Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-03-13

As epring approaches certain Hnes
of business must improve. For In
stance, dry goods merchants will have
70 provide for the spring demand TO
supply trade consequent Epon the
change from winter to spring. Tailors,
clothes and drsssm akers will have more
70 do, for there is a large number OF
people who follow the fashions and
must adopt every change the tickle
goddess Of fashion aud fancy dictates.
Agricultural implement dealers may
feel quickened trade impulse and
indeed all merchants who supply any
part of the demands Of agriculture will
do more business, as farmers will want
more ploughs, harrows, cultivators,
hoes, forks, scythes and raEes, and
some may want new wagons. All
this will quicken business to certain
extent.
But all these little demands Of trade
bring but small relief to the manufac-
turing industries of the country which
employ thousands Of men. Ii will
take long time for them to recupe-
rate. Running upon reduced time and
employing half a working force they
supply all the immediate dem ands of
trade, and unless there is large de-
mand for manufactured goods there
can be no very active revival of bust
ness.
We were informed day or 30 ago
by member Of one of the largest
manufacturing firms in this city that
they had not had an order since the
first of January, and there was no sign
for an order for the future. Indeed, hi
was not certain that the bottom of thu
present depression had been touched
yet.
This Is not very encouraging new
for those who are unemployed, but 1t /
not reasonable to suppose that thi
state of affairs can last long. The SUI
plus Of manufactured goods are all be
coming gradually used up and this wi
create demand for more goods. Upo
the whole employers and employees
will have but to possess their souls
patience The present state of trade an
manufacturers will stand no straininl
Everything must come into place
its dus time, and business by gradu'
steps will resume its former pos
ton.
The causes of this great depressiC
are two fold. In the first place Il
manufacturing establishments, Wi
their good wages, presented Undue
ments which, together with the attra
tions Of city life, drew an unusual
large proportion Of both capital al
labor TO its support. To be plain, the
were too many people engaged in ma
ufactories and merchandising, and Il
enough in agriculture. The first G.
easily be checked, but the latter ia
exhaustible A man who has ey
only small farm, only half paid f
takes a wrong step when he propo
70 sell 1t, and put the proceeds into
little city store, or into some precarif
Misunderstanding industry of which
has but little knowledge.
Another cause of depression and b
times is the fact that many Of our |
ductions are undersold by fore
manufactured goods Notwithstand
the protection thrown around
home industries IL is nevertheless
fact that in FIVE years past two hund
and fifty million dollars worth of ma
featured goods have been Imported
this country. With all our varied
sources of iron, coal labor and car
this should not be 80. With that IN
more money spent in this country
the line of manufacturing indust
there need have been no depressio
business at the present time, tho
1t Is possible that overproduction
have brought on a similar depresslo
the future.