The Portland daily press., 1882-05-20
DOWN TOWN.
Financial Fish Harnesses = Miscellane-
Gus.


| a moro active demand, most of the business
being at 81 per cent. The country banks are
reported to be discounting good local paper at
| 6 per cent. per annum and have all they can
| do at that rate The stock market was dull
| and quiet Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain
| advanced to 81 upon the strength of the decis-
| ions in relation to the arbitrary changes be-
| tween Rouse's Point and Swanton by the
| Central Vermont There is some question,
however, as to whether, there being two re-
ports, the decision will be enforced. Govern
inents were steady with an advance of in ad-
vanced 6S. Sterling exchange was steady 1t
is reported that little gold will be shipped from
New York to-day, foreign exchange having
been procured to meet the demand.
The fish market yesterday was very dull, the
continued bad weather making the aggregate
of business very light, though there were some
exceptions to the general rule. The receipts
yesterday were only about 1000 pounds market
dressed fish and small fare of split shore fish.
The ruling price was q cents for cod and had
dock. Three arrivals from the Western
Banks are reported for the week with III GOO
pounds, including good fare of halibut. Some
halibut has also been received from the east
ward by steamer The reported receipts of
Bank fish at Gloucester yesterday were $4,000
pounds Goldfish and $500 pounds halibut Nine
fares of mackerel arrived at New York on
Thursday.
A short time ago, in connection with some
remarks about the prosperity of the carriage
business in Portland, we referred incidentally
to theincreasing demand from abroad for har-
nesses for ordinary driving and light work. The
finer grades of harnesses, we are glad TO observe,
are by no means neglected, for Portland shops
do good deal on orders from all parts of New
England. To the ordinary observer, fashion
does not seem to dictate much in the form and
finish of horse garniture, but improvements
are always in order, and novel styles in car
riages occasionally demand something peculiar
in the structure of harness; minor details are
always studied by good workmen. A little
while ago elaborate and fancy stitching was
quite common; now we find the reverse, and
nicely is sought for that will bear the closest
examination. The trimmings most in vogue
to-day are theWarwick, a very finished and el-
egant pattern, in gold and oriede; the Centen-
NAL, in rubber or an imitation; the rubber
bend and the nickel-plated. The latter is de-
sirable again, on account of its durability. Oc-
casionally one may see in Central Park or
some other fashionable drive, russell or fancy
colored harnesses in connection with novelties
in carriages, but these are departures and
nothing else. Russet reins are the correct |
thing for fine harness, and russet-stained is
sometimes asked for with ordinary work. |
Some of our manufacturers are sending out
coupe harnesses of the French and English
patterns, which are very handsome and much
liked in Boston and New York. Another pret-
ty thing is dog-cart harness with close-plated
silver trimmings; very elegant and command
ing a good price. A decided novelty Of great
beauty is the English double harness, with |
silver wire trimmings and English chain hous- |
ings This is expensive and snowy and deserv
edy popular with those who seek a perfect |
turnout. The western trotting harness, with |
sliding back bands, is the fayorite in New |
York for road harnesses. But few OF them |
have been shown on the road in this vicinity |
vet They are both costly and elegant. A |
good deal of work of the above described class |
es has besn gotten up in Portland within the |
past year to order for private use and by fash |
lOuaUl6 bbaDl5luOu III 4SoW AClh o1u oohOA SAt-
les. Custom collars are speciality in some of |
our shops This is said to be the only city in |
New England east of Boston where particu-
lar attention is paid to supplying general de-
mand for fine collars. One style, manufac- |
tured no where else, is the Scotch cape collar |
for heavy team harnesses They are gradually |
being adopted by teamstcrs all through this |
section of the country. They are large and |
very snowy and allow room for good deal of
ornamentation, if desired; but their chief mer-
it is the perfect fit and the broad cape, which
protects the shoulders and neck of the horse
in rainy weather.
The various and conflicting crop reports
collected often III an uncertain way and some
times made up and put out in the interest of
speoulators, render it difficult to ascertain the
exact condition of wheat and cotton early in |
the season. Next to the quarterly statement
made by the Agricultural Bureau, the most
positive we have seen Is one prepared by
Cincinnati firm. Nearly 1900 circulars were
issued. with a series of questions, as to the
condition of the crops in the various sections
addressed. These were sent with the request
that replies, while explicit and clear, should |
be as brief as possible, as they would be pub
lished for the benefit of the country. Nearly |
l 800 answers were received from Alabama,
Illinois, Indiana. Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio,
Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia and were |
published in the Cincinnati Inquirer, occupy
ing forty-four columns of solid matter, with |
the address and signature of every reply. The
information conveyed is of the highest import
ance to merchants in every department of |
trade and manufactures. The general tenor |
of the reports is exceedingly favorable, aud
though an occasional locality presents an ex-
ception to this view, the completeness of the |
reports is full of encouragement for the future |
Lumber reports from the Northwest are that |
although there is full stock of logs on hand, |
there will probably be a smaller amount left |
over at the end of the saving season than there |
was last year. At several of the more promi- |
nent manufacturing points thes esstocks of sawed |
lumber are smaller than they were last May, |
and the demand from Winnipeg and along the |
line of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which |
promises to continue for some time, indicates
that the season will close with small stocks on
on hand and shows that the aggregate of the
lumbermen's business is much larger than
baratnfarp