The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-03
TRADE AND COMMERCE..
A Dispositions Shown to Take the Bright
Side with the Opening of the Year.

A Dispositions Shown to Take the Bright
Side with the Opening of the Year.
INDIASAPoLIs Jan. 2.
The general tenor of the remarks of merchants
is of cheerful character, and there is really a
belief that better times are near at hand. In an
article on the business retrospect and the out
look the New York Commercial Advertiser
gays 1.-THE year 1884, it must be confessed closed
In the midst of depression of business which
has been increasing for some time, but which,
we hope, is approximating. if it has not reached
its nadir point That depression does not in ex-
tent or intensity amount to financial CONNER
cial or Industrial crisis, but it is more or less
general and moro or less severe and sends its
cold shivers into many most important branches
OF trade. Stocks and bonds have declined from
nominal value of ST. 600, 000, 600, more than ST.,
900, 000, 000-a good deal of it, no doubt, water
squeezed OUTPUT the most of it loss of
property to the holders great many enter
prises are consequently stopped, great many
workingmen are thrown out of employment,
trade languishes in tire towns, and the abudant
harvests of the autumn remain largely where
they were gathered. OF course, in accounting
for this condition of things that old fallacy of
oyerproduction, which has done so mucn service
in the past as scapegoat, comes to the front
again. We should say looking at the facts,
that the difficulty has'been. not overproduction-
for we cannot have too much creation of wealth
@but overconsumption, or rather an unequal
and injudicious consumption. We have been
sailing down our circulating capital which is
the nutriment of enterprise. into fixed forms
which do not yet pay. During the last four
years. for instance our population has increased
about l29 per cent, our great grain crops about 5
per cent, but our railroad mileage more than 40
per cent That means that we have consumed in
various constructive enterprises a vast amount
Of capital which has not yet been replaced by
income from those enterprises, and is not, of
course, available for the support of other enter
prises. We have eaten cake, and cannot
have it until the wheat is raised and the cake is
baked again. AS the advancing spring of the
next year shall pour its warmth into the vege-
tation now dormant under the frostS of the win
ter. so we hope to see it accompanied by a re-
vival of enterprise which shall Justify the
brightest hopes of summer bloom and autumn
fruitfulness.p Locally a little more activity is
noticeable. Sugars reported firmer, especially
as regards soft whites, but we make no change
In our quotations. Several of the refineries
had shut down for week or more to take stock,
thereby curtailinc production, and this has had
considerable to do with stffenng up the market,
possibly preventing further decline. There
has been no important change in the position of
khe coffee market fer some time. Molasses firm
as quoted for prime open kettle. Canned goods,
FISH, ETC.. quiet and unchanged In the produce
markets there is a better demand Cor apples, po
tatoes and onions, while lower prices may be
looked for for eggs. poultry and butter. An I'M
proved demand for dried fruits and beans is
looked for in the near future tt
GRAIN.
Locally it was AN off day. Attendance on
Change small Bidding hacked SNAP" The
BOARD of Trade Price Current says of wheat