The gschem man-page gives the following description for the -v command-line switch:
-v Verbose mode on. This mode gives as much feedback to the user as possible. (optional) In what manner does gschem give feedback? In the main window while placing components and drawing nets? In the status window, to provide real-time feedback? On the status-bar? To the shell that was used to launch gschem? Thanks. Dave Hart...