The Portland daily press., 1885-01-02
CONDITION OF BUSINESS
Interviews with several Portland mer.
chants.

the Boston Globe of yesterday in its special
business edition prints interviews With bus-
ness men throughout New England on the past
years work and prospects for 1885. We quote
that relating to Portland:
"There are indications that this has not been
bad business year, after all" said Mayor
King. 81 think that after our merchants axe
account of stock they will find they have made
about as much money as in former years. |
think We are about TO witness revival IN bus-
ness. There sTe many things that go TO show
fairly prosperous state OF affairs here. Taxes
have been paid promptly; cur citizens have
manifested disposition by prompt payments
to secure the discount. Again cur manufac-
turing establishments are open, True. the
Portland Company has not it's full number of
hands at work, but it is selling some locomo-
tVes, has orders ahead, and is hopeful for the
future. All our other establishments are al
work as usual Again, we shall do well TO re-
member that very lew failures have occurred
here this gear. l am at this moment unable 10
recall single failure. leok forward in con-
fGence to 1857
You ask in regard to the lumber trade"
said Hon. John W. Deering. "My speciality,
Southern pine, has not been ia very pteat
demand this year. 1 feel sure there will be a
greater activity in the lumber trade next
year.
The canning business is very important
branch OF industry in Maine and TO the people
H
ldent OF the WingloW Packing Company, said:
The 1884 pack of Holsters, both in Maine
and ID the Provinces, was readily taken at re-
munerative prices, and il this does not have
the sometimes too common result OF making
everybody rush into the lobster business nexT
year, Holsters under standard brands ought "a
be IN good demand the coming season. The
over-abundance OF apples caused an over
production OF canned apples the past fall, and
the result is they are being sold at less than
cost IN many instances.
1.-THE over-production Of Maine corn in 1881
especially that packed under unfamiliar
brands, had bad effect upon the market of
1884, at the beginning of the year, from which
IT has not yet tally recovered, bat considering
the fact that the Maine pack of 1884 is NOT
more than one-half that Of 1883 there is 40
reason why standard brands of corn should not
meet with ready sale; but unknown corr, or
corn packed under new or unknown labels,
must be worked off st comparatively low
price. One great difficulty with Maine corn
has been the sharp composition brought about
by corn packed ID the Middle and Western
States, aud put IL the market at tgo-fhirls of
the price OF standard Maine brands, the pub
lie, OF course, not knowing the great difference
in the nutritive values OF Eastern and West.
ern Germ"
MIR Hawkes., Of the firm of Shaw, Son &
Hawkes., wholesale grocers, says the country
ceslers have bought only as they have been
Obliged to, and have paid their bills promptly.
Aho b@SADlO LAS Dobu klaL Tue wholesale deal
ers have been obliged to buy on a constantly
failing market. AT this time there is better
ieeilng. Ii does not require so much money to
carry full stock. There will be- better
state OF things after jan. 1st. Mr. Hawkes.
thinks that aiter ALL abont tue usual amount
OF goods has been worked off this year.
Mr. Hall, Of the firm of Thompson s. Hall,
produce and commission merchants, believes
tnat next years business will be good. There
VIII DC better feeling after merchants have
MT nj cfrr +
have beea made this year than las CJllec-
tons have been easy, few bad debts have besn
made, and the payment of railroad and other
dividends will pat moro money in circulation
La reality, money has been easy al the year.
Ihefe mas been little duliness in trade be-
cause OF partial shutting down OF mills ia
manufacturing places, A better state of af-
fairs is reported 10 most instances For exam
pie, the traders of Biddetord are buying more
iargeIy than had been expected. This years
business will net fail greatly below that of
1883.
Mr.. Hilton, OF the firm OF Howes Hilton &
Harris, receivers of flour, says the market has
been uncertain all the year, but there is a
more encouraging state of affairs now, and
business will be better soon. The country
dealers all say: I'VE don't propose to buy
until after the 1st Of January and they
won't. The stock OF -four held by the country
dealers Is very small, and they must order
soon. The stock OF -four held in Portland IT,
self is Tot large. be believes that all indica-
tions point to 8 marked increase 10 the demand
for goods
Amos L. Millett & Co., groceries and canned
goods. have larse general trade. They have
sold about as many geoos this year as last, bat
have suffered some by reason OF an uncertain
msrket.
Ogeu, Moore & Co. and Rines Brothers, dry
goods, have had yery good trade all the year.
The dry goods dealers do not com plain OF dull
ness OF trade.
The furniture men have, in general, had
good trade, This also holds good Of the deal
ers in furnishing goods.
As to building it may be said there are but
very few an6aished jobs Of any description of
1oinery or carpentry, and these are small and
we-nigh completed, while none whatever are
beginning.