Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-03-01
IS BUSINESS BRlSKER !?
indications That the Spring Trade
will Flourish.
Merchants Well Stocked, and Wholesale
and Retail Buyers Liberal in
Their Orders.

DESPITE the many untavorabls conditions
for a boom in the business world, arising
generally from the loDg-eontinued paraly-
sis which / s afflicted the country at large
for several years past, and locally from the
series of unfortunate strikes and lockouts
which have kept so many of the industrial
establishments OF the upper Ohio Valley
idle during the past sumner and winter
there are indications that the spring trade
in almost all lines Of merchandising will be
better than for the past two or three sea-
sons.
Travelling men cay our merchants have
been and still are
UNUSUALLY LIBERAL
N the giving of orders, and the mer-
chants themselves, while admitting thst
their shelves and store rooms are we'll
filed, say that their customers, both whole
sale and retail, are sending in orders at a
rate which augurs well for the business
future. True, there is NJ tendency OF
ur,ces to advance, and the margin OF pro
1T will probably continue uuplesssntly
small for sometime to come. but to offset
this, it may be said that the sales, to re-
tailers especially, are more generally tor
cash than ever before, which IN It's way 10
quite an item.
In view of all these facts, merchants are
taking
VERY FAVORABLE VIEW
OF the coming season, and while nothing
approaching boom is, of course, expect
ed still they look for trade to De much
brisker than for the past few years. One
old and experienced merchant said few
days ago:
IF mis- miserable nail trouble was OF
our hands would say we were now a. the
turning of the tide, and that one OF the old
time prosperous seasons was just dsWnlng
upon US. but / suppose We can not hope
for anything of that kind just yet. Sill, l
am feeling right cheertul-much more 80
than six months ago. Our correspondents
in the railroad towns are buying very hber
ally, which l account Tor by the fact
that during the past year or 80 their shelves
were stripped clear of ell descriptions OF
goods. Those goods have been consumed
by their customers, and now both classes
are clsmoriDg for
FRESH SUPPLIES.
Another thing l notice" resumed the
merchant, after moment OF reflection,
Although there is great cry of scarcity
of money, yet find more cash IN citculS'
ton, in proportion to the amount Of goods
bought. than have known for years. You
see, people have been living economically
of late. and paying up something OF the
debts they contracted in flush times as a
result. and so small retailers, when they come
to US, are generally we'll disposed TO plank
down large percentage Of hard money.
This is what reconcils us to the small
profits we are obliged to take, 1t is q
good thing, however, and on the whole we
business men are about as we'll off as We
could expect, and have no just grounds
for complaint.
Indeed, it seems that the city is not hal
so badly off as many people would have
US believe. Our wealth is increasing at 6
rate which dee not tsVor much of
DECAY AND sTAGNATIOY,
and as for population, while it is true tina
some of our older citizens have left us
others are coming in to take their places
A glance at the books of the City Assessor
for the past FIVE or six years shows large
and steady gain in the value Of persona
property. 10 1879, when business was
gocd and ou= mills and factories were
running full, the returns Of the
Assessor for taxation showed 6
total of S+.075.O54 personal property with
in the city limits, while the figures at the last
assessment we're g., $50. SCI, an increase o.
Sl,575 3O7. In like msnuer. the value o.
resi- estate in 1869 was $40 1901, while
the last total was 81 ,668, $40, an increase
ofSl ,493.239. This makes total increase
in the value of taxable property of 81, O68,
646 since 1872, or about $500 600 pei
year. =,
This is quite good showing and should
inspire the citizens of Wheeling with con
6dence in themselves and in the future.