The daily gazette., 1882-05-19
tlrye
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
The Present Condition of Trade and the
Outlook for the Future.


On Thursday the New York Times pub
lished letters from 35 correspondents In as
many cities, distributed among 25 States, on
the general condition of the country's busi-
ness at the present time. Over two pages
of the paper were devoted to the suject, and
the Times in summing up says
In general the spring wholesale trade can
be said to be barely satisfactory. The chief
exception to this is in the comparatively new
regions of the great Northwest. There the
great crowds of immigrants find new homes.
These, with the active railroad construction,
create a demand which has increased general
business from 10 to 80 per cent. in various
branches. Among the older States, New
York alone reports very good business. The
backward spring has done much to check
trade in States where there is no cause, as in
the Northwest, to give 1t an extra stimulus,
but even in these the season has been pro-
lOnged. Some complaints are made that
while the money value is about the same,
high prices have made dealers cautious
about buying large stocks.
The greatest disappointment is expressed
in trading centres dependent upon the South
where drought last year and the floods Of
this spring have caused the farming people
to give up many things usually purchased.
In special branches, dry goods and groceries
appear to have suffered most; those which
furnish farmers supplies are shown to be
most active. Perhaps it may be in conse-
quence of the bad weather that the drug
business is reported fourishing. All indi-
cations point to large fall trade, depen-
dent somewhat upon the crops.
The manufacturers are generally busy,
the labor troubles not appearing to have any
extended effect The makers of textile
fabrics are working cautiously, at small
afn tf, ha
in best demand and wOolens very backward.
Machinists and agricultural machinery
makers are full of work, and iron makers
generally are not complaining. The millers,
especially in New York, have all they can
do. Tobacco manufacturers report business
about the same. The glassmakers complain
that the demand for their goods is very little
better than last year, and below that Of 1880.
The Southern floods have had a disastrous
effect on the Rhode Island jewelry makers.
|. One feature of the. manufacturing bust
ness is a growing demand for goods Of better
quality, as shown, for instance, in the de-
creased call for low grade cottons. Skilled
labor finds ready employment, and generally
good wages are reported. The ship building
interests of Pennsylvania and Delaware arr
fiourishing. House building generally Il
brisk, checked somewhat in the Feast by
high prices of materials, and in Nebraska by
| the recent strike.
Business generally may be said to be on
more healthy foundation than in recen
years. 1t is more conservative and stead,
and marked by no "booms" or genera
speculative excitement. Money, with few
exceptions, is easy for legitimate investment
Collections are generally good, and there i
little prospect of disastrous failures
Dealers are satisfied with smaller profits
and cash payments are numerous. TIL
South is turning its attention to new enter
prises and manufactures and depending les
upon the "great staples"
Among the local or minor influence
whsch have effected business are the deb
aggitation in Virginia and Tennessee and tn
whisky legislation, which has been draw
back in Kentucky. The advance in til
many necessaries of life has checked trad
somewhat. One fact shown by the letter
given below is the growing tendency of th
volume of trade to the larger centres, thu
cutting off the business Of smaller cities
which have hitherto supplied the demands o
the country around them.