The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-18
BUSINESS OUTLOOK BRIGHT.
MERCHANTS LOOK FOR A GOOD
FALL AND WINTER TRADE.

Indications All Point to n Renewed
Activity in All Lines of Trnde-Ap-
prehensiveness Caused by War
ana Free Silver Agitation Is over
and Period of Comparative Pros
Derity Is Thought to BE Ahead.
The outlook for the business of the com
ing fall is regarded in all lines of whole
sale trade as quite bright. All classes of
merchants in Savannah seem to take a
sanguine view of the future. and it is evil
dent that much better feeling exists in
all departments.
The war is looked upon as practically a
closed incident. It's direct effect on bust
ness are now realized 10 have been moth
ing like as serious as was at first appre-
hended, and with the cessation of hostili-
ties is expected to come a resumption of
commercial activity that viii make the
fail and winter business one of the best
in years
The financial question and the war
cloud, which have been hanging over bus
mess with the most depressing results
VIII be out of the way, and it is believed
here that capital will move into new and
old channels of investment and health
ful reaction will NE seen in all centers of
production and distribution.
Much in this immediate section, of
course, depends on the cotton crop and
the price it brings. 1t is the impression
that the planters have calculated on a
low price crop and that if the results Of
the season are otherwise they will be
that much better off Weather conditions
from now on viii have a telling influence
on the general trade that win open Up
within the next few weeks. While the
acreage devoted to cotton is said to be
somewhat smaller, favorable weather for
the next six or eight weeks may give an
other ten to eleven-minion bale crop, with
prices of from to cents. Bad weather
in Texas might cut off a million bales in
the crop and correspondingly benefit
prices and the growers in the Savannah
territory Even at low prices though,
better trade conditions are looked for than
have prevailed this year. The planters are
regarded as having generally held
down their expenses, and as being in need
of supplies of various kinds. The coun-
try stores have depleted stocks, TO con
siderable extent, and with the apprehen-
siveness caused by the breaking out of
the war now removed, it is but reasonable
to suppose that they will place first-class
orders for the fall and winter trade. Such
are the signs of the times as they are read
by the Savannah merchants from their
letters from their customers, and from
the reports received from their drum
mers.
Interviews with wholesale grocers, Job
bers in boots and shoes and dry goods,
and with merchants handling other goods.
all brought out the fact that the fan
trade was looked forward to with consid-
erab,e satisfaction. Already there is re-
ported a picking up in business to some
degree and the inquiries as 10 the future
show that the merchants buying here are
looking forward to placing liberal orders.
Collections, it was stated, have kept up
quite well. At first, after the beginning
of the war, there was an apparent ten
dency TO hold back and postpone pay
ment of accounts but this feeling OF
doubt soon disappeared and matters re-
turned to a normal state. So, in the piac-
ing of orders, there was a tendency TO hold
| down buying to absolute necessities and
thls temporarily curtailed trade here
| This feeling has also died out and the ev-
| licences of a reaction are becoming daily
| more apparent