It exceeded the previous years activity.
consider business 20 be very satisfactory tn
marKed with every sign OF health and reflects prosper
Ous condition OF the country. our crops have been
almost universally good and as result, merchanu
have done better business than they did Last ye1
and feeling hopeful and cheerful regarding the
future. There are no features ahont the dry goods
tnuance Of the favorable situation There Il plentiful
supply Of different kinds Of goods hut no indications
over production And while the supply Is full and free,
the demand Is active aud sufficient 10 take the goods thai
como upon the market and maintain firm tone IN
prices Profits fair but not exorbiant prices have
been pretty uniform for the last two year, AMI coupled
with tho free. smooth movement Of goods they rcnder
our business prosperous We At the height 81
our trade with the West. Western York Penn
sylyania and NewJcrsey and round about home. and
from all sections the increase IN the uand 70 be
noted Merchants who are here from the West tel me
that the rains recently have greatly improved be corn
crop; and SO they are anticipating gratifying proine'
" What would you estimate tho increase from last yeai
in the general dry goods trade % be HsSed Wv
i Wen replied Mr.. Bates after moments thongh;
80 shoud estimate the increase 20 range fuly rom 10
to p per cent. Considering all the circumstances us
business Ia, been better than 40 any time since thc gn
prices aud stimulated activity Of war times oi course
here have been seasons when sold heavier amounts,
mt prices were not 50 satisfactory as tS DO" are
air profits and the steady; heGlthful movement OF
stocks, should say that the dry goods business this
season has been the best OF any season within the lat
five years. Al the East we are not now experiencing
such growth in the western trade as went on fev
years ago western merchants are supplying th' heF@
TO larger extent then heretofore from home houses
Bnt the southern trade Is steadily increasing. TIA
effect Of the good crops al the South on trade has been
very percepthle. In that section the people rejoice
ing in greater diversity Of crops than they have had
before their grain crops are excellent ana tner'
promise OF a good cotton crop Consequently ING
southern merchants fast getting into improved
that the rest Of the country has enjoyed for years
Their grain crops being early and the cotton crop LOOK
ing well. the southern merchant, have come On Ia by
goods little earlier than usual Texas Is shipping largo
quantities OF 70 ST. Louisa thin- that that stats
has not done for years Let me give yoo ~ Instance
Df the scuths Improvement which heard o., through
A farmer with six acres OF land nesr
Columbia g C.. planted winter wheat early ls winter
by May this year he had his wheat harvested be thea
planted corn. and nov has good crop Of that cereal
form prices the last years for dry goods haze
enabled the retail trade To get large profits and con-
that trade "a IN good condition. There
have been violent fluctuations Of prices either mp OF
Town 10 cause loss on stocks or to create n,eita.y
and hesitation in purchases | shonld say thi 1s
retail trade has been better this year than a. any ms
since the There have been no remarkable features
about our business this year We ere selling more thaa
our usual proportion Of novelties IN dress goods
Pushes. velycts and black silks, which have been SLOW
II sale for the last two years are now IN fhvor lls
movements. however are only the result OF the caprice
" fashion SIN II Is fact that we are not selling
many cheap American goods there Is strong d'maIi
or fine foreign products. which i sign Of the grst
prosperity OF the people or course ths increases our
- will say this" Mr.. Bates remarked IN conclusion,
- that collections not quite good as last year
egard this as caused by the poor crops which We ound
Ne had late last year. and which interfered win ino
prompt setthg OF a-t years st"chs ny me rttt.ets.
ituatiOn. The merchants IN sound condition ard
where payments are slow they are sure We get 100
The views ~ Mr. Bates echoed I'm the statements
i other large dy god, nIn ~, Joseph Melt oS
eeded his expectations. Business was most Satsfae-
Ory there being hoalthful steady movement AZ strung
eglIlar prices, which yledrd cuod prons hr du hys
ind collections slow. That complaint he regarded -
Inc 10 the fact that buyers insisting upon tns
atng of their bills ahead much more Than they ioineIy
lid. That simply mercantile trick which, pe,pi
worked successfully upon one merchant. complei
,thers TO allow the same favor. Mr. Weller SAID VA.
merchants from the West reported to him that cood
rOps assured in all cereals not excepting corn.
lee had heard serious complaints ~ deficiency ifqm
my section OF the country. He estimated that the c
oods trade must show an increase nom last wear m
20 per cent He considered the business 20 De n
more healthy and satisfactory condition than ~ esy
ime for several years He could not remember tne
ime when buyers while not oyertaXng their capaeilss
or INDUCING in speculative ventures effected thel.
purchases so promptly and smoothly. The Increases
emand felt in the trade from all parts OF '''
0untry.
THE GROCERY BUSINESS PROsPERoCs.
II was some time before James +. Nichols, or Ausin
Sichols Co.. wholesale grocers, could separate hmsu
rnm the customers TINT throngcd the snacous sesom