The Portland daily press., 1882-04-28
DOWN TOWN.
Financial-A Plea for Organization The
Furniture Trade-Dear Beef.

Yesterday was a quiet day inlocal money
matters Money was easier and rates unchang'
ed. There is a good demand for money foi
regular business purposes but the BANKS are
amply able to meet all calls. Considerable
capital is seeking investment in good DIVIDEND
paying securities.
The fish packers and dealers of Portland
| have established Fish Exchange. We are
| not sure that its methods are fully organized,
but no doubt it will very soon enter upon the
| work for which it was formed. This is a wise
movement, and ought to receive the hearty
support of every fish dealer in Portland, and
the encouragement OF all other branches OF
business, by having its example followed. The
fish business of this city has grown to be one OF
| our leading interests. Portland can fairly
strive for future prominence in it by her posi-
| ton and her history. In the business of the
world individual enterprise has strengthened
| itself by association. AS the country has in
creased in population, and our home and for
| eign markets have enlarged calling for new
| methods in the conduct Of affairs, organization
has become inevitable. Association of forces
and division of labor give the power to in
come indispensable. A display of figures.
properly classified, is otter most efficient edu-
Gator, conveying a clearer idea of a subject
than double the space of detailed report would.
We reckon now by aggregates and weigh the
commercial Importance of communities by the
footings in the trade department of the news
papers. The town or city that neglects to con-
tribute its part to the general fund of statisti-
cal information works at disadvantage, and
is liable to get very much lower rating than
it deserves. We have in mind forcible illus
tration of this. The power Of business organi-
cations in small cities is seen in the history of
achieved success, its list of failures is not a
long one. Some Of the grandest results in the
commercial history Of the city had their origin
in the social meetings of this body; and is
there business man in Portland who has en-
joyed its advantages that would willingly al
low it to die? And the Merchants Exchange
news room, supported by subscriptions, is in
dspensable in this community, and deserves
larger support than it receives. 1t is good
time, and the outlook is encouraging for an ex-
tension OF the principle of trade association in
ILLS OAOH OSuAOo VAL w RS"St7
full auxiliaries in time of prosperity, and a re-
liable power in seasons of depression. Expert
ence has taught the truth of this doctrine The
association of the fish men for the purpose Of
obtaining an intelligent idea of the state OF the
trade everywhere, preparing themselves to
more effectively extend the business and pro-
tect themselves against irregular and injurious
practices, has been commented on favorably,
and the question of imitation hes been put to
representative men in other branches of trade.
A little thought will suggest plans BY which
these associations can be sustained at the ex-
penditure of little time and money, much
less than the benefits that will ;ccrue. Organ
ization and greater publicity abroad in re-
gard to the daily movements of business will
be help to Portland merchants and traders.
The furniture business shares in the general
prosperity, with sales above those of last year.
The average statement of the dealers promise
an advance of at least 80 per cent. in the vol
ume of trade. There are few new styles offer
ed in this market this year, the elaborate and
elegant patterns which have been gradually
coming into request for the past two or three
years are not yet exhausted in the popular
at least another season, Notwithstanding the
caprice of fashion in articles of household use.
The summer resorts and watering-place hotels
are getting ready for the season, and this keeps
the dealers busy. They are reported to be buy
ing better class of goods than formerly, which
that they can afford to answer the de-
mands of their guests for more luxutious ac-
The high price of beef is still thu subject OF
discussion by the newspapers. Many reasons
are assigned for the increased cost, but they
may be all condensed into a few words, viz:
The scarcity of cattle, cAused by The severe
winter of 1oe0-S1. on the plains, during which |
3 large percentage OF cattle that would nave
been now fit for market persisted from expos |
ure, the high price of corn and the operations
of spectators on an easy money market. The
scarcity on account OF the loss OF
many young cattle in the recent foods, has an
effect on the price also The consumption OF
beef is said to be filing off in the large cities,
and in consequence veal and mutton have adj
yanced. The demand for beef in this city is
light, with tendency to higher prices.
A Chicago dispatch says the scarcity OF beef
cattle in the West is more apparent as the sea-
son advances Prices are higher than at any
previous time on record. The average in
crease is about 100 Per cent over this date last
year.