The Portland daily press., 1884-12-05

does not think there need be any apprehen-
sion on the ground of change of policy.
In fact" he says, ST do not think that bus
mess men generally regard business to be
much affected by legislation. Business flows
in natural channels, and is affected by nat
ural causes. The law of supply and demand
is really supreme, and the increasing demand
for staple articles If merchandise, with only
a moderate visible supply, indicates that we
are about to enter ON prosperous business
era, and think that a trade and business
revival has already set in.''
Charles Francis Adams, Jr, after remark
Ing upon the overproduction in consequent
abundance of stocks of goods which cannot
be sold at present prices, the remedy for
which Is readjustment of prices which will
not take long time, says:
am not one of those who can believe that there
is any great degree of misery impending over
world that has more of all the good things il wants
than 1t knows what to do with. The remedy is re-
adjustment, and that is the process we are going
through; that is to say, prices have got 10 seek
lower Level, and the process of finding that lower
level Is always hard upon those whose business has
to bear the strain of REIMBURSEMENT. But L cannot
believe that we can be consider ed 10 very bad way
when We have absolutely more food than we can
eat more clothes than we can wear. and moro
metals than we can use. On the contrary we have
an absolute excess of prosperity and of every ele
ment of p osperity. How in the world we can have
panic under these conditions I cannot conceive
There is no bubble TO burst. Look at the accumula-
ton of capital in New York; people are not in
debt.
The railroad business is In the same case
as the rest. During the boom from 1879 to
1881 there was vast amount of railroad
building, and the result is low rates which
hardly pay expenses, but he does not see
how the community at large ia going to suf-
fer from too many railroads and low freight
rates.
Mr.. Jerome Jones, in the crockery trade,
represents the condition of that trade as SIM
liar 10 the dry goods and clothing trades. He
says collections are good and the volume of
trade now not much below the standard.
He quotes letter of Western traveller. who
says: ''Since the election was settled politi-
cal excitement has dropped, and l find
better tone in business at every town visit.
People who were strong for Blaine accept
the situation and say: It's all right; four
years from now we will try it again."
Mr.. w. Fl. Lincoln, of Thayer & Lincoln,
agents for the Leyand line of steamers,
says:
'The export trade was never better than at this
moment. The steamers at this port have more car.
go than they can take care of. The shipments are
worry heavy from this port at the present time, and
the rates are more than double what they were two
months ago. In some things the rates are even
treble what they were two months ago.
| cannot see the slightest reason for gloomy
business anticpations for the next twelve
months. Our exports of cotton produce, provis-
IONS flour and grain are heavier than for long
time, and Boston has got her full share of the in
creased export trade. All steamship lines have
their vessels engaged way ahead and the shipping
business has not been better for three years than it
is today from the port of Boston. We were getting
six and seven shilings for -four about two months
ago, and now We are getting twenty shillings Then
we were taking provisions at seven shillings and
now we are getting twentyseven sbillings per ton.
We were taking grain at penny per bushel two
months ago, and now are getting five cents for
it. Nest certainly there is no depression in our
line of business; TIE contrary, we were never do
ing better, and our prospects were never more sat
sfactory.
The views of Hon. Amos F. Breed, presi-
dent of the Lynn & Boston Horse Railroad
Company, Mr.. Barnes, of Barnes & Apthorp,
zeal estate dealers, and several gentlemen
whose names are not given, are all to the
same general effect with those of the mer-
chants quoted above. Together they censti-
TUE strong body of Testimony which is
uniformly hopeful and encouraging.