The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-11-12
BRIGHT BUSINESS PROSPECTS.

The last number Of Bradstreet's con-
tains an interesting review of trade dur
ing ten months of 1892 compared with a
like period in 1891.
The earlier months of 1892 proved dis
appointing to those who had looked for
a pronounced improvement in business
following the bountiful harvests of
wheat and Indian corn in 1891. Not
only did general trade north, east, and
even west, show great apathy, but at
the south the situation was relatively
worse owing to overproduction of cot
ton, extreme depression in prices of the
raw staple and an overstrained system
of credits. But within the past four
months there has been a noticeable
change in the conditions governing the
course of business which has suggested
the desirability of a condensed report on
the volume OF general trade, the range
of prices of staples, margin Of profit and
the outlook as compared with ten
months of 1891. To this end fifty spe-
oial correspondents of Bradstreet's in
nearly as many cities, have made invest
igation, the aggregate number of inter
views obtained with leading jobbers and
manufacturers throughout the country
neing in excess of 1000. The reports
are almost uniformly encouraging. An
increased voll:ne of transactions is
shown IN al! irading staple lines as com
pared witt 1901; mercantile collections
have been fair or prompt and the out
look for active, profitable trade was
never better. The bank clearlngs indi-
cate that the gain in Volume of business
has been about 10 per cent. The follow
ing are some of the reports from the
inter mountain states:
Denver, Col.-The fall trade has been e1-
ceptionally good, and merchants in all
lines report an increase in the volume of
business for ten months of from Is to 80
per cent over last year. Prices nave been
maintained. Collections. us a rule, are i'm
proving. The outlook is encouraging. The
mining industry is not very active, owing
to the low prlce OF silver.
Salt Lake City, Utah.-The grocery
business is smaller, prices and profits lower.
Manufacturers of woo!ens say the volume of
trade is greater, and prices and profits
slightly lower. Dry goods, smaller volume
with prices closer and profits less. Manu-
facturers of boots and shoes say business
is l2ll3 per cent greater. Clothing is
slightly decreased IN volume, with busin ess
at closer prices. Liquors are slightly less
III volume aud lrices the same. Increased
outside competition and small production
from the mines have lessened iobbers' bus
mess here generally.
II lena, MoEt.-The hardware and min.
ing supplies trade have increased 20 per
cent. prices range about the same, and the
outlook is good; groceries seven to ten per
cent, with collections fair. Prices on west
ern products are higher and margins
Eunll. The fruit and produce business ia
not ms large, but prices are higher. There
is Il better class Of customers and trade ia
satisfactory. Business generally is affected
by the low price of silver.
AT Portland, Ore, all leading lines of
business show an increase in volume.
and at San Francisco the sales of hard
ware, liquors and canned goods are much
heavier this year. At Chicago there
have been heavy gains in all lines dis,
trI5uted from that center dry goods
and millinery 10 per cent, clothing eight
per cent, iron and steel for building
purposes 20 per cent. St. Paul and
Minneapolis show increased business in
dry goods, notions, shoes, hats, hard
ware, iron, glass, saddlery, groceries,
machinery, paper and drugs.
This exhibit is most gratifying as it
shows a steady and gradual growth of
business in ali lines. There is no spec
ulation but general improvement in le-
climate trades. Everything indicates
that the period of dizziness in business
is ut an end and by another spring we
confidently look for a season of great
activity III this northwestern region.
The two n1nrDiOr poparo 1f DpjutL