The New York Herald Newspaper, September 1, 1873, Page 5

“ THE FALL TRADE. ‘Prospects of Business for the Com- ing Season and the Conditions Precedent to Active Dealings. The Purchasing Power of the American People. Comparison of Exports and Imports from January 1 to Date, and for the Cor- responding Period Last Year. A FAVORABLE EXHIBIT. Cotton and Cereals Joint Sovereigns and Petroleum as Crown Prince. THE ITEM OF FREIGHT. Existing Monetary Stringeney and the Outlook for the Fall and Winter. AN ACTIVE SEASON FAIRLY INAUGURATED Good Crops and Cheap Transportation the Touchstone of Traffic. OUR SOUTHERN TRADE. The Signs of the Times, Which Some Men Watch and Some Men Don't. In considering the subject of the prospective fall trade in this country, as relatively in all others, the very first question which addresses itself to the inquiring mind is, What is the purchasing capability of our people? In other words, What has Deen the product of the past year’s labor in the great industrial interests of the country to meet the wants and desires of the producer ip his char- acter of consumer during the ensuing year? The source of all wealth lies in the soil, and is referrible to its productiveness, Hence, no matterywhat form industrial enterprise may assume, whether it be the fashioning of the rude ore into colossal machinery, or the weaving of the most delicate fabric from the frailest gossamer tissue, it is from the bosom of the earth the wealth acquired thereby springs. It is, therefore, whoily in accordance with BOTH REASON AND FACT. that in estimating our national status in the great ‘universal mart of trade we give particular promi- Hence and weight to the two great staples of agri- culture among us—cotton amd grain. These are ‘with us the sources of most of our prosperity, for Just in proportion as this crude wealth furnishes ‘us with the basis of exchange do we acquire nearly allelse, Cotton and grain in their various forms— raw or manulactured in the case of the one, fresh as from Nature’s bountiful hand, ground, as ‘when 1t goes to increase the pork crop, or in burn- ing liquid, scorching men’s throats and too often bringing woe and destruction ia its trail in the ase of the other—constitute our principal pur- chasing power, as by them also is most of our ma- terial development stimulated. True, we have other products valuable alike to ourselves as con- gamers a4 to the rest of the world, which help us materially in the adjustment ofour annual balance sheet. For instance, take the single article of PETROLEUM, ef which we have "Bxported since January 1, 1973 Pata) si nnary 1, ~ 86.197, Freee tie eine, 150. ~ ableoel gat ‘The great increase in the exports thus apparent form» quite an important item in the reduction of the balance of trade which so steadily rules against us, But to return to COTTON AND CEREALS, ‘which claim precedence also in this connection, ‘there is the same encouragement to the importer ‘a8 to the shipper in the results likely to flow from good crops. In ‘the matter of cotton the fears ‘which so extensively prevailed during the earlier months have been nappily dissipated to a large ex- tent, and a good average crop, though somewhat late, is now confidently looked for. During the past year the cotton movement has been largely {m our favor, as compared with the year previous, as a consequence of which, with the encouraging Outlook this year, the South may be expected to appear much more prominentiy in our markets as a buyer than for some years past. The fellow- ing table shows the EXPORTS OF COTTON (BALES) SINCE SEPTEMBER 1, WDB. 0... «+ 2,661,253 1871-1 In reference to this cotton movement the follow- ing figures are also suggestive as showing the in- creasing prosterity of the South and its consequent Amcreased importance as a prospective buyer. RECEIPTS OF COTTON (BALES) AT THE VARIOUS PORTS SINCE SEPTEMBER 1. WIS... 0006 8.617086 BST1=2. .nceees ec cee ses 2y7QM 189 STOCK ON HAND (BALES). ‘The subjoined figures indicate the active charac- ter of the cotton movement at the present time, and are another encouraging sign in the prospects Of the future fall trade. PORTS OF COTTON (BALES) FROM ALL PORTS FOR WERK ENDING AUGUST 29. 1873... aa «14,987 1872.02.00 4,993 Prices rule firm with an upward tendency, and fas indicating the cause of this, with the reason why its continuance may be expected, the following figures are given :— COMPARITIVE TABLE OF COTTON (BALES) ON HAND AND AFLOAT ¥OR GREAT BRITAIN AND EUROPE. Btock in Great Britain. 1872, 1,124,000 Stock on the Continent 575,000 Total European stock. 1,699,000 India cotton afloat tor Euro} . 328,000 rican cotton afloat for Kurope. B00 Brazils, & joattor Europe 60,000 in United Siates ports. = 45,920 Btock in United States interioi 4,685 United States exports last week. - Total visible supply.........60606. 2 2,155,555 ‘These figures indicate a decrease of the cotton in gight of 100,457 bales, as compared with the cor- responding date of last year, American cotton ex- hibiting an increase of 257,203 bales, while East India, Egypt, Brazil, &c., shows a decrease of ‘357,760 bales, In the matter of BREADSTUFFS there is almost equal encouragement for our merchants and the people generally. The draw- back here is in ashort crop planted, although the harvest 18 good. And right here, in respect to this short crop, we come upon the great bugbear of the Western farmer, and which has given sueh impetus to the recently started grange move- ment—viz., EXCESSIVE FREIGHT CHARGES. ‘This is no light evil in the West, nor is the com- plaint respecting it new. Neither is the West the NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET. much significance ip its influen fall buginess in the Eastern manen bene cies REDUCTION OF PREIGATS. The difference in the cotumns of shows figares the reduction in charges from New York to the jowing named points :— Cleveland. ....— Columbus. Cincinnati.” Indianapolis ¢ Lake Erie ports, which include Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit, the steam rates have been re- duced to twenty-four cents; and to the Lake Michi- = ports, which include Chicago, Milwaukee and ireen Bay, with steam around the lakes, the tariif for tirst class goods is twenty-seven cents. ‘This is encouraging to both the farmer and mer- chant, and will, perhaps, enable the former to realize out of his short crop, in view of the present export demand and the expectation of its continu- ance, the same Baad as a larger crop, with the old high rates of treight, would nave netted him, The present outlook is favorable to higher prices, complaints coming from both ce and England of @ very considerable deficiency in the crops of both countries, while the general European yield is stated as below the average. Much interest is felt abroad as to the prospective yield here, as, indeed, prices are mainly dependent upon the supply in this market. In view of these facts it is not sur- prising to hear of % AN ACTIVE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF PRODUCB throughout the West, with firm prices. It is to be renee see that the data are not so readily attainable, ex! ipetig aad extent of our exports as compared with our imports each week, month or year. This might easily be arranged if the Collectors at the various ports were instructed to furnish such data weekly to the Bureau of Statistics, compiled from the manifests of the different vessels cleared, Such official information would be of great value to our merchants and shippers generally, as well as of much interest to the political economist. As furnishing, however, some evidence of what this forward movement is, .We append the following atatement of EXPORTS (EXCLUSIVE OP SPECIE) PROM NEW YORK FROM JANUARY 1 TO AUGUST 26. W872......45 vee ee 06147, 186,885 187: «+ $184,808,583 THE EXPORTS OF BPECIB to August 23 were as !ollows:— It will be readily séen from ‘the foregoing exhibit that in so far as our export trade as it at present stands, and during the past eight months, affects us, we are in @ much healthier condition than we were this time a year ago. Turn we now to the other side of our account, and we find a much more gratifying feature in the GREATLY REDUCED LINE OF IMPORTS which has ruled during the same period. This, tgo, is our weak spot, the enormous yearly consumption ot foreign products keeping us in a chronic debtor condition people, and Sonspquentiy subjecting Us to shocks and other convulsive movements in trade, because of the operation of eauses of which otherwise we would be independent. This conservative setion on _ the part of importers is due, however, in a great measure to anticipations which fortunately have failed of realization, growing out of the severe storms of last winter, the great snow blockade which fol- lowed, the heavy freshets in the spring, all of which, accompanied by great stringency in the money market in the winter and spring, checked and interrupted trade then, and seemed to promise even greater embarrassment inthe future. The country, however, with that wonderful vitality and energy so marked here, has recovered from those seemingly potentous drawbacks, being but benefited thereby in the check given importations. Nor will the importer suffer, for with a shorter stock of foreign goods prices must generally rule higher, as buyers find themselves limited sn their selections. The following table, showing the FOREIGN IMPORTS AT NEW YORK SINCE JANUARY 1, will show the extent of this conservatism :— 872... sees eereeee 296,467,876 BTS... 0020 e eee $275, 383,090 As the item of dry goods constitutes nearly one- half of the entire imports at this port and enters more widely into the general trade of the country, while consisting largeiy of articles not absolutely necessary to the welfare of the people, the follow- ing table is submitted, showing the IMPORTS OF DRY GOODS AT NEW YORK FOR RIGHT MONTHS FROM JANUARY 1, Entered for consumption. Withdrawn trogn wareho: Total thrown on market.. $87,460,651 Entered for warehousing. ........$38,293,788 $28,417,748 Add entered tor consumptioi 66,883,731 57,793,835, Total entered at port...........$105,127,519 $86,211,083 From this it will be seen that the total imports for the past eight months 100t up Only $86,211,083, against $105,127,519 iast year and $95,593,364 in 1871. The entries for consumption are about $9,000,000 below last year, the withdrawals trom warehouse about $1,250,000, while the entries for warehousing show a decline of nearly $10,000,v00, ‘This exhibit is likewise egy on, Aa that the re- duction of imports is where its benefits are most surely felt, leaving untouched that heavier class of imported material used in tne development of various industries, and so in itself productive. It is not the purpose of this article to ignore the benefits accruing from foreign tmportations. Indeed, there 18 one condition affecting the pro- duce market now which ogers abundant argument against aby narrow protective policy calculated to cramp home enterprise, viz.: the meagre amount of tonnage offering, causing freights to rule high and interrupting siipment. A more liberal policy than that now raling m the national councils, Which Would permit phe American register of tor- eign built ships purchased by Americans, or in re- spect to the duties on materials used in the con- struction of vessels, would go far to increase our merchant marine and give us fresh help towards the reduction of that balance of trade against us, by Pacing $9 Yaa of eur shipments the profits Having thus shown why free anticipations of A HEALTHY AND ACTIVE FALL TRADB may be safely indulged in, it becomes worthy of note that present inquiry at the various marts bud general observation show it to have area com- menced. The principal hotels are fillea with buyers from the interior, especially prominent jot from the large cities West and Southwest, who have inaugurated an animated, firm market. Later on the smaller buyers make tueir appearance, The reduction in freights, noted above, has stimulatea shipments and torwarding is in active progress. There 18 one tmportant feature, however, yet to be taken into account respecting this fall trade and its expansion, and that is THE FUTURE OF THE MONEY MARKET, concerning which there is much apprehension in well informed quarters, The tendency at the pieeene time is for firmer rates, commercial paper ing quoted at 9a10 per cent for the best names at three and four months date, and nothing below Tig to 8 per cent on sixty days time. Much as gov- ernment interference with the ordinary operations of trade, and especially when directly applied to the money market, is to be depreciated, there are certain relations at present existing between our government and our people, growing out of the nature of our currency and our great foreign indebtedness as a nation, which constitute the government in some sense the guardian of our commercial prosperity, the more especially in so far as that is dependent on financial ease. That this condition of things may incline Secretary Richardson to throw the in- fluence of the Treasury in favor of an easy rate for it) ig thought most likely. That such influence would be considerable is apparent in the existing means he possesses to ag Telief to the market. His currency balance at the present time is greater than his requirements, while he also claims the Tight to issue $44,000,000 of greenbacks, which it would seem from the ¢: iting demand for money, unless another lockup prevails, would be rapidly absorbed in the general volume of currency needed at this season of the year. In addition to this there is a sum of $15,000,000 of national bank note currency subscribed for by new banks and not yet taken up, which the Comp troller has notitied the subscribing banks will be redistributed to other banks if not immediate! taken up. This, of itself, would @ lar measure of relief to the market ip its mt con- dition, The payment of the amount of the Geneva award, soon to be effeeted, will also have its influ- ence in securing an easier market. Altogether, notwithstanding the present unfavorable condi- tion and the apprehensions mentioned above, the outlook seems hopetul of an easier feeling in money. Unless artificial means be used to pro duce @ stringency there is not sufficient in the natural movement of currency, especially when that $15,000,000 of new nationa! bank circulation is added to the amount at present afloat, now in progress and in prospect to produce any ica stringency. Should artificial means be applied to occasion such stringency, then it would be the clear duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to use all the means at his disposal for the protection of the mercantile community. That he would do so there cannot be much doubt, Increased ease is re ported on the other side, and much relief may be expected this year, as was the case last year, through the medium of borrowed exchange. ‘A CLEAR-HEADED OVERLOOK. One of our reporters, detailed to visit the cen- tres of trade, called on the general wholesale Manager and partner in the house of A. T. Stewart & Co., end found him, as he has always found him, on many previous occasions, attending to business, yet with leisure, apparently, to talk, in his calm, quiet way, and with confidence enough in the means by which he arrives at his conclusions to narantee him in expressing them when called on. ir, Libby isa very peculiar man in his businsss habits, He is prompt as a planet in bis place, goes about his working and thinking always in the same , 18 always in the same, easy, self-pos- eased tie wee the warehouse as fresb-looking mood, ithe evening as he entered it im the morning, ra to be generally imperturbable. He amercencile Togicien in fact id has tl only cufferer, but from hundreds of thousands of famished, starving people elsewhere have artsen, eimultaneously with the smoke from blazing corn, ‘which could not be marketed because of the cost of transportation, cries for vengeance, not all un- heard upon the grasping monopolies that stooa between them and plenty. That these huge cor. Perations, which, though im the language Lora —_ Erskine, th hav Fy are a! a e ‘i are aner'al ‘Gependent pom po} ar support auction in the rates of freight on the several trunk dines powmsen pala glty nity of almost al’ ‘wearii es ortmttved silk hat, whether seated at his desk i the various departments of the house. orl a ed what the prospects of the Fall trade were , .'Libby replied:—So far as I can judge. both from A A trade and from tire causes whieh usu- ally control the fail trade, the PROSPECTS ARE VE! ‘te By 00, INORED ” trad ‘already opened well, and in a co of weeka will be in full swing, and ta | the past two py? in fact, we have been kop! an busy, weMnat are business line conereiling indiuences whieh, 0 ain nly ‘construed, indicate “s good fall season?” asked the reporter. Be Werte Maho The” crops whjon pur farmers and nlagters gather,” replied Mr. Libby, “afford a tolerably safe premonition. When the crops in cotton and corn and wheat are abundant every map is benefited by it. The farmer has a good return for his labor and can sell his products at rates which insure ready sales and a consumption, and bis re- turns are prompt and sure. Give him reasonable rates of (ranaportation for big produce, and good ny Mg and business is sure to be ee pad transportation have done La barrass the farmer, but I think, on the whole, that his prospects in this regard are brightening. With Teady and reasonable means of transportation to the seavoard, consumption and exportation are both accelerated, and the result is a rapid handling of money and a lair profit. Take, for example, & recent large shipment of corn from Iimois; when that corn was put here in New York it netted THE FARMER IN ILLINOIS nearly nine cents @ bushel, Nine cents a bushel! Just think of that for a return. When transporta- tion was excessive farmers fed their corn to cattle and hogs, and a very IATES POD RE OR of it came to market in that shape. With large crops he is stimulated to plant still more extensively, to raise larger droves of cattle and hogs, and, with rea- sonable or cheap rates of transportation, he will betre mare “Are the Western ‘granges’ going to bave any important effect upon trade prospects?” “Well, I have not thoroughiy considered that question yet—not suMiciently to enable me to give an opinion, I don’t think they will, however, be- ‘ond the degree in which they are successiul in re- lucing transportation, which seems to be one of their objectave points,”? “An article on ‘The Granges’ appeared in the HERALD’s Washington correspon fow weeks since, in which one of the Oificers of the Na- tional Grange stated it to be one of the OBJRCTS OF THB GRANGRS vo associate themselves for purchase direct from the manufacturers and wholesale dealers. Will that plau work well in rT opinion ?”” “I don't think so, don’t believe in these co- operative movements. I don’t think they ai ment trade or increase consumption. There is something narrow-minded in the Pimnolate. on a® jar with the mistaken policy of labor orgauiza- ons. “it naturally suggests the idea, then, that it ts denying to workingmen and small dealers the means of livelihood which the co-eperators them- selves are 80 clamorous to secure—to take away the means of subsistence from the dealer who stands between them and the manufacturer or wholesaler ?”” “Yes, oer, want fair rates for their labor or products, and reach out to supply their own wants at legs than proportionately fair rates.” “Is trere Lf sign of what you would term a really heavy fall business?” “No, no—not heavy; but ail the indications are that it will be A PAIR TO GOOD FALL. There is nothing feverish or speculative in it. Buy- ers seem to be putting in full selling stocks, and no more. There is no tendency to anticipate a mar- ket—a caution which, I think, 1s mainly due to Wall Street and the national monetary schemes and Manwuvrings. While this gold-speculating 1a is possible I think dealers will apt to act cau- tiously, as they can never tell when a ‘cornering’ clique may make money tight, notwithstanding the fact that there are no reasons why the marketshould not be easy. These men may unsettle the currents of trade, as they have done before, and 1 think dealers have learned that lesson, so that they are inclined to guard against it. {hey don’t want to find themselves with heavy stocks on hand and no money about.’’ “Does that feeling apply to the trade generally ?” “It does , though there are some lines in which there is a tendency to heavy investment. ‘These instances, however, are controlled by the fact that the markets in these lines are very low, and there can be no reasonable expectation that prices will abate from the low figures they have al- ready reached, I shall have to introduce you to some of our heads of aépartments, however, for you to get at these points,” “ABE THE SOUTHERN TRADE PROSPECTS this fall a8 good as they have ordinarily been since the war, Mr. Libby?” asked the reporter. “Yes, I think they are better than they have been at any time since the close of the war. The South is evidently recovering herself, and if she could only be lett to her own energies and in- dustry, and allowed to reap the full advantage of her eiforts to restore her lost resoure ; covery Would be much more rapid, if sn off the suckers which have fastened th her, and are drawing so much of her financial blood out of her, and, in @ Measure, Weakening the force of her efforts.” “Is the Southern demand on our markets equal now to what it was before the war? 1 ask this in consideration of the possibility that the extended FREE AGENCY OF INDIVIDUALS may have led to a greater consumption,” resumed the reporter. ‘he statistics will readily show yon that,” responded Mr. Libby ; ‘though I aim not statistically posted on that question.” “Well, so far as your impressions, your mercan- ile pulse Intorms you, what is your opinion Y”” “I feel, quite certain that it at least equals the trade wé had with them betore the war, and I think it possibly exceeds it in a light deg In certain lines I know the trade is augmented, but of course there is a great difference in the relative proportions of certain classes of goods demanded by them. Formerly the Southern line of goods e: braced the richest and most costiy fabrics, which the taste of the people prompted them to patron- ize and their wealth enablea them to procure. Then, too, there was a heavy demand among them for common fabrics for their slaves, This state of affairs has, however, undergone a revoluwon. The moneyed classes were ip a great degree iin- poverished and Food pe to Mmit the indulgence of their tastes. On the other hand THE NEGRO DEMANDS a better line of goods than his master formerly af- forded him. Those were the days of denims and 8 tickings and jeans, but the negro 1s now on a | higher plane and his requirements are more ex- tended and advanced, le 18 fond of imitating the tastes and foibles of the superior race, and asa rule the earliest outgrowth of this development in him is the desire to dress well. He will spend all he can, or does earn, lor showy clothes—be will even get trusted as far as his credit aoe» SVEN ii it ile Ag sue Deon Cstealing @ chicken for 4 e negro must work now to live at all, and his vanity as weil as his ambition, so far as has any, prompts him to work, so that he may a quire. On the whole, therefore, offsetting the in- creased demand of the one class against the restricted patronage of the other, I think the CONSUMPTION OF OUR PRODUCTS is slightly in excess in aggregate value of what it has ever been hitherto. But the South will soon feel her commercial strength again, and then tie trade will be very large indeed. Fortunately, too, since the war, or rather since she began to rise from the prostration of the war, she has been fa- vored with good crops of her great staple—cotton. For four or tive years the yields have been very pro- pitious, This year, so far as I have been able to learn, the crop is very fine; last year it was very gvod, and the year before, and the year before that. Prices, too, have ruled fair, and, taking it ail in ail, she has been fortunate and will profit by it. | feel therefore quite satisfied with the general indica- cations of the fall season. But if you will step out here with me I will put you in charge of some of the gentlemen controlling departments who come in Dersonal contact with the buyers, and they can give you their views.” Mr. Libby then introduced the reporter to Mr. Holman, and the latter gentleman accompanied him through the various departments. In the dress goods department the superintend- ent, Mr. Kingman, stated that he had seldom, if ever, known A BRITER OPENING for the season. The demand was chiefly for wool material, of course, of plain colors and tints, and the Western and Southwestern buyers haa been already so active that they had substantially drained the market of that class of goods. The near-by and Eastern trade was not yet supplied and would have to go without, as there was no time now for manufacturers to fill orders, On the whole the prospect was all that could be desired. Mr. Holman explatned that in the line of flannels and blankets the trade was never in his experience more promising, owing in a very great measure to the fact that PRICES WERE RULING LOW. The vartous grades of wool rated from twenty to forty per cent lower now than they did at this time last year, and the result was that the demand ‘would be large while the goods were so cheap, and buyers felt no vings about being able to clear out their stocks withou! In silks the trade was not so bright—a condition which was, doubt- less, influenced by the fact that a large proportion of the silk wearing community has not yet re- turned from the summer resor and that so large a number tm excess of the usual juocta =has been drawn to Europe jby the attraction of the Vienna Exposition and the generally brilliant European season. Stiks, how- ever, will doubtiess ‘look up” in the course of three or tour weeks. In linen and white goods the pros | | ects were fair for the season, though this line | jourishes best in the first six months ot the y ths, imported and domestic, the respective superintendents gave flattering results of their ¢x- periences thus far in the season. In imported goods, plain styles of woollen coatings and trowser- ings Were the attraction, and the trade had opened very well ind In fine black cloths there was no particular rush; but im domestic fancy cloths made Mr. Cofiin, the superintendent, and it was already seriously injuring the trade imported goods of the same styles and class. Lately a degree of perfection bee en reached ia this line of fabrics which is certainly not surpassed Ls a oon ak Lapis tee i Mr. Holman 8 e actually detected th red on Broadway as French goods. meee in the various departments of shawis, lacea and embroideries, kid gloves, ribbons, ia woods, notions, passementerte, the superintendehts, wit ad an exeeption, spoke in favorable terms of GENERAL DISPOSITION OF BUYERS and of the alre ‘ly renee and promising fall trade, and neafly all of them were of the opit- jon, already expressed by Mi bby, that the trade Would be a healty, safe and one jor the sea son, with a fair selling deman id no inclination 0 speculate or jostie the markets, Another large house, in the sane 01 , in the same line, ited sabsequently by t! ved Yo was vis- fier the French patterns and finish, | tated that such @ demand had never before beén eusry if V y the reporter, but th deing request F his views didn’t like to venture them for fear of beg wrong (f). He said:— “You newspaper fellows generally go off bis Soe he) hae ee a = opinions. ow, 1 don't know what the fall trade Wl be, nor does anybody else, 1 may be rigut OF 1 may be wrong, put it int my name with my opinion | am Lebie to Sieichens by everybody jor a@ week. Other men who know just as much a8 1 know about it ee canvassing my views. Things May look aii right now for a season and some- thing may turn up in a day or two that will KNOCK IT ALL ON THR BRAD. So you see, no matter how well grounded your opinion may be, if it turns out wre you're d at. Now I don’t care about being criti- cised or laughed at.” “Well, sir, has the fall trade opened with you yet?” asked the reporter. “The trade is just about opening now.” dre the opening indications prea a es; they are prety fair. I think, from what I can see, that we shall have a good fall. But then I can’t tell how soon it may be upset. Now, mind, I request that you will not print either my name or the name of the house.” “Very sir. I shall not print it.” morta’ & jellow here one day from one of the ing papers, who came hike you hav; now. Well T talked with bim, and ae fag the paper came out with all I had said and giving my name, too. Of course every mau in the trade was overhauling my views o! affairs, AS IT HAPPENED, p out as I said, but it wasa mere ‘matter of good luck.” “but,” rejoined the reporter, a “gentleman hav- ing the management of such large Interests as you contro] must surely be able to /orm tolerably ac- curate judgment of coming events based upon existing facts ana conditions, You have suc large outlook that you must have a superior KNOW!- edge of near probabilities to most other men.’” “Oh, 1 don’t know,” replied the manager. “I suppose 1 KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT IT as anybody does,” “Are there not certain indices which point to cer- tain results in trade with a nearness of probability that is almost certainty itself? Do not the crops, for example, foresiadoW either by their scantiness or abundance certain effects upon mer- angie affairs ior the season?” le crops,” repeated the manager musingly, “I don’t Know that they do. The tack Is, for every” thing that promises there is something else that may upset things.’” “But,’’ put in the scribe as a@ last attempt to get a@ point, “judging from matters as they now ap- aa to you, you beheve a good season is setting do yout"! “yes.” “Thank you, sir,” said the reporter, and ne at once turned and left, feariul lest the manager, who haa already shifted his position five times, might do it a sixth and become still more uncomiortable than he tien appeared to be, THE RODMAN ROBBERY. Feeling in Brooklyn Over the Case—The Prisoner in the Raymond Street Jail on Sunday. The punishment of M. T. Rodman, the alleged de- faulting ex-Deputy City Treasurer, was the chief topic of conversation in Brooklyn yesterday. But little sympathy, if any, was expressed for him, but much regret existed for the misfortune of Mr. C. A. Sprague, who is generally represented as being a very good natured and confiding man, That he was too much so to have ever been entrusted with the responsible position of City Treasurer is apparent in the light of facts, which go to show that he reposed the most implicit confidence, in that unmitigated mauipu- lator of money, Rodman, The assurance of the counsel for the latter that there would be no dim- culty in obtaining bail for their client {ell miserably to the ground. The boasted willingness of men to come forward and enter into bonds for the prisoner to any amount was mere braggadocio, and had no existence in pvint of fact, ag the re- sult of Saturday's proceedings plainly shows, The “friends of the oppressed” were evidently not sympathizers of Rodman, and the consequence was that he had to go to the common fail, as any other felon. The lesson wil! not, doubtess, be void of good fruit as a warning to others, Yesterday was quietly spent by THE DISTINGUISHED PRISONER IN THE RAYMOND STREET JALL. A few personal acquaintance: but he positively declined to receive any represe tative of the press or to commit himself to an t terview. In this respect he has been infduenced by the advii f his counsel and Colonel E. T. Wood, who are decidedly opposed to having their client interviewed on the situation, Mr. Sprague, who has been confined to his house in Willow street since Friday last, and is under medical treatment, in conversation yesterday positively denied, in unmistakable terms, the assertion published in a “bogus interview,” that he had ever advised Mr. Rodman “WITH TEARS IN IIS EYES,”? or under any other circumstances, to fy to Europe. On this point, which is an important one, he is very emphatic, as, were it true, it would very seriously damage the interest of Mr. Sprague in this case. ‘The whole course of the City treasurer (who will Soon be superseded in office) since the eae a of the defalcation has been creditavle to m. He calied upon him, TURNED OVER TO THE CITY his entire personal and reai estate, amounting, in the aggregate, to considerably more tnan the losses sustained by the defalcation, and thereby evinced an unquestionable desire to make good to the Jast doliar the deficiency caused by the robberies of his associates. | His bondsmen, all of whom are pecuniarly solid men, Will assist Mr. Sprague In his great trouble. The city, at all cyents, 18 secure, they assert, from any losi, Mr. Sprague’s friends express ‘them- seives a8 much aggrieved at the circulation of the rumor that he had attempted to commit suicide. | Thay eescit Tit Wout be iitpessitis Tor A nial of his temperament and disposition to despair, no matter how great his afiliction, Rodman’s re- ported attempt at Jelo de se is also sturdily denied and stamped as “AN INVENTION OF THE ENEMY." AS might be expected, the prisoner is not as well off, in point of comfort, as he was when an inmate of that brown stone mansion, No. 375 Union street, which he left so reluctantly for the “prison ceil” on Saturday morning last. He has been visited since his incarceration by his family physician, Dr. Mitcnell, and bis sanitary welfare is not therefore altogether leit uncared jor. To-day the efforts to find bondsmen for Kodman will be renewed, and if successiul he will be released in the sum 0! $50,000 to await the action of the Grand Jury, |THE HUNTERS POINT WATER BOARD. ppm A Discrepancy of $54,980 in Real Exs- tate—What the Records of the County Clerk’s Office Show—{£xtracts from the Water Board Report. Startling developments having been made by the Investigating Committee of the Long Island City Common Council relating to the transactions of the Water Commissioners, a HERALD reporter was sentto Jamaica to ascertain the facts about the purchase of land. of the Clerk’s office showed that a deed had been made on the 8th of February, 1873, for the Gosman farm, containing thirty-two acres, three roods and twenty-two perches, to Thomson & Frost, large realestate owners of Long Island City, the price paid being $65,280, or a little over $2,000 per acre. About a@ month afterwards less than six anda | half acres were sold to the Water Board for $32,074, or about $5,200 per acre, which is nearly $3,100 per acre more than Thomson & Frost paid. The records show no other purchases by the Water Board, yet in their official report to the Common Council of Long Island City, dated July 1, 1878, the Water Commissioners claim to have expended $87,058 for real estate, making a discrepancy, ac- cording to the recor Of $54,980 in real estate alone. The following extracts from the official report of the Water Commissioners, relating solely to realestate, show badly for the Water Board, as they neither agree with the records of the County Clerk’s office nor with themseives :— have purchased in fee 108 lots of land farm, and consider desirable the daitlonal parcel which is situated on » Lowery farm. * * * The parcel of the Lowery property deemed desirable to be added to the property acquired on the Gosman farm includes about twenty-six lots. They are offered by the owners at $400 a lot, bat no conclusion been arrived at on the subject. * * © ‘The Board have purchased the most eligible property referred to trom two different owners but at the unifor price of $600 a city lot, which is considered by them a Very reasonable rate. * *.* The third water source which has been considered by the Board 1s the Payntar Spring, betng s t present a single spring, and containing an area of about twelve lots. The price at whieh it may be obtained is hag pot yet Aldording only were actually purchased, the sum paid being $54,000, Add to this the price of the twenty- lots on the Lowery farm anu the twelve lots on the Paynter Spring property, the first at $400 per lot, the latter at $500, neither of which had been pur- chased at the time of making the report, and the total sum is $70,400, or $16,668 less than the sum olaimed to have been paid jor real estate by the Board—$87,068, Le hd Debevoise being the agent of Thomson & Frost for the sale of real estate, and being at the same time President of the Water Board and Mayor of Long Island City, it is not strange that suapi- cions should be entertained that there ts collusion existing between them. If the Board can explain all the discrepancies brought to light it will be for- tunate. Had the land ionuent on the Gosman farm been procured by the city at the price paid by atthe rate of $40 @ lot, but the purchase con suggmnated, > the Coffimisstoners’ report 103 lots Thomson & Frost the discrepancy would be about $74,000, A GERNAN TAKES POISON, | Banks,’? 5 ings in the Bay—On the Fishing and Along the Beach at Long Branch. ‘Those who were brave enough to tempt the sea yesterday had a splendid day’s pleasure, as the air was charmingly tempered by the light breeze that prevailed, and the haze in the atmosphere served as @ veil to neutralize tne warmth of the sun’s rays, In the early morning there was a steady ripple on the waters, and the general expectation was that there would be quite a “swell” outside “the Hook,’ but about noon the wind fell suddenly, and, as if by magic, the surface of old ocean became calm, almost mirror-iike, ina period of ten minutes. The palatial steamer Ply- mouth Rock glided out from her pierBhortly before ten o’clock, having on board something like two thousand persons, about one-haif of whom were enroute to Long Branch and the remainder contem- plated participation tn the ocean excursion, The aasemblage on board embraced fully fifty per cent of ladies and was, as a whole, very decorous and respectable, Among them were quite a number of Individuals of note both in public and private life. Peinaing Janes, doctors, politicians and mer- chants, e scenery of the bay was full of exquis- ite beauty, and though the impending obscured in @ measure the more remote features of land and water scope it neverthelass seemed to add a mystic, mellowing infiuence to the whole panorama. Its elfect was eng clae pretty seaward, for as the slant sun rays fell fuli on the beliying sails of the fleet of yachts, schoon- ers and ships that seemed to be steering for more haze points than there are on the compass, the white f canvas seemed ioloom out IN REMARKABLE RELIEF from the indistinct background. Its effect seemed th ee to shorten the range of distance of the sails, 80 that dark objects, though actually no further off, appeared to be twice as far away from the ob- server, and was therefore a pleasing illusion, par- taking of the phenomenal nature of a mirage. Ashort distance north of the Dix Island quaran- tine hospitals the giant steamer Adriatic was ean inward bound, her decks actually swarm- Ing with passengers, looking with glad eyes on the newly greeted land. ‘The two great steamers passed each other at close quarters, and, of course, the passengers on the respective vessels swarmcd to the ships’ sides and WAVED WELCOMES AND GREETINGS jetege ater handkerchiefs and hands. The people on tae Plymouth Rock admired the colossal pro- portions of the great ocean steamer, and the pas- sengers on the Adriatic beyond question must have been surprised to see an inland steamer of such large dimensions and symmetry of proportion as the great excursion boat. The band on board “the Rock” gave the new comers a musical welcome and ina few minutes the vessels were speedin, away, One on her way up to the great city, wit hundreds of anxious hearts wondering what new in life and prospects the new world was to afford them, and the other, ireignted with pleasure seck- ers who seem to Lately fully the tife and pros- pects which the others seek, was dashing off down the bay through the Ged waters towards the great recreative resort. Touching at Sandy Hook pier the Long Branch tourists were soon landed, and while the train whisked them over the sea- side dunes to the summer capital the Plymouth one swept around the point of “the Hook,” and Btoo SEAWARD 10 THE LIGHTSHIP, On her course ske sped past ships with all sails | set, waiting fora return of the fast dying wind; pilot boats, trim and tough looking, with their blue signals jauntily peaked out from the foremast tops, and scudding hither and thither, on the lookout for ships coming in, while in the distance, down along shore, could be seen the steamers Twilight and Norwalk busy with their quotas of industrious amateur fishermen out for ‘a day at the Fishing When the lightship had been saluted the steamer stood in for land and skimmed close along shore at Seabright, Long Branch and Deal, firing salutes and waving fags. On her RETURN TO THE CITY, while waiting for the train from ‘The Branch,”* at Sandy Hook. a slight rain shower passed, and | the sky betokened, to all appearances, a ‘dirty evening. An hour later and the tempest had cleared away, and, as the excursionists re- | turned to the city, a lovely sunset scene was wit- nessed. In the dark blue of the west- | ern sky, down toward the horizon, a! vast are of crimson glowed light seemed | to skirt the world, As it faded away the million twinkling lights of the city’s front sparkled like a vast constellation strewn upon the earth, and as the crowd of pleasure seekers admired the beauties of water and sky and the massive pile of the town they were quictly eased up to the pier, and a few minutes later were trudging, homeward scenery. DESTITUTE SICK CHILDREN RELIEF FUND. ‘The following additional subscriptions have been received since last report, In response to the ap- | | peal in the Heraup:— | | An examination of the records | « ‘Ooroner Herrmsn was yesterday morning no- tMied to hold an inquest at No. 413 East Fourteenth street on the body of Charies Ehrig, a German Swenty-ioet yous Of age, who is suppgued to have red AuaIde Dy Paleo, 3 4: | received at this office :— | 8 A Through Mayor Havemeyer— Salesmen ai Watrous, Boyden & Co.'s, 268 Canal poe aie pebaeae ees pe Cash trom various pi Throug Francis M Mra. Richard john P. Faure— Stoning ton Mrs. Wescott, Through Charles For the sick... Sent to the Treasurer. Adelphic Council, No. 4, 0, U. A. M... ‘The following additional subscriptions have been Stranger. Anonymous... - $10 J, EB. 1 To prevent imposition, which in some instances has already occurred, the following are the only places and persons authorized to receive subscrip- tions to this fund :— ‘THE NEW YORK HERALD office, Mayor Hevemeyer, City Hal Francis H. Jenks, President Safe Deposit Com- pany, 140 Broadway, New York. Andrew W. Leggs it, Acting Collector of Assess- ments of New York, room 19, City Hall. Jones & Kyder, 432 Broadway, George Calder, Superintendent East Side Dis- trict, comprising Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh, Thir- teenth and Bighteenth wards; headquarters 327 Rivington street. Charles O’Conor, Superintendent “Down Town district,” comprising First, Second, Third, Fourth and Sixth war adquarters 49 Park place. Rev, Arthur H, Warner, Superintendent “West- erly section’ of the Ninth ward; headquarters 477 Hudson street. J. L. Davies, of Sheldon & Co., 677 Broadway. Theodore Moss, Wallack’s Theatre. Dunlap & Co,, 174 Fifth avenue. Charles H. Kendrick, General Passenger Agent New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, room 6, Grand Centrai Depot Join P. Faure, Secretary, and Su) “Basterly section” of the Ninth wai ters No. 2¢8 West Eleventh street, Gouverneur K. Lansing, Earle’s Hotel, Treasurer, Rey. Alvah Wiswall, President, and Superin- tendent “West Side district," comprising Fifth and Eighth wards; headquarters St. Joun’s chapel, Varick street. Packages of groceries, medicines, &c., may be sent to the Rev. Alvah Wiswali, who will forward them to the various superintendents, PIETY AND THE POLES, Project to Establish a Charch in This City, Under the auspices of a committee of Polish resi- dents, a general meeting of the Poles residing in this city was held at the Harmonie Rooms, in Essex treet, yesterday, for the purpose of taking into consideration measures to establish @ Polish Ro- man Catholic church in this city. There are about five thousand Poles residing in this city, but the rojected church will be the first in this city, where hey Will be euabied to worship in their own native language. Dr. Zolnowski was called upon to preside, and from the report of the above ’ mentioned committee, it appeared that duri the past four weeks the sum of $2,000 nas’ been rooree toward a fund for the rojected church, and t an equal amount would be rthcoming during the next week. The (4 mittee also recommended the purchase of enor? property located in Fifth street, near avenad 4 which was ted, and an executive committe to take all necessary action to carry out the meas ures proposed was appointed. ‘The committee was commuees of Zoinowski, Florain, G@ozeszkiewicz, Kaedring, Bewando 3. Rybicki, W. Rybicki, in a | hundred directions, relaxed and reinvigorated by | the charms of the music, fresh air and delightiul | | ninth street, irom avenue A to avenue © i | einity of L6th street to th | 100 tet REAL ESTATE GOSSIP, The Coming Fall Trade Antici- pated To Be Very Brisk. West Side Improvements—What Has Been Accomplished During the Space of One Year—The Eastern Boulevard. With the close of the month of August it i8 ex+ pected that the real estate market wiil show some hew signs of activity. The dulness prevailing aur- ing the past two months has been no worse than at any previous summer season. The only differ. ence is. that the sale of suburban property hag hever been more extensive, and thus formed @ striking contrast to the comparative inertness of city real estate. Yet asaie of a New York lot situ- ated in an eligible locality—say near the Central Park—will realize more than probably 200 lots at @ suburban sale. But occurrences of this kind atthe present season are extremely rare, and when made continue to form the basis of conversation for some time, For THE OPENING OF THE FALL TRADE we shall doubtless have the gales of several large estates of the few that are lett on Manhatran Island, The rates at which city lots are now held, and the constant enhancement of vaiues und con- sequent taxation, make it extremely dificult wor owners of estates to carry such large possessions, even with the prospect of still higher advancement. Under this pressure the Banks, Carman, Post, Bradhurst and other large estates were brought under the hammer last spring, and the figures ob- tained fer the lots were not only extremely high, but tended te establish rates of valuation for all the surrounding property. Such realty, as for instance, the Mott estate, which thus far remains intact, ig now very scarce, and, sooner or later, this same property must be disposed of in partition, and come into the market for consumption, THE WEST SIDE was mainly owned by similar estates, the owners having attained thereto either by purchase of, many years ago, a8 farm lands by the acre, or in- herited them from deceased relatives. With the establishment of Central Park property on this line advanced in value, but at slow remunera- tive rates; but under the “Ring” rule, when the Magnificent boulevards were projected and put im a forward state of completion, the tever of real estate speculations set in, and in a very short time became epidemic and spread in all directions, Ventures in lots were made hap-hazard; every- thing within the precinct of Manhattan Island hav- ing the appearance of terra firma was eagerly bought up and held for a rise, Even lots under water—vide the Dyckman property at Inwood— commanded as high as $1,000 per city lot, and sellers, even at that rate, maintained a stubborn indifference towards selling. This was the state of amairs at the opening of fall trade last year. WHAT HAS BREN ACHIEVED THIS YEAR is already a matter of history. Business is rapidly approaching towards the southern boundary of Central Park and crowding private dwellings fur- ther up town. In anticipation of such an event and wealizing the northward movement of our pop- ulation the Legisiature has passed the bill pro- viding (or the annexation of the lower Westches- ter towns to New York county, which measure will be ratified at the coming election, This extension of territory to the metropolls of the United States will be barely suficient tor the rapid increase in the growth of this city, aud judging from the cx- perience of the past quarter of a century the next Uwenty-five years will demonatrate that the limits of New York will have to be turther increased, Since the advent of warm weather our builders have been very active. Theerection of dweilings and business liouses may be noticed at every side, and, while there is @ surplus of store property un- let, the scarcity of suitable residences has become apparent within a few days past, owing to the re- turn of the country pleasure seekers, which wif tax the energies of the builders to supply in season tor occupancy. Since last fali we have likewise had many Vast imprevements added towards sautilying our city, sich as the establishment of | Riverside Park, the layimg oat of the Northern | Boulevard, running irom 165th to Inwood street, | through Washington Heights; the finisning of grading Seventy-second street trom Eighth avenue to the comme ut of Riverside Drive, and various other important measures, If this same | activity continues Manhattan Isiand will soon ve built up, and then—well, the future must decide the rest. THR EASTERN BOULEVARD. While the judicious and tastetu! laying out of broad avenues west of Central Park has achieved wonders in the euhanceinent of property located on this line, the east side has taken care of itsell, Most of the’ property, except such as was not too marshy and overfiowed by the Kast Kiver, has been bulit up and commands remunerative profits on the imvestment. Yet the residents of this section of the city by right laid claim to some improvement on the part of the Corporation. For this purpose the State Legislature, on the 16th of May last, passed an act establishing the Eastera Koulevard, which includes the following improve- ments :— All those parts of the following named streets and avenues in the city ot New York shall hereatter be known as the Eastern boulevard, mamely:—seventy- second street, from Fitth avenue to avenue A; avenue A, trom Fiity-seventh to kighty-sixth street; Seventy- venue B, froin highty-sixth ixth stree| bouleva: 110} hety-sixth street Second said boulevard; Huth street, trom avenue to said last: mentioned levi t, from Sixth avenue to 12th’ street, from Sixth avent venue A, Irom’ the vi- Hariem River; and it shall be the duty of the Department of Publie Works forthwith out and establish, of the width of not more than street or avenue also to be known as the Enst- ern Boulevard, extending from the intersection of ave- nue A and Eighty sixth street, diagonally across tho blocks and streets and avenues, or through the streets ly through the same Shall deem expedient of proper between the nue and the Kast Kiver to the vicinity of the intersection of 116th street with avenue A. The act empowers the Department of Public Works to establish or alter the grades ofall streets or avenues connected with the work; also to jay out public squares of such extent as the depart- ment may deem proper, between Eighty-fourth | and Kighty-sixth streets, Sartre ti from avenue B to the Kast Kiver, and within the lines of Fourth avenue, between sixty-seventh and Ninety-sixth streets; but no openings in the said squeres are to be more than ten by twenty leet. ‘A number of meetings with property owners have been heen held by Commissioner Van Nort respecting the proposed improvements, but no de- termination has thus far been arrived at. The greatest diversity of opinions concerning the pro- josed route of the Boulevard exists among the Rolders of real estate on the east side, and we Bather think that, after hearing all sides, Mr. Van Nort will be compelied to run this avenue accord- ing to his own judgment, a prerogative the law gives him. A desire to please everybody generally Tesuite in satisiying no one, and as this improve- ment is highly essential to the progress of this city, the Commissioner should proceed at once with this enterprise. SALES OF PROPERTY. Mr. John Kavanagh reports at private sale the following property :— Slots on the south side of S5th st., 170 feet e. of 6th ay., for the buliding of 6 first class brown stone One 4 story brown stone bh. ana |., between 7th and 8th avs. veces OD 17% lots in town West Farms, Westchester county. $14,000 1 lot west side of 9th av., between Sid and Mth 6,000 4 lots on south side of S8th st, 200 feet ¢ for the erection of 5 first class brow: inws, for... «105,000 The following sales at auction are announced for this week :— RY James 1 ONDAY, srpTeMBER 1. (Under the direction of Adrian Hi. Joline, referee.) 1 lot of land, n. & of 7ist st., 34) ft. w. of 9th ay,, 20x12 2 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, (Under the direction of Thomas H. Landon, referee) Tiot of land, n. s. of 10th st, 170.6 fe ¢, of ay. A, 26x1144 (Under the direction of William 5. Kerley, referee. ) 1 lot ot land on Madi i, KNOWN as lot ois on uf map of property belonging ‘to Isaac Clason, deceased, 2oxi7, | WEDNESDAY, SHPTEMNER 3. i ferec.) Under the direction of 8. M. Ostrander, referec. House ana lot, & of Ld st. 207,616 €, 01 BUN AY., 19X99, A TURBULENT PIONICKER’S DEUNKENNESS: “AND DEATH. On Saturday afternoon an organization kaowgy as the “Mazeppa Coterie,” hailing from the Twentieth ward, went on their annual picnic to Lion Park. Many of the party drank to excess and shortly before midnight many of them, in crowding into an Eighth avenue car, rudely joatied agains® each otner anda desperate fight was the result. ‘The Thirty-first precinct police interfered to quel§ the ‘disturbance, whereupon Edward Downing, one of the party, in his efforts to escape, jumped from the front platferm of the car and feil down am embankment, a distnce of nearly twenty feet, and, alighting inst & mass of scraggy rocks, wad almost instantly Killed. The body was immedi- ately removed to the Thirty-first precinct station house, to await the action of Coroner Herrman, who was notified. Deceased was & singic 1 ot Waszkiewlca, Delikowski, Petrokinakl, Kija, Lan- Kajayialekl, Koseusness!. twenty-four years of age, boru ia freland, u: | weed at 407 Tenth avenue, 7