Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1894-07-20

Means Forbldding.
Probably no question is asked more
frequently than the one Of "How is
business. and what is the outlook2'
Every body Is interested in the com.
mercial welfare of the com
munity and material change, for
the better or worse, is studied by work
man and manufacturer, business man aud
customer alike For some time past
nearly every avenue Of trade has been TO
great extent blocked Factories have
been running short handed and manu-
facturers and business men have been
compelled to hew very close to the line
In order to keep their affairs in anything
like \ healthy condition. Now, however,
the outlook is brighter Men who have
been forced TO eat the bread Of idleness
are again employed, aud the wheels
sing a merrier tune. For the future
what2
With a view Of ascertaining the
present condition Of business and the
outlook, a large number of prominent
manufacturers and busiI ess men were
interviewed by EVENING JOURNAL re
porters There was a general reluctance
shown towards making any predictions
as to the future, and aside from the
general statement that trade seemed
slightly better no one ventured any In
formation. Said the president Of one Of
the largest of Wilmington's manufactur
ing companies:
Il do not desire 60 be quoted in any
way relative to the condition Of business.
There are several reasons In the first
place, suppose / were TO predict a favora-
Bile future. Some unforeseen condition Of
affairs might develop and we would be
obliged TO lay OF apart Of our men.
People would remember my prediction
and put me down either as a donkey, OF
a prevaricator Suppose we are do.
ing well and can see bluer
skies ahead Our nelghbor in practically
the same business, may be directly the
opposite Then again, II we are doing
little or nothing. we would very natu-
rally be averse to advertising that fact.
II we were full Of orders the published
fsot might lead our competitors to enter
our particular field and underbid US.
"There is one thing / will say, and It
will apply to every line of manufactur
ing, l think Business is brisker than It
was earlier in the year, yet not as brisk
as at this time last year Last spring
the streets were filed with unemployed
workmen. To-day they are mostly al
work. This is of itself healthy sign,
aud speaks well for the outlook for
trade"
Inquiry at the transportation lines de-
veloped the fact that while business Is
not as brisk as it should be, still it is
materially better than a few months age
and prospects are brighter.
The head Of Market street wholesale
house said:
81 think little can be said about i'm
provement in trade, and further
think little should be said There Is nc
doubt but that the present condition Of
apathy in business will settle itself il
time, II let alone There is no doub
that business has improved and is i'm
proving. We can sell Gll we want nov
but the. trouble is to know just who to.sel
to There are so any who were good a
year ago, and now are shaky. On thl
whole, l guess things favor a bette
! outlook for business in all lines
These expressions practically cove
the opinions Of those manufacturers AM
business men seen by the reporters.