The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-03

WHEELING, ". VA. SEPTEABEE j, 1855
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BusIness Prospects.
The New York Commercial Bulletin, Ct
Saturday last, and the Chicago Tim" OF the
game DAY, contained extended reviews q
the business situation. The scope OF the ar
ticles takes in the years tradingto date, the
present condition and the prospect n the
near future. Coming from two great dir
tributing points nine hundred miles apart
these simultaneous views are OF particular
value. The confidence q opinion ID very
marked.
There is general agreement as between
the two cities and in each as between
business men themselves. 1t is agreed
that the business OF the year has beeu
done on a solid basis. There hes been u
marked decline in values, but this is not
regarded as of bad omen, nor has it
iniuriousy effected the general course oil
trade. Dealers have been moved to greater
care goods have been bought and sold
with more than usual regard to speedy ex-
change, credit lines have been more care
fully guarded, consumers have purchased
literally but not extravagantly. Outside Of
the immediate locality the effect Of the fail
uresir The leather trade is not apprecisble,
though boot and shoe men think the result
will he advantageous by shutting out dis
.turbing elements Nor does general
business show much trace OF the suspen-
sion in the glass and iron industries or OF
the great strike Of the tolegraphers.
The iron trade makes less satisfactory
showing than any other, largely due to the
falling of in railroad building, which last
year took about half the product. 1t is
thought that the revision OF the tariff has
d)ue no harm, though the uncertaintypre-
cediAg was depressing. Westerniron men
are hopeful OF q good fall trade. Hardware
il looking up and the prospect is consider
ell very encouraging. The grocery trade
reports good business, though low prices
make the aggregate Of sales look somewhat
smaller thun it otherwise would. Not
witLstanding recent heavy auction sales OF
dry goods, aFl the caution OF buyers, dry
goods are in good request and there are no
large stocks in the hands Of distributors.
Business for the fall has opened well, and
a good healthy dry goods trade is looked
for. The clothing trade is ina very healthy
condition.
There is great complaint among crock
cry dealers, and the loudest complaints
come from the importers who have stocked
up in anticipation OF an increase in prices
as the result Of an increase in the tariff,
and whose hopes have not been realized.
They were willing to add the new tariff to
the old price, but the market does not per.
nit them. This misadventure will proba.
bly, cause the CroCkery importers to look
with more hostility than ever upon pro-
tective tariff which obstinately refuses TO
confirm their free trade theories.
In no line is anything like "boom"
looked for; but everybody looks for good,
steady-going, profitable business. Crops
are good thus fur, and, save cotton, which
in some parts is reported in very favorable
condition, the outlook for these yet 10
mature is equally promising. The very
satisfactory situation isseen in good average
prices for farm products, with groceries
and almost the whole line Of manufactured
articles lower than ever, groceries from five
to fifteen per cent and manufactured goods
from ten, to. twenty-five iper cent.
The carrying companies report good
business with steady though not very
great increase, partly explained by the fact
that increasing facility Of communication
is to great extent doing away with "fall
trade" and "spring trade" and distributing
the business more evenly through the year.
Traders being able to replenish at short
notice, are more and more falling into the
"hand-to-mouth" system, buying as they
sell and keeping clear Of old and surplus
stocks. New York reports an interesting
feature OF the present season. There .is
more buying by purchasers on the spot.
Merchants from the West and South are
now more numerous in New York than
for several years past. This is IN indiCa-
ton OF good business at home and OF a
desire to take the pick OF the market.
The INrELLIGENcEH is glad to be able TO
say that these reports from East and West
are borne out by what is seen at home on
asmaller scale. In spite Of the suspension
in our important industries the business OF
our merchants through the summer has
been far from bad, and the fall prospect is
regarded as very encouraging. There is
not likely to be any stoppage in our indus
trial establishments in the near future,
and our farmers will be able to buy what
they need. The disposition to be careful
will not injuriously effect legitimate BUSH
ness here or elsewhere; more OF the sales
will DO for cash or on safe credit.