The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-04-12
WEATHER AND BUSINESS.
HOW ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS AF-
Feet THE MARKETS.
Builders Impatientto to Comm mence Opera
tious-A Suggestion to Owners of I'm
improved Property-PIenty of Capital
Awaiting Investment.

The few good days experienced last week
showed by way of contrast the influence of the
weather on business. The constant rain with
which the Eastern section of the country has
been treated during the past few months has
had a most decided effect on all classes of
businessmen so much depressing as re
pressing effect. Business has been ready and
willing to bud and blossom into great activity
for some time past, but the Weather Bureau
has delayed its sanction to the appeals for
"spring openings and the buyer and seller
have been patiently waiting to meet each other
upon the mart under favorable conditions.
Both are well primed and the meeting will be
alively one.
These few days of fine weather awakened a
temporary activity Indicative of what is to
come People crowded the business through
fares and money flowed freely through mercan-
tile channels Real estate brokers reported
more inquiries after property to purchase than
for long time and builders seized the gracious
opportunity to pump the water out of excava-
tions and get in foundation walls.
Plans almost innumerable have been made
by the architect and turned over to the builder,
but there they have stopped while the handler
Of material vented mis- impatience against the
innocent Gen. Greeley. Some builders lost
their patience long ago, and, thinking to take
time by the forelock, found that they had
seized the fetlock by mistake. They have
suffered in consequence. Said builder to the
HERALD yesterday: "About the middle of
March negotiated builders loan for about
$4,000 for the purpose of erecting group of
houses to be offered for sale. 1 presume YOU
know the nature of loan of this kind The
money is advanced to the builder only as the
work progresses, but meanwhile the whole
amount draws interest from the date of the
notes. In order to save the lender harmless
by reason of mechanics liens against the
buildings, the deeds of trust must be placed on
record before the ground is broken You can
see the Importance then of pushing the work
as rapidly as possible to the point where the
property may become profitable either in rents
or sales. The day after the papers went on
record l commenced to dig my foundations
| had only half completed my excavating
when it commenced to rain and YOU know
what it has been doing ever since Until last
week we have had four rainy days to one clear
day, and as it takes two or three clear days to
sufficiently dry the loose earth before re-
suming operations, you will not be sur
prised to know that it has taken me from the
10th OF March to the present time to dig a
small hole in the ground But that is not the
worst OF it. | have been paying interest at
the rate of 6.per cent. on 900 during that
time, amounting to about 500. However, /
guess We'll get so much dry weather after
awhile that somebody will be crying 'quts'"
Statements of this nature give some idea of
the actual financial damper thrown over bust
ness operations by unfavorable atmospheric
conditions, and when 1t is considered that the
large majority of businesses are more or less af-
fected by inclement weather 1t is really to be
wondered at that there should be as much ac-
tivity as there has been since the first of
March-the advent of ''charming spring."
Next to building operations the traffic In
real estate is probably more affected by the
weather than anything else In the commercial
line. "Did you ever sell lot that was Gov
cred with snow?" was asked a real estate
dealer by brother broker, and while num-
Der OF such sales were recalled 1t was admitted
that the task in each case had been lightened
by the fact that true bargains had been offered.
"Wet goods' in the mercantile line are sold
below actual price, not SO much because they
are damaged by the water as because they are
unattractive. Real estate, especially unim-
proved property, may not be sold below price.
but IT is not sold at all because, first, it is un
attractive when soaked with water, and sec
ond, because few can be induced to look at it
in beating rain.
1t Is surprising how few owners of unim-
proved real estate appreciate the value OF a
little adornment to make their properties
readily saleable. There are hundreds of lots
in the city to-day held at reasonable prices
without buyers because they are unattractiye
to the eye. This sounds like nonsense, but 1t
is not. Why do buyers invariably go to look
at lots before purchasing? Not so much to
see the surroundings as one would think. A
little grading, so as to crop OF a hillock here
or fill up stagnant pool there, little clear
ing out of rank weeds, little top soil and
few grass seed will frequently sell lot that
has stood nuisance for years. At least this
has been the experience of few wise opera
tors who have discovered the fact and are
making profitable use of it.
"Ihere is more capital in the city awaiting