Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, March 10, 1875, Page 3

THE SPRING TRADE. Prospects of Business in Chicago for 1875. Opinions of Representatives of Leading Branches, They Aro Nearly Unanimous in Ex- pecting Better Times The Railroads Alono Show Symp- toms of Discouragemont, How Trade Is Gradyally Being Taken Away from Now York. Goneral State of Prosperity in : the Northwest, Trade Will.Be Active When Cold Weather Ends. Business Conducted on a Moro Solid, Basia than Ever Before, A Most Satisfactory Exhibit. At this period of tho yoar it is the custom of Tox Tainune to presont its roadors with a aua- ciuct statemont of the goneral prospect of tho divora branches of trado in this city, gloaning the opinions of leading firms and corporations of long experience and of undoubted businoea ca- pacity. Tus TumoNe can congratulate ita read- era ou tho prospect’ ahoad, notwithstanding tho glowing predictions of komo people, who havo atill tho paula uightmaro hanging over thom. ‘Tho subjoinod statomont will go to prove that Chicago has become tho recognized contre of Weatern and Northwestern trado, aud that Now York has beon clearly cut out of our market by the onorgy and enterprise of our own citizens, who havo ever labored to make this elty metropolitan and solf-sustnining in every branch of trade and commerce, It{igsatoto say that the spring of 1876 will be far in excoss, in most brauches of businoas, of whatithas been in any precoding year. —_-— THE BANKS. THEIR ANTICIPATIONS OF BPRING. ‘Tho banks aro the baromoters of trade, and In thoir business the prospects of tho spring trade rovenl thomsclves spocdily and'accuratoly. Tho leading bankers of thia city, who aro, by the ne- consities of their position, tho koonost obsorvers: of tho course of trado, aro found to hold the gon- eral opinion that tho business of the season now opening will be probably tho most fayorablo alnce the panle. The country buyers havo boon held back by tho unusually soyoro woathor of tho firspweok of spring, but tho wholosale dealors roport that they haya at last fairly mado their appoarance, t i ‘TNE DISCOUNT LINES of tho banks, as shown by the summary of ¢hotr statomont which appears in tho fivan- cial column in this {saue, havo all reached a high figure. Thia shows, among other thinga, that the merchants of tho city have been borrowing liberally to lay in their apring atocky, although it is at tho samo time truo that the smount thoy have borrowed of tho bauka bas ‘beon very much increased by tho iuterruption of their collections, ‘The bankora aro informed by thoir customers—tho wholesale morchante—thnt all tho indications aro for a heavy trade, Tholr country austomors are forced to buy liberally, because of the low figure to which stocks havo beon reduced in tho country. ‘THE POLIOY OF NNIRENCHMENT , which has been overywhere pursued lias hitherto induced country dealers to buy tho smalicat amounts with which they could inoot tho domand. hie’ has been the cauo evor since the panic, and while consumption has been decreasing, and stocka have boon work- ing down, the country. has beon growing richer. ‘Thore is no moro familiar law of woclal cconomy than that tho habit of thrift among a poopte ia the boat restorative of wealth waated or: ‘dostroyed, ‘Tho thrift of tho Froneh poople as become a fa- Yorite subject of roforenco on account of the wondorful iustancea it aupplics of tho recupera- tivo powers of auch saying habite, It is doubte ful whethor any othor nation in the world'cofld have responded to tho torrible demands of an ox- travagant Government and a victorious cnomy aa the French have done, Tho seerct of their Wealth Ios in the fact referred to by Bir Hobort Peot, when he tola a colo- brated :J'ronob diplomatiat that "1n England ‘one porgon .in five ponds his cntiro income or earnings, while in France only ono In forty sponds all ho gots, while tho othor thirty-utno mako savings,” Franco, which seta tho fashiong for the world, could do nothing botter thau make this pradouce world-wide, It ia fortunate that its examplo has boon so far followed in the United States, ‘Uhis frugality bag two conspic- uous effects it reduces tho consumption of lux- uries, and increases the accunulation of surplus capitalin tho lands of tho pooplo,—a surplus which mnat find investment in commorco, man- ufacturing, ronal outate, railroad building, aud Othor entorprixes, THERE 18 ANOTIES PACT ot great encouragemont; tho country fs richor than it haa over boon boforo, with the oxcop- Hou of tho grasshopper dovastations, which aye beon local, and the trouble with tho wheal districts of Minnosota, whose product has nol found so roady 8 aslo as In previons yoars, Money haa beon poured by milllona into the country around Chicago for hogs, corn, and oth- er products, ‘Tho promptitude ‘of collections, ti the country becamo impaskable, waa a proof of this, and it is @ fact so familiar as to necd uo comment, Tt iy not to bo expected that wo aro to return at once to an era of tho old-fashioned prospority, with eagy and extended oredita, inflated entor- prige, and univorsal monoy-inaking. — Wo aro in A botter situation, ‘Tlia proupority beforo we 1 a gradual fisprovoment, proceeding on sound and sonservative methods of businoas, It will bo tuccoadad, therefore, nut by a collapay, but by Mill bettor times. ‘That thoao ara in the iinmedi- ito future, canyot be doupted ou a gonoral How of tho situation, With the markot towns of the latorior noarly baro of goods, consnmorn well-off, manufactures choap, and waitin: wale, au Itmprovoment visibla in tho pricos of broad: stuffs abroad, with tho aurplus capital of the ountry constantly accumulating, and tempting borrawera with cheap rates of intercat, sud preuging londora with the necessty of inveut- ‘Dent, tho future iy ag cay to read and iatorpret 8 the almanac, —_-—. BREADSTUFFS AND PROVISIONS, IN PRODUCE CINCLES, , the prospects aro usually rogardod se fair, with. aut boing particularly good. Tho geucral dull- Nese in breadstuffa which hina rulod during tho Oaat winter ju rathor a fcoling or ‘Phase, tho dus tation of which is monsured by the termination af the crop year, than by achango inthe woather, Novartuioleas thore are signs of tmprovement. * WIEAT, Tho whoat market haa baon depressed by an sbundant crop all over Enrope, which makes the Old World much: teas dependent on the New than usual for her supply of breadstnifs, Tho lack of demand ta all the more striking and effective on Our markets, agit followas year of unprece- dented activity in tho movement of Anisrioan wheatto Europa, Hence ® prostration ip prices toa poiut which does not Psy tho farmor the cost of urawing it, and that tins represuod doliv. bries, making them Unwilling to woll at quota Hons, eupeciaily as other kinds of ‘Produce have all beon relatively highor than whoat, Tho last named fact bas caused 9 Vory large increase in the consumption of the jowor rados of wheat for manufacturing aug feeding, both ‘heroand in Europo; aud, with the beskwerd weather of the presont ‘pring, will probably cause the seeding of » amaller breadtis of land to wheat than in 1874. Hoenco & srailor atosk Bi back upon than would have beeh the cao tex low prices, and the expectation of email. lies noxt year, which may be expacted to pelmulate a hotter domand for the article on tho opening of navigation, ‘The wheat movoment of tho early summer will therefure probably bo an active ono—not fess than an average of 600,000 buahela per weok from the 16th of May to the Jatof August. Wo have now nearly 4,000,001 bushels iu store, and that will have to be moved in rddition to the receipts of tho spring aud Bummer, rLovn. Tho flour trade is dull and promises to con- tinue so, our market having Inpsod into the “ratall” condition, whero most of the buying is dove to supply the city trade, Much of the prod- uct of country mills lias been went around ua, or bitled through this city, all tho wintor, without. regard toonr market, With low lake freights on the opening of navigation tho rail routes will bo unable to compote with tho water routo, and Chidago will then he tho resting place of largo quantiticn of flour, giving = more active trade era than now; but dealers do not antici. pato a vory groat improvement over present cons ditious, cons, ‘Tho corn movemont promizes to be a very ace tiveone, Tho chiof trading of the wintor has boon in options for May delivory, and the de- mand has beon go atrong and no persistent aa to causo n steady promlum of about Yo per bu over the cash price for soveral wooka, ‘Tho prominin innow ateue Ugc, or nearly 12'percent, ‘This Pays the farmer to hold his corn back in tho country, and rell it to be doliverod in May. It has aluo been a strong inducoment to Chicago capitolista to buy corn in the country aud hold it {hore till May (eolling it now), thus avoiding tho vost of storage in thia city. Hence wo may look for very larga’ recolpta of corn for tho thirty days following tho the dato at which tho ord 0 dropped from tho mapection records of received corn, ‘Till thew tho imarket will probably be moderately active, but the movomont of grain Into or out of the clty may bo expected to rule slow till about tho timo whon tho season of navigution usually opens, OTHER GnArN. Of tho movomone in onta, rye, and barloy, lit- tlo cau be gaid, 80 far os tho: prospects of tho future are concernod, boyoud the statemont that thoy aro boing held back, apparontly undor tho 20th of April, “new” will bi conviction that thore js so itilo to soll that it is not worth while to,be in o hurry to dispose of them. It is, howover, probable that thero will bas constderable in- creaso in tho moremont of oats towards May, ns soveral loly are known tobe hold in the country on torma which inyolvo the return of the money borrowed to carry them, in about two months from date, FRetartrs, ‘Tho carrying trade, which was so yery badly doprossod during 1874 that eeveral “yossols changed hands at a depreciation of fully 40 per cout from the prices at which thoy wero hold provious to tho cra of rutnously low froichts, {4 not in @ hopeful condition now. ‘Thoro fa s good deal of grain to bo moved, bot there aro also a good many vessels to move ft, with no prospect of activity in tho iron ore or any prousure in tho lumbor trade to call off bot- toms from grain and coal, Monco low freight- rates will probably be the rule during tho groater part of the sengon of navigation, moo PRopucts are now moring ont very freely, and the trade may be described ag ins healthy condition, malgro all the croakings of the past throe months about artificial prices, and consoquently diminishod consumption, | Our meats ato now Doing called for at a rato which promises to leave us with very sinall stocks on the advout of warm weather. ‘They aro boing tnken by Europe, and eapecially by the South, the South. era States bolng prosperous onough to take largo quantitios oven at big figuros, Our stocks ot ford are also moving out well. CITY AND counTny, Tho produco trade of tho city has beon rather slow during the past winter, except the doaling in provisions for futuro delivery ; and Board of Trade operators aro not, a8 nrulo, well satinflod with tho record of tho past fow montha. Thoy generally look for a slight improvemont, ‘The country is usivorsally prosporous, excapt those sections which are most Inrgaly devoted to the ratsing of wheat, Evorything olds has brought rolatively high pricos during the past twelve mouths. Cora, oate, Logs, buttor, and cheoso bayoall paid well, and the farmera aro, agarulo, in much better financial condition tuan ovor beforo, excopt in tha wheat-growing districts. Henco, with gooda at rofhtively tow prices, tho country merchant can afford to lay Ir full atocks, with tho prospect of realizing on them, whilo ho is also able1a pay up promptly on proacnt businoss, making “country collec~ tions casy.” —_——-—_. DRY GOODS, MILLINERY, ETC. MM, i. Z LEITER stated that business woa ina moat favorablo condition, “Tho firm of Field, Leiter & Co, had foltno sat-back in tho way of trade, His ox- perleuco was that peopla would buy goods in the #eagon, no mnttor what the tomperature might bo.- In fact, costumora ought according to tha month rathor than according to the state of tho thermometer, ‘Tho dry-goods businces, wholo- ealo and retail, was prosperous, and Chicago houses wora novor in & better condition to sup- ply the domands of country trade, which, by the way, showed 110 docreago whatever. v MR, REIT, of Keith Brothers, wholosalo batters and fur- riora, said that their trado was very good, al- though, without doubt, the severa weathor had a bad effect on thoir country trade. ‘This was not to bo wondored at, bocause mon, while the wonthor wax raining or enowlug, did not care about investing in now hoad-gear. ‘Tho ribbon aud far dopartmenta wora thriving, and tho firm had good cauyo to way that the trade of 1875 was fully up to that of 1874, so far aa tho upring eoakou went, ” CHARLES GQaRAGE 4 CO., dry goods, gaya a very liopoful account of the retail trado, aud thought that the spring de- mand would bo equal to, if not in excosa of, tho domand of othor years, ‘Tne Jadios, vwhat- evor tho wenthor, must bodreasod in the stylo and material suitable to the seagon, WALI 4 NUTCHINKON, millinory, fancy goods,'otu,, also spoke cheor- fully of ‘tho prospects of tho seagon. ‘They hud experionced no falling off in business, although, lad tho weather bean finor, tho trade might havo largely ineroased. Aw it was, an carly spring would put the receipts vory far abead of those of 1874, ALLEN & MACKEY, wholosale,dealora in carpoting, ete,, wero not affectad by tho weathor in any way. Tho do- imand had beon brisk, and the general prospocta of the soavon wore moat favorable, As the woa- fon of house-farnlabing and rolitting approached. tho trado would, of ‘courue, grow avon moro activo than it had been, MESON, CANON, INTE, BCOTT & CO., wholesale dealurs iu dry-goods, wore’ noxt waited upon, “Mr, Scatt isaa found at bla post, and a willing witueas to tho present and pros- postive prasperity of Chicayo, Neporter—What {a tho businoss Prospect for tho presant season ? 4 Mr, Seott—It was noyer bettor, at loast for tho Inst fivo yoara, Keportor~—llow is tho with a yonr ago? Hcott—Kpeuking for our own houso, I can say that it far oxceods our oxpectation. ‘Tho in- creaso ovr last yoar's trado, xo far, haa beou about 25 por conf, and the prospect'la that it will bo oven greater. zevortor—ilow do you account for the in- ercago Mr. Scott—Tho Increase ia yory natural, Tho better class of country morchants, who have heretofore gona to New York for thoir stock, ara now coming to Chicana, Noportor—Why ts this Mr, Beott-—Experionca fs = groat torchor, Country morchante aro finding out that they can purchase in Chicago just as cheap, ir not chosp- er, than in Now York, and, by purchasing hore, avold tho neccasity of baying oxtravayunt atocks, Teporter—Lhou morchanty are not buying larga stocks ? Sir. Beott—I mean to ssy that those who havo heretofore tacd Chicago au worting” markot aronow uslog it awa “tock” market, and trom their proxim: ty tothe city they aro purchasing jo amall lots, but frequent. Reportor—Thon there ts great care boing axer~ clued by purchavers? « Mr. Seott—No ; no extra care; but nobody (a ovorbuying, . Hoporter—How do you find psyments? Mr. Heott—Woll, thero is 6 es proportion of dealera taking advantage of (ho discount and Paying cash for goods than aver bofore. ‘This is Sepocially the caso in Indiana, oporter—Do you attribute tho increased rade uo far eolely to the fact that the country merchants refuse to go East for goodu? Str. Scott—Oh, no; you see the paut Tall wag a Sovcre HeAHOL, Money Way wcarce, Aud worchauty dealt cautiously, Ad a consoyuence thoir stocks are down this apring, and they are compelled to pareliaae more liberally than thoy otherwiso would, Neportor—Then the outlook is cheoring P Mr, Scott—You, sir; it waw novar more so, Wo have trebled our stock of over a year ago, which ig, peeps, tho bet expression of our bolief aud faith. i * 1 Os By RELLOUG 4 Ca. wholesale clothiers, wera the uest subjected ta an intesviow, Ar, Kellogg wes gusrdluy tho trado now compared THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: WEDN watch-towor, and grasping the reporter by Ii hand waa anxious to sell hin a bill of goods, supposing momentarily that ha waa from tho wilde of Texna, Roporter—Hovw is thospring trade opening up, Mr. Rollogg ? - Mr. Kollugg—Admirabto! fed all theca goods piled bere! if we woro anticipating it at leant. Reporter-~Do vou nto say that your rtock is larger tuau for the caine time in previous years? : Mr, Kellogg—Oh, yes; very much largor, Wo havo boon pieparing for mouths to incot tho spring trade, Roporter—How ara salen? Mr. Kellogz—Tbe sanson 1a not yet far onougl advattcod to way o great deal, but so far our wales aro about 20 per cont boyond last your. Teporter—-How do you acconnt for the in- erenne? ASS Mr. Kellogg—Wo aro gotting what Now York need to ot, forthe roason that dealers under- atand that itis to their advantago to deal in Chicago, Neporter—Ifavo you offered no apecial foduco- menta to interrupt tho trada which has beon going to Now York? Mr. Kellogg—Our only fniltcemont is good goods at living prices, xcept that we have boon trying for tho ‘Loxas trade, teporter-—Do you acud many goods to Toxaa? Mr. Kallogg—Lero ix a large order from that Btato, Sulol is onlya sample of what oro daily recolvod, Reportor—Then tho secret of your increased. trade Ia the fact that morehants aro now profor- ring Chicago to the Eastern citice ? Mir. Kollogy—Yes, that is tho real secret, com- bined with n determination on our part-to cou- trol and hold our sharo of the Western trade, It, W. XING 4 €O., wholesale clothiors, anid that the trada in No- Draaka, Minnesota, and Wisconsin had doprocia- ted,fiom the fact that the grasshoppers, drought, and low prico of wheat had kopt tho morchants from mating more than one-half their uscal purchases, ‘Tho merchants of the lumber and miueral regions were algo belind in. thelr pur- chases, Ilinois, Jows. Indiana, and Missourl merchants wore buying unusually largo Btocks, from the fact that thoir stocks wore low. ‘hoy wore receiving a good Khare of Texas trado with- out solicitation, whilo from Uta, Wyoming, and the ‘Terrliorica tho orders were far in excess of former aeasons. Thoir business had largely increauod, which waa uatural, But fow morcliants wert of Chicago were going East for goods, and collections were easier than for some me, On the whulo, thoy looked forward to the present gonson as tho moat activo in their bin- toryin businers, and lind mada the neccesary outlays to meet any emorgency or demautt. MIN, FARWELL, of the firm of J. ¥. Farwell & Co., also apoko hopefully of tho condition of the drv-gauds trade, especially in the wholonale departmont. ‘Tho country orders had bacon immense, and, an tho weather promised to bo milder, thoy would, no doubt, incronso. ‘Cho firm had all it could do to dill orders at thao prosont time, KOUN, WINEMAN & co. Tho noxt store at which the reporter called waa that of Mcesra, Koln, Wiseman & Co. wholesato clothiors, at Nos. 105 and 107 Wabnul ayonuo, Thoy interviewed as follows: Toporter—What Bre tho prospects for your spring trade? Mr. Kohu—That depends upon the werthor. So far wo have liad 9 good trade, and, but for tho weathor, it would have been exceptionally ro wo think, Bomo of our customors have not yot putin an appoarauce, but now ones havo taken their placa. Noportor-—Ifow aro tho wholesale clothing stocks this vonr? Kolin—Very large. We have made up double ay largo a utock ag that of lat year in anticipation of a very largo business. Tloportor—How are payments ? Ar. Koliv—Can't coinplain of paymonts at all. Roporter—And prospects ? Mr. Kohn—I think that when the weather per- mite the trado to fairly opon a regular rash of buajuosa will take placa, Stocks in the country aro low, and tue merchants are only waiting for fine weather to come to town and replonish thom, At tho mon’s clothing establishmont of Rinda- akopf, Barbe & Co,, the reporter found tho senior partner of tho firm, and obtained the fol- formation; -- - Roporter—What do you anticipate in tho way of businoas this spring, Mr. Rindskopf ? Mr. Nindskopf—t fully expect 9 good spring trade. Stocks among wholesale clothiers aro largo: in tho country the merchants Lavo xotd out all their winter goods, and aro in good con- dition to como to town and purchase; but the woather bas not beon willlug. Reportor—To what do you attribute this ox. collont rtato of affaira 2 Mr, Riudskopf—To tho high prices of porkcand corn. Roporter—How havo collections bean, and how oro they now ? , Mr. Itindskopf—Thbrough tho wintor collections Wore bottor than the avorage. ‘Tho ratatlers tell mo that they havo boon able all through to col- tect up wbarperthan usual, Tho farmors aro st holding back their wheat, which {s, of course, By uilich payment in reserve. Roportor—Liuw will prices run this year ? Mr. Iindskopf—Thoy will ran from‘s to 10 por cont lowor than Inst year. Goods have boon cheapor, and, during’ tho winter, tailors woro plenty, and work could bo got up okeap, Thus far the apring trade has boon better than that of last year, and wo havo faith in its continuing so, Messrs. Cabn, Wampold «& Co. wholesale clothing mianufacturois, considered that tho spring trado prospocts woro yory fair. ‘Tho atocka In tho country were low; customers, ay a rule, had pald up and wonld bo in town as. pur- chagora ng soon as tho woather improved a little. Tho sales of thin firm for February, 1876, wero doublo those of the samo month fn’ 1874. ‘Trade had begun woll thia year, and all that waa want- ed was good woathor to Hecure a continuation of xood business. Ino tho city the wholeaslo cloth- ng stocks aro unusually large, a fact which showed that tho clothing ‘men, at any rate, had faith in the prospoota of trad aegis THE RAILROADS, ALTON 4 BT. LOUIS, To ascertain the prospecta of tho apring trafic’on tho various railroads loading from this elty, a Tutnuwe roportor called upan a number of railroad managors yesterday. ‘Iho tirat oftice visited was thatof tho Chicago & Alton, Mr. Blackstotie, tho Prestdont, said that he knew but littlo about tha prospects of hia road, but he suppoxed that Iudgo Beckwith, the Gonoral Solickor, could give tha desired = information. Tho Indge was found in Mis offico, and received the reportor vory graciously, statiog that he would only bo too happy to give tho desirod information to ‘Ine ‘Tninuxe, but he regretted to say that ho knew nothing nt all about the epring prospects of tho rond, butho supposed Mr. Jamoa Smith, tho General Freight Agent, could enlighton Tux ‘Tuwoxg on tho subject. Br. Smith was thon eallod upon, Tho eiparitie) stated tho object of Lis visit, and the roply waa that it was hardly possible to form ® correct idea of tho spring prospects of tho road, “ How ia your freight bualness at prosént?" guked tho reporter. Alr. Smith—Duminosa at present ta lighter than {t was this time lant year; {t la beou very light during the whole winter, Neporter—Vo you not oxpect an Improvomont Yery woon ? It was never better, ‘That looks as rt. Bmith—Thoro must necorsarily bo somo improvement very soon 5 still the prospects ara not as bright a thoy might be. Burdonsome Railroad laws and unusual SOW ratoe pravont tho roads from doing anything like a paying business, Of course the general stagnation fi buulness has homothing to do with the provont utato of affairs on tho railronde, Roportor—Ifow do you think your spring tratio will turn out? Mr. Bmltu—Corn ahipments will bo much Ughtor than Inst-year, thore belng, but a halr- Srop on the line, Mervhandise and other articlos Z expoct to be much hoavier, There will be Hght freight from Kansas aud Nebraska on no- count of the grasuhopper plano, pooplo out there not having the moana to fhuy auything ex- copt tho noosasarion of life, Tho cattle traitlc from Loxas wo oxpect to bu aa heavy av ugual, Roparter—Thon you do not look very hope fully at tho epring prospects? > ‘Aly. Bunith—Wo do nat expect a large trafllo, Duainess fa much duller than ft has Leon for year#, and all clasaos of trade aro much de- Preauod st tho presont time, ‘Tho fact ix, our Toad haw not yot fully recovered from tho pania Of laut year, Mr, Ji M, Walker, tho Prealdont @g tho CHICAGO, LUNLINGTON & QUINCY HAILNOAD, Fras noxt intecviowod, In reply to a quostion aa tothe prospects of this road for this spring, he Said: ‘Itty rather early to anawer this ques- Hon at erry é ; th ‘cporter—Do you not expect a larga increase tr, Walker—Our trafilo is wo Nght at prosent that there mnust nocewvarily bo vowe improve ment, Still, we do not expect to do # vory largo buetnoss, owing to the present dullaows in busie hous and fnanolal olrctos, Roporter—Haw does ‘your progont bustuosy Compare with that of this timo laut year ? Me. Walker—Our business is lighter now than it baw beon for many years, ‘There are but fow Toads that earn sspounea at proveat, Uoporter—Could you not give an dea of what ‘ou expect the spring trafic of your road Lo ba? Me. Walkor—Thia fa oa hard thing to telf at this time, It depends entirely upon cireum- stances, Ithink there will bo some tmprovo- ment, Mr. James Clark, General Manager of the ILLINOIS CENTRAL HAILROAN, wan tho noxt gentleman called upun, and tho followlug dialogue occurred: Keporter—What is your expectation of this epring’s traffic on your rond 7 Mr, Clark—Ithink business will revive nomoe what, (hough it will not bo what it was last year, Roporter—Uo you not oxpect au iucreawa in your Southorn trafic: Mr. Clark—Our facilities for doing tha South- ern busineks has been groatly improved, aud are now first-class, and wore it not for tho disturbed condition of things in Louisiana and other South- orn States our prospocts would be very fine, but, as it ia, we do not expect a very large trafic this apting, Roporter—Hlow are tho Nortuwostern lino? Mr, Clark—The road haa bean much blockaded by suow during tho last fow weeks, aut L cannot posutbly at this carly day givo any idea of what the businesa might be, Reporter—iave yon regard to this wiatter ¢ Ir, Clark—Yon can make tn an interview for mo; you know about as well what to «ay an I do, ‘The reportor thon called upon Mr, W, DB. Strong, General Superintendent of the ; MICHIGAN CENTNAL RAILHOAD, Mr, Strong's reply to the question asto tho proupects for the upring trade on hiv road was: * Tho prospects for the spring business aro yory onmy at presont. Buaineas on our road would fo fair now if tho Grand Trunk Railway, one of our best connections, waa in an qyerating eondi- tion, ‘Tho road has bean blocked up by snow nonrly tha ontira wioter, Woe havo G09 cars of freight on hand now consiguod to points on that line, ‘Tha Grand Trunk has a length of 1,400 miles, and those polnta cannot be renchad by tho Northwestern business, excont over our line." Iteporter—Then you think business will much Improve when that lina fa open again ? Mr, Btrong—It will improve aomosshat, thongh it will not be as good a4 tho buninces of lant yoar, Our trafic has beon vory licht this winter, and compares very unfavorably with that of last peas Prospects on your anything olse to say in on, Reporter—What reagon do you asign for this stato of affairs ? Mr, Strong—In tho first place, it ia tho preeont stagnation in buelness. ‘Thon the unreasonable competition between the various lincs bas aluo something to do with it, Tho noxt gontleman ealled upon was Mr. Al- bort Keap, Vregident of thn ; CHIVAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD, Mr. Keop being asked on tothe prospects of his road, replied: “ Thia is hard to tell yot. We have had much to suffer ducing this winter fram nnow td ico, consequently we have lust much, ‘The road ia just boginning to rn again without inter- feronce, and froight begins to came forward more freoly, Ithink business will Fapialy: im- prove, but I doubt that it will Lo botter than laxt year.” Sovoral other roads wero called upon, but they ail had to tell the samo story, namesy, that busi- ness bad been exccedingly dull sll winter, and that but a hght apring trafic was oxpected. —.— FANCY COODS, ETC, DARNUM HRs, Tho noxt house at which Tin Tainusr re- porter callod was that of Moears. Barnum Bros., of No. 113 Wabash avonue, dealera in all kinda of fanoy goods, This is a ciasy of goods for which, being luxuries, there ig generally a etendy demand all the yoar round, the holiday season boing tho only timo at which the demund comer iu tho shapo of a rush. ‘Lhe reporter conyerscd with tho firm ag followa Roporter—-Gentlomex, I should like to bo fa- favored with your opinion as to what the pros- pects are for busincas this spring, Barnum Bros.—We do no not anticipate any- thing extra, Thoro will be, we think, 8 good healthy trado without driving, and 60 much the better for Chicago. The country merchanze will ‘buy amall bills, and pay for them, 1t ia alroady clear that thoy aro buying lighter this yoar, ‘Tnoy ‘ave not sold allthe goods they bought last win- tor, and thero is an avident divposition on their part,to go slow, which will impart a nenlthinces to our trade which it has not enjoyed for years, Reportor—To what do you attribute tho con- dition of affaira ? Barnum Bros,—It ta partly owing to the weathor, which hne decreasod tho demand for goods in (tho country, and consequently tukon tho odgo off the appotite to buy which the mor- chant foely each spring. a Noportor—How have payments been this winter ? Barnum ayant! good, with tho excoption of Minnesota, whero tho people aro a little back- ward, 8 state of affairs which is due to poor crops, poor trades, heavy cold, and tho low price of wheat which obtaing at preront. Roporter—How aro tho wholesato stocks of faucy goods in tho city? Barnum Bros.—Importations will prove as hoavy thia apring ag usual, it belug the general cpinion that tho light trade of this spring will induce a heavy trado noxt ‘fall, whan the people willbe in a botter sbapo to buy them than they aro at present, Toporter—Itow aro the money this spring ? Larnum Dros.—With the oxcoption of locati- tles whore special reasons oxiet for a different condition of affairs, tho country people are rich, owing to tho large price which almost all kinds of produco ay commanded. Wo could give a larger lino of crodit now than over bofore. Hoporter—Thon, take It altogethor, the con- dition of affairy is favorable? . Barnum Bros.—Quito so, Tho prospect ia of A vory ftoalthy businosa for the spring, with a decided improvement in the fall, when there will bo a good, old-fustioned trade, which wo conti- dontly oxpect to last for at least threo yearn, LINDAVER nos, a Co. At the gontlomon's furniubing-goods rtore of Lindauer Bros. & Co. tho reporter found tho senior partuor, and olicited from him bis opine jon as follows: Neportor—What do you think, Mr. Lindauer, of tho business prospects of thia spring ? Mr. Lindauor—They aro very fair. During tho long, cold winter, tle couttry merchants bavo boughs lightly, and Mave now sold out thoir stocks wo clove that they cannot help pur- chasing to replace stocks. s Noportor—How about callectiona ? Mr. Lindauor—In tho oarlior part of Inet sen- son collections wore vory goud, but in the cold weathor which act {u the country people could not get out to markot, and consequently our collea- tons suffered. ‘hough somewhat dull, on the avorage collections ure a4 pood now as at tho gato timo in any provioud yoar, Reportyr~-llow oro the wholoasle atocks ? Mr. Lindaner—Vory good indeed, ‘Tero aro fullor aud Lotter etocks fu our line of business this yoar than thoro have beon for fonr yoara, ‘Tho’ quality of our stock has to bo more looked after avory yoar, ax there is Geng opposition: from tho East, and we fiud tho beat way to beat it is to supply a botter article, which wo aro bonud atways to do, Ropertor—How will prioos run ? Mr. Lindauer—Prives will ruto geuorally lower thin your, . Roporter—What timo doos your spring trade gencrally open ? M. Lipdauer—About tho 10th of Fobruary. Wo have done a good spring business atroady, and, from the prosunt aspect of affairs, I think it will continue, Buyiness is bettur this spring than it wag loxt, Hoporter—Why aro collootions dill ? Mr, Lindaner—At presont collections aro a lit- tlo quiet on account of the farmers not welling their grain,—that is what our customers claim, sud wo lave every reason to bolivve thom, presume, that aswoou ax navigation opens tho farmers will nove a yroator part of the grain, country people off for and that will cause paymoute to vome in. Hoportor-—]low are stocky in tho couutry ? Mr, Lintdauor—Btockw aro very low, and the Toports of our travolers aro to tho offect that the country people are buying freely. Compotition in business opened yery lively thls year, qone houuss haying sont out travelore us early aa Jun~ uary, % _ IRON. MARDWARE, The spring trado in hardwaro {3 backward, chietly in consequence of tho disagreoablo weathor, The past fow ploasant days have had s utimulating effect, however, and morchauts {ool cheorful and confident thut business will be vory watisfactory, It iy not unlikely that, oxo reuult of the protracted cold spoll, the spring trade will come with 9 tub, o8 was tho custom in yoars provious to the panic, Stocks in tlio country are light, and, as the market hav reached. that point whou a reaction is probably more liko~ ly to occur than @ docling, at least in somo sta. pe articlos, deators will doubtless fcol {uelined, jo wtoek up more liberully thun they havo'done Focattly, ‘The outlook, altogether, is quite ta yorable, ‘The “firm of Rathbone & Sard, wholeasle utoves, etc,, gave = vory favorable account of the aspect of affaira in their Une of buuinsas, ‘Tho lopg and tarrible wlater bad incroased the average y of couting stoven, kitchon ranges, aud all that clags of gout, hoe cauire they would bo In demand whenover «now howe waa to bo farntahed ar an cll one roflited, ‘Lhe country ordors had been vers large, and the general outlook of tho trade waw most encour. aging, Tho etove business of tho season had Leou immense all around. TIG-MNON, ’ The pig-iron market already shows signs of w rovival. While tone venture te predict a rotuen to tho activity of-ante-panio times, the Lelof that the present seaxon’s business will prove fairly natinfactory, both as regards the amount of sates and the course of pricon, fa wharod hy tho trado generally, There ix vary. little Seotch Iron on hand, ant tha stocky of deniestic are alxo comparatively small, snd, should cho demand prove aa activa sit now weoms Hkely to be. thore ia little doubt that holdora will obtain pote remuneratlva prices than baye prevailed of late, HINBAND, BPENCER 4 co. At the wholesale hardware store of Hibbard, Bponcor & Co,, corner of Lake ntreet aud Wa- bash avenue, the reporter met Mr. Spencer, who, it willbe ween by tho folloning conversation which took place, haa an abundant and abiding faith in Chicavo’s welfarcy present and fature, Roporter—Mr. Spencer, what do vou think of the present prospect of Chicago trate? Mr. Spencor—It was naver better than now, Our trade is almost wholly country trada, Tho busines’ wo have dono for the past winter is largely in excons of what wa did in the name po- riod lat year, and that fe proof to tuo that I an not neeing with asinglo eye when I draw my conclusion. Heportor—How are the stocka in the country ? Mr. Spencer—In our jooda, wtocka are amall. ‘With the oxception of a little grasshopper cor- net, great prosperity provatla all over the Nortli« wont, In parts of Dakota, Minnexota, fown, few conntios in Kansas and Nebranka, tho trado of 1875 will be minal. ‘Phe Mountain trade, how- ever, in increasing wondorfully, Ix growth, within tho past few years lax bean enormous, aut Chicago hay got and will retain the bulk of it. Reportor—How are collections ? Mr, Bponcor—Never better. ‘Tho auow fm- peded payments for about four weeks, but that 4 Over, And Now collections are coming in well, and, in my judgment, will continue to do vo. Reporter—The prospects for tuo hardware trade are good, then? Mr. Spoucer—Lhe Northwent at large tn going to build more this year than jt lus done in one year within the last quarter of a contury. In Colorado thoro will be 100 per cent mora ‘build ings going up than over bofora in a single year. and tho best of it 18, that Chicago will supply all thea places with their building material, AYEN & ROSS, In the fron and utoel trade, Messra, Ayer Sous felt that the buainess was passably’ pros- perous. Tho price of hardware wan rather low, and very tittio iron was being made, as the roll- ing-mills wero running ratber slow, Tho firm failed to stock up Jaxt fall, on azcount of uncer= tainty in the way of ordery, “he general ont- look of the, business was good, denpite these drawbacks, oxpecially in the steel department, They bad moro ordora for etecl than they contd conveniently tii within s ilinited period." Orders for atoel at tho Union Rolling-Mill Company would probably keop that corporation employed for a whole year. CARLILE MARON, ‘Tho firm of Carlile Maron & Co, stated that during the last two months tusivess lad been exceptionally good in the linoof steam engines and boilers, ‘Thoy considered that trade in their lino was 50 por cont ahead of what it waa tins times year ago, Thoy were cngaged in building to order # 1,000-horge-power engino—the largest ever uxed in the West: ‘There waea coad pros. pect for labor, ns the demand was growing moro brisk every day, Thore waa no advance jn tho rato of wagea, but akilled men could not be worked for sny less, CAL . Mr, Blatchford, prifident of the Chicaro!Shot- Towor Company, wald that it waa impossible jnet vow to proilict how tho lead und oil business would bo this season, Last year bad beon au ox- eoedingly prosporons ono for them. In the line of shot, the seanon was late, gaine would be let alouo, and sportuinon would not be heavy in thoir demands for sporting ammuuition. In thin way their trade largely dopended upon the weathor. Tho oil trade way ag good us thoy could possibly oxpoct, Ea, ATI Fall's Safe and Lock Company anticipate 1» vory largo apring trado, and their country ageuts Tepurt @ good focling’ ia trade circlos thruugh- out tho West. Their orders aro already boginning to increase, and they aro preparing ample stock for their Chicago house, 4 —_—+—— GROCERIES, TOWLE 4 noren, At tho wholesale grocery sstablishmont of Towlo & Roper, Nos. 41 and 48 Wabash avenue, the reporter conversed with Mr. Towle, aa fol- slows; Reportor—Haw Is tho prosent, Mr. Towle, Mr. Towlo—For the last thirty days buelaess hing been vary dnit ; it is a little better at present, but wo do not oxpect any material change until tha end of this month or the beginuing of next, unless the weather should break up sconer than It promiros to. Reporter—How has the winter been for busi- nese? Hr, Towlo—A very severe one. Tho woather {gto blamo for it, Our spring business genor- ally opens about tho beginning of this moutp, but tho weather will delay it atjloast thirty days, Roportor—How aro atoclu ? Mr, Towle—In the county atocks are light; in the city thoy aro fair, Reportor—How aro collecticns ? 4r, Yowle—Thoy are slim. ‘The conntry peo- plo have been paying Up taxes with their surplus mmonoy, aud cush 18 cousoquoutly scarce with Rtocery business at SAMUEL TLIMR 4 CO. From Mr, Dliss, of tho firm of Samucl Dies & Co,, wholesalo grocery, at Nu, 37 Wabasha avenue, tho reporter loarned that the outlook for the sprivg trade in sections whore the hog-crop comes from was very favorablo, but that the ro- Yordo was tho cava 1h Miunosota and Wiseousin, where the trade prospacts deponded largelynpon the prica of wheat. He sawno Toason why busi+ nega should not bo as good this o4 any past year, Tho grocory trade differed from that of tho Others In that Its businoas wag necessarily more from hand to mouth with merchants, ‘I'he best apring mouth, howovor, was April, aud till then it would bo dificult to fortn a correct opiuion of what tho spring trado waa golng to be. FRANKLIN MAOVEAUI, At tho grocery ewtabiisument of Frauktin Mac- Veagh & Co, tho reportor conversed with a junior member of the tirm, who stuted that trade ad beon dull for the past two months on ace count of the bad woather, but a6 the country was not Inrgoly supplied with groceries this would soon be nmolioratad, Collections had been and still contintiod good. The expectation was that tho moment thero was fine weather, with a prom- ise of coutinuance, business would hven up, the {ittio comparatively tine weathor of the luat tow days having bad an appreelablo olfect in ameliorating tho coudition of affairy. Ono thing’ which would moro or lows affect buginoss this yoar was the prospect of the fruit crop in Michigan and othor northorly fruit. Krowing States. Many who did businoss in this Yogion Wero anxiously waiting ta loarn whothor the oxtromoe cold of tho winter had damaged the treca to euch an extent ax to have an effoct upon the crop. MESENS, DURANDS 4 CO., Mbolosale grocors, stated that tha weason was @ Uttlo backward, but that «till thore was uo rea- 4on why tho spring trada should not be ax good or botter than that of Inst year, Vor tho past two montle it was almout paroaiibly to do Dusi- ‘news, but a8 soon as tho roads got opened up, and tho farmure wot to market, the eifect would be folt in a, pecorel revival of trade. ‘I'ha States of Minnesota and Wisconsin appeared to bo baid up, but, in reality, the fa tnount of wheat ‘thay aro holding, which was ay good as caub, would bring thom out all right inthe ond. Tho county grocors bad acted with caution in the winter, and had avolie: large stocks a4 8 gone oral thine, wo thot when business commenced they would be found to Le ready to take large orders, ‘Lhe county merchanty were ip as good and sound te as ever proviourly, and juvt as Hoon as the weather opened trade would’ begin livaly. BOOTS AND SHOES. M.D. WELLS 4 COn wholesale doalory in boots and whoos, wore next called upon, ‘hoy stated, in substance, that they bad made oxtonsive arraugemunte mouths ago for tho spring trade, and that, a far, the in- croago over last yoar had beon about 40 percent, ‘The; had found the Northwout in a noalthy cou- sition outside tho whoat district, aud that a larga portion of their customors were taking ad- vautage of tho discounts for cauh, which thoy considered a favorable omen. ‘Tho ovly trouble they bad, or nocd fear, camo from Eastern fac- tories, which were trying to gain the ground lott in the last year fo the Wes ‘The Chicago nousye, Lowevor, enjoyed the vantage over Esatorn ones that thoy wore both maunfacturers and jobbors, which wan puraly a Chicago idea. They found that wherover Cine cago Zonda had beou introducad thoy were anper- seding Eastorn manufactures, and believed that in a fow years it would be impossible almost to fell Eastern goods in tho West, If anch goods continued to he sold, they bolloved Chicago mer- chants would handlo thom, from the fact that thoy could sell them just ag cheap, and from the further fact that thoy were determined moro shan | ever before to“ eoutrol the trade of tho Went, which belonged to the city, ‘fheir trade now extended to within e fow linndred mulos of fan Francisco, to say nothing of [te eastern limits, ‘They helioved that the boot and shoo trade of Chieago for the year would exceed by 6 per cent thn trade of any provious yoar, DOGGEET, MANARTT 4 HILTA, At the boot and ehoo store of Menara, Dog- Belt, Bassett & Mille, the Toporter learned tht about the tsual number of spring orders were coming In, Some parts of the country were moro bacaward than others, and were sending in sinclter orders than enstomary, the low price. of grain probably causing them to hold back. In IHinots and lows, however, tho trate was fully equal to that of tas} ecaeon, aud there wai ud reason why it should not continua en, Collec- tions had Kept up eo welt that in that tine thers waa nothing tocomplaiu of, Inthe conntryntocas wero ‘ght, but in tho city tho wholesale houses wero very Well supplicd, ‘Tha beat montha for tho boot and shoo trado aro generally March an: April, but on gccount of tho backwardness of tho reason the probability waa that the country morchants wonld buy lightly at present, and ro- blenish stocks Inter on in the apring, at about Mayor Juno. ‘Thoro was no reason apparent why more goods should not be gold this spring: than lost, At the bant and shoe storo of GREESSFELDEM, NOSENTIAL & CO. Nos. 34 and 36 Lakestreet, reporter conversed with tha senior partuer of the concorn, ag fol- jows : Reporter—What are your expectations this apring in regaid to trade ? Mr. Greennfelder—Wo anticipate a good trade, having already sold 60 per cont more gooda this spring that up to the zamo time laut year. Revorter—How aro collections ? bd Ar, Groonsfelder—They are a little alow. but not more sothan is usual at this time of the Year. 'Ihrough tho winter our collections have cou protty good. The country folks are very well off this spring, ‘thoy have been of Inte buying more aparingly and judiciously than bee tho nenal spring trade, an ho naw nothing to pra- vontit, Wholesalo stocks on land wero fui, handsome, and choap, and though businoss had been kapt back for a fow daya by tho wonther, it was bound to arrive econ, as country stocks wera not heavy, and the trado was in’ good shape. The millinery bnainces had inerosaod steadily in Chicago of Into years, and there was na reanont Shy 1375 should not show tho augmentation of trado oxpocted. x coat, ‘Tha prospect of grentur activity among tho Manufactnring intoreste Indnere q moro hopefmt fecline among con! dealers, Int: the production {n the Wess ro far oxceads the domand that thera in littls probatiity of any advance over tho Prices noe rune? as ¥ nee CANNED Goons. Jobbers of canned goody look forward to an active spring trate, In past seasons it has boen customary with deatera to Jay iu a full season's supply during the falt. shon pricos were sun owed to be at their lowest, Lut, owing to the hard times, tho trate Inst fall do- parted from tho custom —_heretofore in vogtie, and as a rent there in likely to bos moro than usually active tnovemont during the hpring months. Most liner are «olling lowar than over before, and a pretty yenerat advance in prices is anticipated. |, DRIED PRUITS. A fairly active domand for domes:ig, dried fruity hay already set in, and the weason now opening bids fair to bo at leat an averago ono in point of activity, To imported feute nothing moro than n fair demand is anticipated, it boing supposed that tho relatively high prices at which moatforcign fruita ara held will cause a leason- ed consutnption, ‘TOHACCO, Tobnors of tobaccoa regurd the aitnation with entire watisfaction, ‘They are carrying larga Kovks, which were bought before the advance took place last autumn, aud, as wtocks in the handa of iuterior dealers aro known to bo une usnally linht, tho chances of an nective and pros perous trado aro copsiderad excellent, THE GAG-LAW, Decision in the Buell Case at sty Louts—Letter from Mr, Bucll, THE DECIBIO “preiat Diapatch ta Phe Chicas Trinuns, ours, Ma. March 9.—In tho United States District Court to-day, Judge ‘Troat rondored s fore, so that their fnancidl condttion is vary atrong. Reporter—Iow are stocks ? Mr. Greensfelder—The wholesale stocia are heavy, and the retail atocka are light. Houce we can look with certainty to a good business, c. M. m1 RON & CO, stated that tho revere weathor lind rather heno- fited thau unpaired thelr country custow. They trade largely with all the Woesteru sud North- Wostern States, nnd the demand for foot-wenr, especially for hich and heavy booty, bas rarcly beon excelled in their experieiice, Cc. W. FALUO 4 CO, had an equal oxpcrionce, and were rangnine ax to the proportionate financial protitk of this year and last, eee bolioved that tho raturus of tho trade woald be largely in excoes of thoxe of 1871. ‘The heavy Ine of goods, expocially, had an immunwe demand this season. The prospects of tie wpring trado were exoallout, as tho chaners wore that the weather would becomo warmer within a few days, and an excoption- ally early spring ight bo tookad for. This would sive 'a better ajiow to the light- erclassey of goods, Tho spring trade of this Year would go farther to show that Chicago waa becoming thé eutreput of tho trade of all the States went of Oi DUGTETT, NASSETT 4 MILLA had nothing to tlud fault with, Onthe contrars, trade had been very active, aud tho ep rine pros. Poets wera moat favorable, ‘Their conntry trade Farerpecially properous, oning to the great falls of snow that had characterized the present Boauen, _ LUMBER. A LATE SEAHON, The regular reason for lumber will probably Open two to three woeks Inter than usual, ‘The ica in tha lakes and rivers of the lumber-pro- duciug States is frozen to so gieat a depth that it will take a long timo to thaw out, aud added to this is the fact that manufacturers have not» Jargo aurplua of old loge to wai this spring, aud, as thoy cannot calenlate upon getting now loge early ouough, they will not be able to get their mills runningat tho usual time, In conrequence of theso facta, dealers expect to bo obliged to depend longor on the stocks eld hore to nupply the wants of the traie. As compared with Inst year et this timo, business haw been “ light, and prices lower,” but in pout of ‘activity the winter aud carly epring of 1874 were exceptional, The demand forlum- ber depends largely on tho condition of the weather, aud tho past few days of mildness lave wituegsed a ateady improvement in the busi- noxs, ‘Iho stocks lero aro larger than usual, though they are not inordinately largo, and ara doilcient in many desirable grades, notably fencing. But the ‘situation as detailed above leade‘deatera to think thos will bo able to ro- duco their stocks to a low point before very much new lumber arrives, ‘Ibe season Naa been an excecdingly uufavorable one for work iu tho pineries, and the general production of this commodity will, it ia thought, be smallor than in receut years, Owing to this circumstance, some dealora on- tortain the opinion that the coming yoar is to bo & more prosperous ono for the trado than the two procedivy ones. However, tho logy havo cowt more, aud others are not 8o sauguine, aud do not henitate to prolict another unremunora- tive sengon. With some of theso the cry of do- pression baa, perhaps, become chronic from force of habit, ‘Iho supply, if umallor than iu 1879 and 1874, will undoubtedly be snficiontly large to meet all tho requiromonts of a trade which 1 likely to be fully up ¢o that of other soagone. ’ _———4 MISCELLANEOUS, C. As LEWIY 4 CO, wholesale donlers in Luts and capy, ssid thoy had doubled ther sfock over loyt yoar, aud tho Prospects woro that they would havo to double again befora the ~~ gengon was ended. ‘Thoy had already sold throe tinea aa many.yoods aa thoy had the aamo timo last yoar. ‘They found morchants buying carofally, and collections vory cloge. ‘They ox- plained this, uowover, by stating tat they wold on four months’ time, and this gave all other branches of business precadonce, ‘Their billy, for the mont wero etuall, and merchants too often neglected thomn to meotthirty-duy dry- gooda bitis, ‘They wero in high spirits, however, Ovor the huwineys propects for the scaron and ye in which they rolterated the expression of everybody waited upon, AGUICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS, The reportor alao visited the principal agricut= turalimplemont dealers or manufacturers on the Went Side, who were equally elated at tho buslnewa proupect, ‘hoy reported that they hud cither manufactured or ordered double tho amount of their waros of a year aga, which taken in counoction with tho reports fram tho merchanta interviewed presents / the most hopeful — outlook. Tho farmers, it appears, who after all sro the foundation of trade, aro contidont of govd cropa, sud henco aro liberal in their oxpenditures for farm-machivory, Liberal in euch purchases they must ba liberal io all othor outlays, which iva guaranteo that tho brightoat hopos of Chica- o's business public will be more than realizod, pauaa, z Wholorators of drugu, etc., anticipate a good, ateady, wpring trado. 'Advicos havo bean ro: coived from variong parts of the Northwest, all of which aro to the oifact that utocks aro small, Country dealers havo for somo tiie pavt bought gouds only in moderato quantitics, paying the ounh, henge have not only purchased at closer figures, but Lavo also by puruuing thia polloy Kopé thoir stocks at tho intumum. ‘Tho spring trado fa opening quiotly, but is gradually ine proving, Tue guneral market is becoming irmer, and prices for somo articles, which bave beou vory tow, will probably advance, CROCKERY AND GLAgs, wale crockery and glagd eatabliah- i. Jueyer tho roportr loarued that tho wholesale trade in these articlos was very aed Tho cold weathor had kept trado back ittle, but the travelers woro doing ax guod ae ever, Collections wera not very yuo, the goneral excuse boing that tha farmers could not got to market. Stocks in the country wera light, as a rulo, the merchauts having bought from hand to mouth fora year payt, Wholeralo stocks woro very fair. ‘The prospect, judging from tho ro- Ports Of tho travelora aud othor roauona, veomed that a very good wpring trade would be doue, LOND, sulTH 4 Co, At the whotowale drug Louso of Lord, Smith & Co, the roporter was iuforined that thero was » good g trado this spring, but tho eeyore and backwaid waather has kept back buwiness in cortain stapled. “It had @luo had the effect of nally interforiug with collections which wore protty pour at prosout. ‘ho ‘auticipation was that ® fair buainow could ba done thle spring, country stooks bolug light, Mr. Fraser, of tho wliolevsto’ millinery firm of ir. Fraser, of thu wholesale millinory firm o| D, L. Fisk & Co, corner of Wabash 4) cule aud Woshington stro ported that be snticipated re] deciston in tha cago of tho United States againat C, Buoll, charged with slandoring Senator Chand. ler through the Detroit Free Press, Tho invtict- mont tated that the paper in which the libelous matter had been published was circ: lated in tho District of, Columbia on the eame day that it was published in Dotroit. ‘The Judge regarded thin as a fatal defect: that of the paper could et, in tho things, have been cireulated trict of Colambia st tho time — alloy. ed in tho indictment, aud, consequent! si Duell waa not guilty as charged. It a protiable that, had the indictment stated the libelous matter had been circulated on a day anbsequent todts publication in tha Dotroit Free Dre a Mr, Buolt would have bean trauaferroa to tha District of Columbia to auswor the charge pro- ferrolagamst him. The WDistrict-Attorney no- tified the dudge that ho oseepted to his rating, and would appeal the cage. It will next come up before a full boneh of the United States Circuit Court, which moets March 15, > unture in tho Di LETTER FROM MR. NUELG, To the Editor af The Chtcago Tribune z St. Louis, Starch 7.—The Chicago organ of Bon Butler, otherwiao known ay tue Jaler-Gevan, in Ite Isuuo of the Gth inet. givos space and ape parent indoraomeut to tho oplutons of s corre- apondent, who says: : Acorrospoudent cannot be either fud:cted, or tated, or punished, tu Washingiuu, for words published da « newpaper dasued in New Yurk or Cuicayo, He may Le indicted, aud trie’, anit punished, if guiity, not for the publication or isaiue Ia New York or Chicago, hut for las nen indted ital act of composing and teritidg the thei in Washenaton, Exactly. Now APPLY THIS RULE To MY CASE, and eco how it works, I was the Washingtor correspoudent of the St. Louia Republican when that alleged libel on the now ox-Sonator Chandler was published in the Free Press, of Dotroit. I was ponding ocessional, not regular, diapatches to tho latter journal. Whatevor £ bent was subject to revision, to cutire change, or to exclusion from the columns of the pupe Rothor, according to the will of the man extitor. TL lad no power whutover to procure publication of anything in the Free Press, Tad uinply the pricier of tranamitting matter to the oditor, to be pntulebod ornot, ax ho might det mine. Tbus [was merely au informant. It is not yot proved that the original “capy" of the alleged libel on ex-Nenator Chandler was in any handwriting, Whether it was or wad not written by me, the published story was based upon ine formation. IfTwas av informant, go was the Hon, John F. Driggs, of Saginay thavicl Moliay, of Boston: so was IL. 1H, Sm hs *o was Mrs, dIelen 3. Bornard; so was an ex- Seuntor now residing at Waslington, who w bo beard from if the case ever comes to trial : for all these neople had ay much to do with pro- curing tho publication of the statement aa I had. Why are not theav people included in tha indict. ment? Why did not tho indictment RECITE THE ENTIRE OFYENHE? The originut articls in the Free Press charged fino inxtances of ntoxieation in the Senate Chamber, Ouly oue—and that tho last men- tioned in the article, and the lesa libelous of the two, if both were uutruo—was mentioned tn the insdriaatioy upon which the indictmout waa found. Why did not ex-Senator Channlor proceed against mo for both etatemanta? Macanso he Know that one of them contd be proved without auy trouble, Why did be proceed upon ono, und that tho fogs libelone of the two, if nota?’ Ba cause ho thouyit le could prevone its being proved, through tho power he bappencdito have to contro! the principal witnesses for thode: Why doox bo proceed against mo, instead of against the Publlatiory of the Free Presa? ecauvo, with ‘charactoristio brutality and pol» troonery, ho imagines that I havo no monos and no friends, and can easily be crushed by hie wealth aud position, ‘This iv the stata of tha case, And Attornoy-Goneral Williaws, himsolt enraged at some letters I wrote, when ho was ou trial before the Sonate Judiciary Committea, in respect to Lila uniltnoss for tho position of Chict Justice, is oxhansting the resources of the Bo. ealled Dopartment of Justice to drag me to Washington, to be tied bofore acourt subject to hia personal intlucnee. Willian ly actuatod, not by adosita to woo Justice doue, but by a louge ing to 6 SS ugm vEXNEANc WnovoIT UPON ate; not, 40 fur ow he ia concerned, for anytbiug Tam alleged tu have written about Chandler, but for xonothing Lam known to havo written about him and about his wife,—somotting upon which Williauis docs uot dare to bago a proscoution for Nbet. And lot mo say hore, that what 1 have wrltton about Williama I am heartily glat of lating written, What I wrote abont his wife, [ am sorry for having writton,—not beeansp it wan untruo, but bocause wbo isa woman, Lut thot is neither nor there, Ibtherto I have boen content to meet and repel, by logal means, the elfortd of Cuandlur and-Wiltlams to porwocute and anuoy me, Lhave not troubled the public, althauph their orate kn Detroit, Washington, aud ebiowhare, have kopt Up a Worsistant. conrss of misroproseutation and falschood concorning mo and my caus. But I am potting fatigued with this sort of thing, If Mr, Wiliam is dotormincd to om- ploy tha judicial machiuory of the United tates to crush me, an obscure wowspaper-writor, bo- cause he hates me, J provosa, in my patrennlty: to appeal to the power that utands above Will- jams hiusolf—the preds and the publi of the United Stator. [vor since this cago has been ir progrors here, Williams hay boon telegrapbing to ie Diatrict Attornoy and Lin Maruhala, at the expense of the peuple, ordering, and inatracting mothoda of and rotusing to posipona the mat- ter fur even + no ehort =a apace au two woeks, although such = postponoment waa desired by tho Judgo, And uow [am told hy his officiala boro, that, in caso. the procoul. jigs fail, Williams intends to try the power of a benchewarrant from Uw Supreme Court of the United Slates to tako mo to Washington oud INTO Wis CLUTONES, Very wall, Lot him proceed. But it Ja not fair that ho whontd bo permitted. to proveod any longor undor adelusion, Ho should know oxactly what ho is doing, Mo imagines I mp a pauper aud have no frionds, Lot hin rest assured that, if my rosourceu aro Mautod, 1 have employers and othor frienda whose means aro ample, advising, Prosecution, and who do not intend thst I whall bo oruuhed by big malignity, fur the want of, adequate means of defense. . And, ay thoy have managed the thing thug for, Chandler and Williams have mneeeded in doing - tuo w great deal of substantial cout, aud uo harm, whatever; whilo they and the ‘Troasury of tho United States have boon tho uly sufforors, And [dou’t boliuve tho people of this country ara wuxivus to pay the bills for adyortising mo into national celebrity, in order that Cheudler and Willisuw wey oxbaust the powera of one of tho bighost ofticcyof the Government in an jortive effort to wroak personal tevouge. At all oventy, Iam vow golug to work to tind out. whether the people axa anxious in that directiant 98 DOke . 4. 0. Bustty