The Portland daily press., 1882-04-27
DOWN TOWN.
acknowledgement Business Activity
Quicker transportation Desired.

The brokers yesterday reported money OF an
easier tendency, but we saw evidence oil
| growing hardness in Boston. Rates here are
| unchanged. In Boston governments were
quiet with slight decline in As. The stock
market opened dull but firm and closed little
weaker.
The brief sketches Of the condition of special
branches of business which the PRESS has
printed lately. may be regarded as pretty
fair indication of the state OF the spring trade
in Portland. The early departure of the snow
created feeling that the season ought to open
earlier than usual, and the late colo and unset
tied weather was regarded as a positive him
drance to trade. But it was not the case. The
season is in no wise behind that of other years,
and what has been said of the prosperity of the
larger branches of business will apply general
ly to the smaller and less prominent, and we
speak from careful observation and the use OF
very few questions. 1t is many years since
Portland has shown such business activity as
she does at the present time. In some
branches, like the retail clothing trade, for ex-
ample, full trade is not enjoyed yet; little
sun and warmth are necessary to stir custom
ers to reduce the dealers stocks While work
is good and wages fair, the consumer will re-
joice in present prosperity, particularly If the
outlook is encouraging. The farmers are be-
ginning to call for their supplies OF seeds and
implements, and the seeker after irrelevant
knowledge among the traders gets brief but
good-natured answers to his questions. Most
people are too busy to talk. Another pretty
;,J; - <ba ta If frod affordad
by the freight depots of the several railroads.
Yesterday we saw every door on the receiving
side of freight de pot occupied by wagon,
and jam of loaded teams, stretching off for
considerable distance, waiting their turns;
and on the other side similar array OF vehi-
cles receiving leather, cloth, wooden manufac-
tnres, produce, &C., which had come to mar
ket. The freight agent Of one of our less prom
inent transportation lines remarked yesterday
in reply to question, that their business is
largely in advance of last year, and that the
freights into Portland have much changed in
character; they are now of a more miscellane-
GUS nature and collected from wider sources.
The manufacturers of smaller wares are also
busy, and it is gratifying to note the expan--
sion of many Of them. "Our trade has in
creased and we have increased our facilities
since last year." is frequent observation.
The manufacture of stoves, ranges and fur
naces is good illustration of this remark.
Portland stoves are meeting with a large sale
in New York as we'll as New England, and
though the ability to produce has been greatly
increased we are told that the manufacturers
are considerably behind their orders and we
have remarked similar prosperity in other
directions. We have no doubt that the care.
full observer will find our statements touching
the general drift Of business in Portland this
spring fully borne out by inquiry.
The fresh fish dealers and forwarders of 9th
or perishable goods are asking for reader
communication with New York. They desire to
reach the fast trains which leave Boston late
in the afternoon and arrive in New York early
next morning. This would put them abreast
of their Now England competitors
Concerning the general coal trade the New
York Commercial Bulletin Of yesterday says it
still has dropping tendency, and 80 evident
is it that the companies have been mining too
much coal this month that the policy of half
time working is to be renewed next week. The
Philadelphia Ledger says coal is accommodating
at the shipping ports and restriction of produc-
ton may prevail till until the last of May.