The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-07

Trade Fairly Active--A Cheerful Feeling No
ticeabIe and Increasing Confidence.


ticeable and increasing Confidence.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. g.
A cheerful feeling is characteristic among mer
chants in all branches of trade, and the demand
for merchandise is gradually widening. The
large increase in tonnage of west-bound freights
indicates large distribution of merchandise to
be in progress, and, with scarcely an exception,
the weather-vanes of commerce point to in
creased activity. The New York Shipping List
says on the condition of trade: Zone of the
most satisfactory as well as wholesome features
of the present situation is the absence of what is
known as boom" or, other words, of that
feverish tendency to speculative operations that
heretofore has resulted in overtrading. AS a
consequence Of the conservatism that prevails
confidence is strengthening and healthy prog
ress accomplished that leads to permanent i'm
provement, not only in the volume of trade but
also with respect to the margin of profit Bust
ness men generally recognize the fact that com
mercial values have been established upon a very
much lower plane than has existed in this country
for number of years past. as a natural result
of keen competition, increased facilities for COM
munication, as we'll as of transportation, the in
PRODUCTION OF economy in all manufacturing pro-
cesses and the closer relations that exist between
the primary sources of supply and the direct dis
trlbutors for consumption; but even taking these
facts into consideration the ordinary operations
of trade have recently yielded but a slender
pront because of the extreme conservatism that
has prevailed. 1t has taken time to adjust the
whole system of commercial operations to this
order of affairs, but the indications are that
this has been satisfactorily accomplished, and
more profitable trade will probably with
the development of greater activity" Locally,
there is little new to note Eggs move up an
other cent Other articles of produce unchanged.
The provision market has taken a steadier
tone while prices are unchanged. The stocks held
in this market are much lighter than
at the corresponding period last year.
Grocers are busy. Coffees are in strong posi-
ton at the recent advances. Sugars have been
checked in their downward tendency. The
price at which sugar is now selling all over the
world, but particularly in this country, has led
to the impression that the present condition of
affairs is rather abnormal, and hence the ex-
CARNATIONS so frequently heard 'Sugaris cheap"
and so 1t is compared with the average value for
many years past. Only twice within the past
thirty years has the value of raw sugar fallen as
low as it IS now-that was in 1861 when the
average price for fair refining for the year was
3. 80 cents. per pound, and in 1884, when it de-
clined to 529 These comparisons, however,
are of little value in forming an opn-
ion with respect to the probable course of
future events, because of the radical change that
has taken place within the past decade in the
whole method of cane and beet culture, and the
process of manufacturing its saccharine product.
How radical these changes may be readily
seen from the fact that in Europe the scientific
cultivation of the beet root has increased it's sac
charine value nearly so per cent, for while ten
years ago the obtaining of juice testing ten de-
grees Baume was considered profitable result,
the average test during the past season is re-.
ported to be above fifteen. The progress that
has been made in improving the process of crys-
utilization, is said to be equally startling, new
methods of work and the use of improved ma
chinery having caused complete revolution in
sugar-house fabrication.
GRAIN.
The tameness of Saturday brooded over the
local market day. The Board of Trade Price
Current speaks of the market as being ''slumpy."
Bidding on Change showed that the grain men
are at sea as regards even the near future of the
markets. Prices ranged as follows: