Year: 1878

TRENTON Dec. Is. 1878.


New Jersey has been occupying position of late
in its business relations peculiar to itself Few
States in the Union wholly dependent for pros
perty upon the Of other sections. and
scarcely failure is chroncled in any part of the
country in which New Jersey has not interest
more or less direct Lying between the two great
markets of the country-New York and Philadelphia
trayersed by trunk lines of railroad giving connec-
ton with every part of the continent half surrounded
with ports for seagong vessels with the great anthra
cite coal mines within short distance of its borders,
with soil especially adapted to garden purposes and
with SOBER Industrious population, grated on the
old Puritan and Dutch stock, there seemed reason
why the State should not occupy position second
to none in the United States in prosperity and solid
wealth. But the very facts which contribute to the
well being Of New Jersey and redeem land which
in comparison with the fertile praires of Illinois is
as nothing tended to make the State peculiarly de-
pendent upon other parts of the country, changing
with their changes. Consequently when the area of
financial depression began to spread New Jersey
signs among the first Of the approaching storm. And
So too. the barometer begins to rise the clouds
break and blue sky shows quickly and plainly in
the little State anywhere the continent, and
those conversant with business affairs deem it among
the most promising Of the signs that they to be
seen most prominently in this State


AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.


Although Newark has been we'll named "the work
shop Of New York" and Paterson is noted through
out the country for its silk manufactures and Tren-
ton, Manchester and Boonon celebrated for their
pottery glass and iron productions yet the real back
bone of New Jerseys wealth and prosperity lies, and
will lie for many years to come. in agriculture. It
Is fact worthy of mention that. according to tho
census returns. New Jersey produces more to the
acre in cereals than any other State in the Union.
This is due, of course to the high state cutiva-
ton, farmers investing large capital in their land,
Just as merchant does if he can, i'll his business.
Some Of the wealthiest men in the State simply
what their ancestors were before them-dggers Of
the soil. Any review Of the business of the State
must naturally commence with this branch Of in
dustry The caamities Of 1873 found the farmers Of
the State reaping rich profits from their proximity to
the markets Of New York and Philadelphia Those cities
felt the shock of disaster and almost Immediately
reacted upon the farmer with telling effect. But
their prosperity had been too long continued and
decided tShake the bad luck Of FIVE years
sbrfous harm. They have had less spending money
aud their and daughters have not had many
Injuries as before but the Jersey farmers have.
ertheless, been among the most comfortable of hui
manty during the widespread financial distress.
They we're fortunate in being out OF debt quite gen.
orally before the crash Within the past year
they have found the markets ready take their
surplus stock and they have been among the first to
take advantage Of the export trade in dairy products
and meats. The vast crops OF cereals in the West
have forced them to take TO fruit culture and market
gardening and the result has been beneficial to the
State.


NEwARK's MANUFACTURES.


The farmers however. depend upon rather than
control the business Of the State and in other quar-
tiers viii be found the reasons why Jerseymen regard
the outlook for 1879 promising. The city of New
ark, the Leading city of the State with population
of 000O exclusive of suburbs is almost wholly de-
voted to manufacturing. and. unlike the towns and
cities of Massachusetts, its interests widely diver
si6ed. While misfortune to any line of business is
likely to affect Newark, the entire failure Of one
species Of industry would not cause general losses
and it is due to this fact that Newark has escaped the
desolation that has fallen upon many manufacture
Ing towns At the beginning of the familiar hard
times several new industries in their inception
among them the making of ccllulod and the
articles into which it is converted. Through all
the financial stress these enterprises have made
steady progress and reaped large fortunes their
conductors. The single of celluloid started by
one small frm. now includes half dozen different
companies and score OF smaller individual manu-
facturers. Newark manufacturers were early in
seeing the advantages of foreign trade and grasped
the opportunities afforded previous to and during
the Centennial Exposition to make connections
abroad with the most gratifying results especially
in the trunk and carriage leather trade, in which at
least 10000 men and boys are employed and millions
OF capital invested In the immense leather facto-
ries OF all kinds business has been kept up with
1873, and the steel works. shoe factories zinc fac
tories. silk mills and carriage shops business does
time mentioned The jswcry tiaSe Sa i,nee has bsee so
less fortunate. however. although the depres-
sion was singularly slow in reaching that
branch OF business, despite the predictions OF almost
everybody. In the early part of 1876 il was felt
severely. and since then it has continued with
ot..Aav foxy ~
in this industry have kept up their trade by means
Of novelties. or by changing their business from the
5obbers direct to the retail dealers; but must be
said that interest in the State has suffered so
severely a. jewelry making


COMPETITION ECONOMY.


The amount OF work done at the Newark factories
has not been an indication great prosperity en-
ployers however 1t has rather been for the benefit
OF the laboring classes, for the hard times ad-
vanced competition became keener and largo busi-
ness was often done at profit which would scarcely
pay hair the living expenses of the proprietor


That the prospects this fall have been increasingly
brighter there can DO no doubt While profits are
small they are not of tho ndnitesimal character al
luded to, and while the wages Of laboring men are
far below those Of war times aud the flush period
succeeding them. yet they have not suffered reduc-
ton proportionste to the general fall In values and
1t is noteworthy fact that men are saving more at
81 80 per day than they did at 81 so and So in the
classes to the manifest betterment of the community
The fall In Newark real estate was something terrific
TO behold. but 1t has now begun to evnce signs
of activity where an utter lack OF animation Was
hitherto discernibe. Men are showing a willingness
TO buy cheap properties and to pay the cash for them
having learned to have proper horror of Mortgages


BUSY TRENTON poTTERIEs


The story of Newark is the story OF Trenton, so
far ~ the future shows promise. The beginning Of
thc mania for pottery, which slightly ane-dated the
Centennial Exposition found the Trenton pottcrics
making the commonest earthenware. They num-
bered ten twelve, and were comparatively small
concerns. But there were shrcwd heads among the
manufacturers. and they took advantage of the pot
try excitement and began to put goods OF the best
character upon the market. Their efforts were
crowned with success and in the teeth OF the adj
winds the Trenton potteries have risen In num-
ber to a score, and employ thousands OF men in
making the best American ware sold In the market
Their limitations Of Dresden not unfrcquently
sold for the genuine article. AT tho present time
the factories working full time and the employ
crs say that IL the tariff Is not mcddlcd with there
are no bounds to the success which may be obtained
by this industry. The outlook according to the
universal verdict of Trenton manufacturers, is very
promising
Going further south IN the state we find the glass