Year: 1862

departments Of trade arc carefully scan-
ming busiDes prospects, and shaping their
afairs to nice! the cxigencies that are before
u.s. Very different is the view from that
which forced itself upon all classes only
one short year ago. The rebellion had
then assumed gigantic proportions. No
man living had any experience from which
he could Judge what policy to adopt. for a
revolt embracing a third Of tie States was
q very different thing from foreign war.
However disastrous the contest may prove
to those States whcte it is raglng, it is
now certain that the business Of the great
Northwest has not been seriously affected,
and 50 far as our own city is concerned it
is generally admitted that its trade was
never more healthy and Femunerative, or
that its prosperity appeared to rest upon
safer and more substantial basis


It must, however, be conceded that the
prospects Of European demand for our
brcadstufs, arc not so bright IS they were
supposed to be few months ago. For
two OF three months the English markets
have steadily declined, and although the
latest news shows slight reaction, yet
the crop prospects there we're never better,
and the very large supplies Of cheap bacon
which have been exported from this coun-
Try to England during the past four or five
months, will do much towards making up
the deficiency in last years crops Be.
sides, as long as the rebellion in this coun-
Try lasts, We will buy very spa.
1ipgly Of European manufacturers, and
they will buy as little as pos.
sible from US, for the very good resson that
they will not be in a condition to pay us
for large shipments Of our products. Tn.
der these circumstances, therefore, it would
be folly to expect high prices for western
products this year, unless our crops in thu
fall fail us, which Heaven forbid. At tht
same time, the increase in the tonnage O
the Lakes during the past winter will DE-
much towards reducing the price Of carry
ing the grain forward to the seaboard-ant
every cent that comes off Of freights goc:
into the pockets OF producers


But if prices should rule below what i
desirable, tie abundant crop Of the pas
year has left US 60 large surplus, that til
aggr:gate receipts of the Vest, especial.
if anticipations in regard to REASONABLE
fieights should be realised, that very larg
profits will be added to the availab1c cRpi
.a?F F,{ Ia r. fta
the Government will need whatever Europ
does not take frum us, and it Is believe
that should it end in q month, the Sout
would fully supply the orders which th
Government might cease to give. In an
event, therefore, the West is nearly sure t
have demand for all Its surplus if not a
speculative, probably at fair remuncrati7
prices


But whatever may be the conc1usio
reached By each individual that can7asse
the probable future, it Is fact patent to a
men, That the general trade Of the city j
active and healthy. All our leading whole
sale and retail houses seem to be fully ot
cupied. The sidewalks are filled wit
people, and the streets swarm with ever
imaginable kind Of vehicle that wealth cs
command Or business can employ. Visi
ors from the quiet finished old towns
the seaboard look on IN wonder and confe
to all they had heard Of the active drivil
cherry Of our people.


While the business Of the city is simp
keeping pace with the growth and der.
opmeur OF the vast fertile country that
tributary to it, the means to Do it has
creased in corresponding ratio. With
the last year sone ten new banking hous
have been established here, and besid
several new firms Of our own citizens ha
been added to the old houses that ha
stood the test Of years. Money to do


the legitimate business Of the city "
never more abundant. Not only is tht
now capital enough here to do the gr4
and provision trade Of the West, t
there will doubtless be enough also


afford ample and much needed facilities
our manufacturing and mercantile int
ests. Our productive classes have alTa
been crippled, and at times their indus1
has been crushed by iuordinate intere
With the accumulation Of capital all Il
viii te changed, and the absurd
of shipping INV materials to n


England. and taking in ret,


articles manufactured from them, pay


freights, insurance, profits and number1
commissions both ways, will no longer


enacted. Our mercantile classes are t


ing eensihly the effects Of reasonable in


est and low exchange, in the large ,


hesttby trade they are doing. Country d


e7s Tor circuit Of hundreds Of miles aro1


a1e the more certafn1y attracted ia our c


as the cheapzt5 market they canposs1


find Goods can he had At New Y


prices with simply freight added, for