Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-05-18
THE COUNTRYSBUSINESS


SPRING TRADE NOT VERY BRISK
Wholesale Business Best In the Northwest
Backward Spring and the south's
Misfortunos Checking Sales.
ew York Times
The year opened with the general ex.
pectation among the wholesale dealers of
this country OF very large business and
with the promise of increased activity in
all branches of trade and manufactures.
The causes which have operated to dlsap-
point or realize these hopes are fully ex-
planned in the letters given below. In 81
cities, centres of business in 25 states, the
correspondents of the Times have secured
the views of men prominent in their re-
spcctivc branches, and these, with the
observations OF tho correspondents them
selves, give trustworthy showing of the
present condition of trade and q sure in
dication of the promises for the summer
and fall.
In general the spring wholesale trade
can be said to be barely satisfactory. The
chief exception to this is in the compara-
lively new regions of the great Northwest.
There the great crowds of immigrants find
new homes. These, with the active rail-
road construction, create demand which
has increased general business from 10 to
so 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 it an extra
stimulus, but even in these the
season has been prolonged. Some
complaints arc made that while the money
value is about the same, high prices have
made dealers cautious about buying large
stocks. Tho 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 consequence
of the bad weather, that the drug business
is reported flourishing. All indications
point to a large fall trade, dependent some
what upon the crops
The manufacturers are generally busy,
the labor troubles not appearing to have
any extended effect. The makers of tex
tile fabrics are working cautiously, at
small profits-plain cotton goods appear
ing to be in best demand and wOolens
very backward. Machinists and agricul-
tural machinery makers are full of work,
and iron makers generally are not COM
planning. Tie millers, especially in New
York, have all they can do. Tobacco
manufacturers report business about
the same. The glass-makers COM
plain that the demand for their
goods is very little better than last
year, and below that of 1880. The
Southern floods have had q disastrous ef-
feet on the Rhode Island jewelry. makers.
One feature of the manufacturing busi-
ness is growing demand for goods of
better quality, as shown, for instance, in
the decreased call for low grades of cotton.
Skilled labor finds ready employment, and
generally good wages are reported. The
shir-building interests of ofPennsylvania and
Delaware are tlourishing. House. building
generally is brisk, checked somewhat in
the east by high prices of materials, and
in Nebraska by the recent strike.
Business generally may be said to be on
moro healthy foundation than in recent
years. 1t is more conservative and steady
and marked by no " booms or general
speculative excitement. Money, with few
exceptions, is easy for legitimate invest
ment. Collections are generally good,
and there is little prospect of disastrous
failures. Dealers are satisfied with
smaller profits, and cash payments are
numerous. The South is turning its
attention to new enterprises and
manufactures and depending less upon
the "great staples" Among the local
or minor influences which have affected
business are tho debt agitation in Virginia
and Tennessee and the whisky legislation,
which has been drawback in Kentucky.
The advance in the many necessaries of
life has checked trade somewhat. One
fact shown is the growing tendency of the
volume of trade to the larger centres,
thus cutting off tho business of smaller
cities, which have hitherto supplied the
demands of the country around them,