Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 1, 1876, Page 13

i, Be at oF 4 a r THE! CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY JANUARY 1, -owing to tho almost entire failure of iho crop, and the resulting high prices as conducted ou s vory limited ecato. 2° tho smaller fruits, including chor- 1a, plums, blackberries, and raspberries, tho sok {8 comparntivoly light, and high t.-lcon aro .pectod to rule throughout the prosont year, aoachos wors canned very oxtonalvoly ot tho Fagt nud Sonth (oatimated at 6,009,000 cssor), aud the supply of that fruit ia belioved to bo aiiciont to moet all demand, and keop pricos within roavonablo limits, Tor inost descriptions of canned gooda, comparatively LOW PRICES hava roled, Penchos opened dall, and continued sluegish and drooping down to the ond of Any ust, dochning trom €2.00@3,00 for respect- ivo aves, to $1,251.76, Tho price has sinco adyancod to $1,65¢03.25. Tomatoss were dull and declining throughout tha spring, and reached an low as 81.U0@1.10 for Y-fbs. Later they recovered atrille, and cloao nt 81.16@1.60 for 2 aud d-fbe. Corn haa been in oxcos- sivo supply, ond bas sold lowor than for some years, Tho offorts of tho Portland Packing Company to monopolizo tho ‘br.yinosa undor tho protection of patent seems to have proved avortlvo, and, with s light da- mand ond 5 plenty of off” brauds of valy ese quality, no important advance in prices ia likely tunconr, A cornorin tho ovater markot forced. up pilcea from 880 and 91,50 for 1-Ib aud 2-Ib canu, to QL.15@2.05 roapectively, fn July and Augnst. Tho trade, howover, did not respond, and tho movement was aluggieh until tho ro- sumption of packing in tho fall compelled a re- duction to about old figures, whon thoro was o partial rovival of business, Salmon, which priest through a poriod of tow prices in 474, has now becomes =a utaplo article, aud Jargely intorforos with tho sales of other canuod toh. ‘Tho total packing of California salmou for 187513 ostimated at JUU,UU0 cnson, agaiaut 400,000 for 1874. For tho suallor dtied fruits and borries the markot presented no vory romarkablo features except blackburrios. in which early in tho soason the trado was unpro- codented, Under the large domand the prico adyanocd from 850 in March to$2.U9 at tho clase of the year, PICKLES tho very prosperaun season of 1874-75 ia being succeeded by an equally unfavoradlo ovo, Thu favorable resulta of the provious nesaon's work greatly stimulated tho production in the Wost, Bud, ABA largo crop of tho Kost bas virtually closed some of the outlets in tat dircotion, tho large supply, it ia thought, will insure low ond unremnnerativo pricos for 1876. The prico of medium picklos Is now $u.00 per barrel of dU gations, which docs notcover the cost of pro- Suction. — TOBACCO, ME TopAcco TRADE has remained about in statu quo, so far as tho rapital employed and the volumo of gales aro concerned, tho year 1876 having witnesscd vory little, if any, incrongo in cither. ‘Mhe capital employed ta the jobbing trado, exclusive of that ropresentod by tha wholesale grocer, aovoral of whom make of tabacco a spocist departmont, is 1,600,000. ‘Tho total sales, including cigars, roach abont $10,000,000. Tho paat yoat's busi- noss has been dono ata very clos margin, anid tho season can hardly bo regarded a8 a prospor- ousonc. Early in tho year tho agitation of tho tax queation called out an activo spoculative do- mand, and during the tirat four months jobbera did a largo and paying busincan; but eubso- quontly the domand fell off, and tho last balf of the yoar waa charactorizod by unusual dullness, THE PROBPECT OF A DIG cnoP ‘was chiofly rosponeiblo for tho reatrloted charac- tor of the demand during the summer and fall; and it also waa the cause of tho gonoral weakon- ing of pricoa which haa beon in progreas siica August. Tho downward tendency of tho market made holders auxious to unload, but bayera would not invest beyond supplying curront necds, and the markot at times was considerably demoralized, Stocks ore now, howavor, roducod to manageable proportions, and the futuro of the markot wears ® moro clicorful look. Ensteru, Houthorn, and Wester manufacturers aro eatnb- Nishing agencies hore, and tho songon of 1876 Pisintucs to witness a largo growth in tho tobacco, uaivess of our city. The 1875 crop does not turn out to be ay heavy ag oxpected, considorstle dam- if ago having boondone by the saveroand protracto:l raina of August and September, and bythe frosts ister in tho senson, ‘Tho yield will, howover, bo abovo the average, and of o fair quality. Tho ‘demaud has been moro for low and medium Priced goods than in former yours. Binco August thore has boon a decline in prices of }8@5o por th. . —— DRIED FRUITS, ‘THE MARKED DEFICIENOY in tho crop of oll varioties of domostio fruits has sensibly diminished tho volumo of business in European fruits, and our jobbers aro onablod to fq Foport a vory respoctablo incroasa in the quantity 4 of goods distributed, in comparison with tho Ass result of the partial failure of our fruit crop, comparatively high pricos havo provailed during tho lnat half of the season. {ho stock passed into epcoulative hands, by whom the market has boon largely controllod, but tho extrome prices antioipsted hava not been, nor are thoy likely to bo, realizod, owing to the almost uuprecodontodly low prices of im- ported fruits, The diroct import trade shows a ery pronounced incrosge over any former year, and tho drioti-frult businoss of our city exhibits ‘a steady and vigorous growth. poMEATIC, ‘Tho apple crop was aupposed to bo an almost ontire failure, aud lator oatimates placo the yield ‘At not to oxcoed ono-third of anavarayo, but tho large quantity of old apples lold ovor from tho Previous season, and tha comparatively freo ar- Xivate from eoctions that wero supposed to bo entizoly deatitute, has rolioved tho market of all foara of ascarcity, and tho extravagant oxpoo- tro ot likely fo bo senieg® Pagar paces plied cuina obietly trom Att an, Now Kort, ay N 4 forthern §Pennsylvania, and eCrnada, aah South also will havo a small aurplus. ‘Tho qual- ity fa exceptionally good, tho Trospéet oe Lin pices induciug more ore in the preparation of be fruit for market. Of ‘uupared peaches the crop of 1876 ig eutimatod at Joss than ono- aixth of an average, the West furnishing nono, Dut thoro wad a largo aurplus of tho JAvi- cron, which, coming through tn fine condition, will partially make good tho defictency in the now crop. Of pared peaches thore was none tn Michigan, but thero was 8 fair crop in Georgia, whilo Dolaworo aud arryiang turned out un- ‘usual quantities, 60 that the total production, itis thought, will not fall greatly bolow the avorago of formoracasons. Pricoa aro now lowor than a yoar ago, and there ia no probability of auy important advance. The ctop of blackborrioa was about throo- fourths of & good average, and was excolleut as to quality. Considerable old fruit waa carried Over, and although nesrly worthlesa ag food, haw beon continually thrust upon tho market. During tho fall prices advanced ta 13@14¢, but uave since declined to M@IMe. California truita, including plains, peaches, pears, aud tho smaller fruits, are anuaually acatco—nat a fourth of @ full crop. Maspberrica and pittod eborrlos are in fairaupply, and the market ia weak, FOREIGN, ‘Tho 1874 crop of Isyer raisins was poor, both {n quantity aud in quality, and prices opened aigh tho past year, with ® good profit to im- porters; but the market voon declined, and mlod very low through the spring and sammer, Cho crop of 1876 wan fair, ood tho sesson »poned in eptember at 2.50 per box cnrroucy ‘n New York, Prices gradually advanced until B2.00 was roached, but agaia declined, aud sloged st $2.75," with = downward tondoncy. Wishin the past fiyo yoays the consumption of ayer raising lag.fallen off fully 60 per cent, Valunoiay, an equally good fruit, and put up in much moro desirable shape, have taken thoir place. YValancias opened in Septamber at 10}¢@ Ma per th, advaucod & trifle, fell of to Stfo, and ayalo advanced to 10!y@llc, The prosout quotation is N@L3¢0, Currsnts opened i » iu consequenco of a re- ported deficiancy of 76,000 brluin thecrop, The Teticlency, however, proved to havo boon largoly bvoreatiniated, and prices receded to a compar- Alvely low tlgare, the avorage for tho your bu- ing about Go. The consumption was iu oxcceaof suy provions year, cilag to their relative choap. aeag, There was an uodonbted dotictenicy in tho Curkey prune crop of 1874, and the goason of (875 oponed at high Sgnren, viz, 1@1lo; but ho extrome ricuw and the inforlor quality of 'ruit causod a decreased consumption oud the Herket steadily declined until April, when they wld as Lag ‘o. The lower prices called out i incre: jemand and during the summer the narket advanced, at one timo youchiog 100,—~ sales as owas .vory irregalar, Tho - flrs fom weluh pelat the markat "Totaly tees jo market 4 I Ow low pr Yi ing since Nelobad tha eonsuinpion on ayend ‘a . fish being about 3!y pounds. ‘The larger bulk of reaedent, Within the paat twelve months french prunes havo bocome with us a ataple article of commerco, Tho quality of tho 1876 crapn is vory fine, and tho bettor grades aro hay- ing a largo sate, fhe pooror quaiittos, owing to the choapnese of Turkey prunes, sro somewhat negleatcd, Now crop oponed at Y@l5o as to uality, but subsequontly, declinod to Oi@1ae, Datos Have boon abundant aud havo gold at the loweut figures ever roachod. ad, GREEN FRUITS, TUE TRADE IN ONREN FRUITS fs onlarging overy yoar, aud Chicago fa now ono of the largest markets tn tho country, receiving fruits from nearly half tho States of tho Union, Canada, tho Wost Indios, Covtra} America, and Bouthora Europe. The salen of foroign and do- mestic fruits aro catimated nt $3,000,000. Na- tivo fruits wore not so abundant as in 1474, and gonorally gold at higher prices, Thora was o Inrgo orop of strawborrios, which sold at low figures, whilo other berries, axcept blueberrics, woro not ao plontiful. Tho Wosterncrop of peaches waaa falluro, but tho deficiency was supplied by Now Jersey, Maryland, and Dolnwaro, all of which had enormons crops, that of tho latter Stato alona being 8,872,786 basketa, ‘Tho markot was flooded with tho Eastern fruit, which goner- ally arrived in poor condition, and frequently sold for scarcely onough to pay froight charges ; hence tho oxporimont proved to be an unfortu- nato ono for the shippors. Penra aud plutng wero abundaut, The crop of grapes was smaller, and tho Michigan fruit did not ripen wolf, owing to tho unfavorable weather iu the carly autuiny, and much of tho Olio crop wout East; hence prices for chotco fruit avorigod a ehadoe higher than in ‘74. ‘The apple erop was handiod at a fair profit. The Michigan crop was largor aud of ‘ner quality thav was at first expected, and Wostoin New York had a goog barvest, but most of it want to supply the doticiency in o:her parie of tho East, and o portion of tho Michigan fruit to replace the losa in Ohio. Tho winter fruit Btorod here haa kept poorly, owing to the mild weather. Prices wore highor than in "74, rang- ing for car-lots of selected winter fruit from £3.00@3.95. Tne sulea” of apples iu this market excood $1,000,000, ‘he cran- berry crop of the country was ostimated at "210,000 bu, agaiuat 250,000 bu in 1874 aad 275,000 bushels iu tho two preceding years, Tho production was smaller in all tuo largo cranborry-roising States oxcept Now Jer- sey, tho Northwest bolug particularly unfortu- note, the vines having been badly damaged by tho bard wintor and vino-worm, avd tho small crop loft was cut off by ssvoro frosts im Augist and Bontember, ‘Tho local market has boon suppliod with Capo Cod aad Now Jorsoy fruit, and deproenod by liberal offerings of tho injured Wosteru berries; bat tho stock of choice fruit iv limited, avd prices for auch havo ranged from $10.00 to $11.59 per barrel. ‘THR TRADE IN OALIFORNIA FRUITS wag amallor than in 1871, but moro profltablo, Abont 125 oar-loads, chiofly of poars, were ro- coivad and disposed of in this waraet. ‘The Cal- ifornin crop waa small but of exccllent quality, nod the fruit vamo through in much botter con- ditfon than in otbersessous, Pricoo wore a lit- tle highor than jn 1874, tho average for poars being about 33.00 por box. Moro forelgn fruita wero handled than in 1874, but at lowor prices. Tho scaxon waa a vory bad ono for Eastern importors, who imported largo quantities of oranges and Jomous, with prices constantly dechuing, aud often undersold tha Europesn markot. "Local doalera purchased pup pliesin Now York instead of importing diroct, ts some did in tho previous year. Lemons aver- ago about &6 per box. Tine apples wero vory abundant, aud sold at extromely low prices. About the usual quantity of Malaga grapes, bananas, and other tropical truits wero sold in this market, —_— risa. WHATEVER ViclOSITUDFA other branches of busincas mny be subjected to, tho growth of onr fish trado ia atoady and vigor- ous, tho volume of sales for 1875 having been fully 15 per cont larger than for any provious year. But notwithstandiug tho materially ineroasod distribution, the soason hos not boen 8 profitable as somo of its pro- decessors, A brisk local compotition served to keop prices at rolstively low fgurca, and Jeft a comparatively mali margiu for Profits; but taken allin all the aonson may bo sotdown ad a fairly wativfactory one to tha job- bing trade, ‘Tho LAME FISHERIES haya beon attended wilh averago succoss, and the stocks in toro here, it is thought, are sufll- cieutly Jarge to insures continuance of moder- ste prices uutil tho opening of tho febing ezason of 1876, With the oxception of mackerel, the supply of BALTWATED Fisir' baa been ample, and low prices havo pravalled throughout thesosson, Tho mackerel fuherica wora almost @ failuro, Tho total catch was but «a ttle moro than one- half aa large ea for 1874, ond as a consequence oxtremo pricos have ruled. . Sinco tho middle of August, by which timo tho oxtent of tho soason’s catch contd bo pretty definitely dotormined, tho quotations have boon advanced fully $13 por br], tho present price for No. 2 shoro being 825, Somoitien of tho {mportance of tho mackerel flvhory may bo gained from the fact that within tho past five years there wore inspected and gold for consumption, in Afassa- ohugetts alouo, ovor 1,100,000 bria. Tho catch by the Massachusetts flaot for tho five yoars ending with 1874 was os follows MACKEREL. No, 2 Ak: ‘Total® 254.38) 155,748, 181,057 259,416 318,621 j TotalG yre..¢3),753 464,090 2023, ? SALMON, Tho quantity of salmon soldin this markot during the your 1875 isyivon at 8,000 barrols—aon increase over 1874 of 1,0U0barrols. Thisis a vory satisfactory sowing when itis undoratood that the packing of the past year was over 25 por cent loss than for 1874, ‘Tho averago price for tho pugt soason was about $16 por barrel—show- jog # docline of about 82, ‘The inspoction of lake fleh during 1875 waa Bo.aia barrols, agatnat about 70,000 barrala for FRESH FISH, Dnring tho pant season thero havo been sovon houxes encaged iu tho fish trade, ‘Tho business: Was unusually profitable; tho total ealea for the year amounting Iu round numbers to $700,000 against 8000,000 in 1874. Thoprous welghtof tho Nah received sud ebipped st thia point ig catimea- tod at 11,600,000 pounds, the avorage weight of a the catch of 1872 was tho product of Lake Mich- gun fishormon, a preater partion being soiuett on our sido of the lake. Whitotluh Lavo been eXxcoodingly plentiful, and tho aupply of lake- trout gaite ample to satisfy tho city demand, Prices Lave ruled & shade higher, Tha capital omployed Iu the trade fa fully 820,000, an in- croage of U33¢ por cont avor the figures of 1874, ‘Tho oyster trade ot siscity bas developed ja of this ci aa davoloped wonderfully during the pat is war, 89 cum- pared with “tho” figures of 187k. Tho yaluo of the aggrogate anuual salos was in tho immedinto neighborhood of 9,090,000 ‘The tote} sales for 1874 woro extiuatod at 22. 900,000, Thoro cro now twolve firms ougagod in the buginewd hero, who reprosent an aggrogato capital of €1,000,000, Putly 600,000 worth of tuo oyaters rocolved here durin the past twelve Monthy Wore appropriated by clty consumers, the largo balance bein shippod West. A ma- jority of tho tirtos establ: shed ‘here oro branches OF Baltimore houses, whieh city gathery tully four-fifths of tho bivalyos consumed in tho United Hates, Those statistics reprenont Ohi. cago ua (he oyster-diatritmting point of tho West. ‘Tho value given above reproseuts about 8,000,000 quarts, or 600,000,000 oystore, belng an incréave of fully 15 por cout over the recoipta of the pro- vious Benson, Pricow havo ruled higher, owing in a groat moasure to the superior quality of the Product. —_——— ‘ DRY Goopbs. MO OMANGES HAVE OCOUNRED in the houses doing business in dry goods in th{a oity during the past year. Is haa been au onfavorablo period for the trado, and sovers! Eastorn housos havo yleldod to the pressure, but our Chicago firma have conducted tholr bus- fnoea on 4 safe baa, and footed up s fair aggro- gate of profits, though losaes wore rather sovero in dome dopartmenta, Neitheria there any in- creagoin the capital to report; the cash en- gaged in the businoss is estimated at about 87,000,000. : Tho ealos of tho year foot up a total of about 251,000,000, against $50,600,000 in 1874 and €48,000,000 in 1873, The {ncreaso {a nearly 7 percent, Tho incroase iu bulk is fully 25 per sant, bubtrlthan average shtinkage in acing values of 16 per cont. The bueiners has beon trangactod on clonor margins than ovor baforo known in tho history of the trade, competition having boon brik botweon boma morchants, a8 woll as with thoxo of other cities, Our dealers havo sometimes beon obliged to sell at primo coat in order to compete with atocks which tho oxigoncios of business at the Eat mado it neces- sary to offor at a sacrifice, Tho market hss rnlod hoavy from oxceseive offerings, eapecially of domestic goods. ‘Tuo oxtont of the doprossion may be inferred from tho fact that atandard prints sold in Decembor at 7Zoper yard, against 9140, which was tho ruling price in 1874, and before the War--thoy aro 20 por cent lower than fifteen years ago. Bimilarly, stan‘tard brown muslin hava declined from 11c in 1874, to 2@93Zo at tho close of 1875, This declino ts capocially aavore, as cotton gooda wore alroady 10@20 per cent lower at tho close of 187% lusn a year proviously, and woolen gooda had nlso ruled vory woak as 8 connoquonco of over-production, Tho manufacturers at the Enst aro now moat of thom runing some on short timo, and tho offoriugs aro considerably roduced oxcopt in unblonchod cottons, which aro in excess, Drown goods Lave boon worked down rathor fow—tho aurplua of which has beou chiefly reduced by oxportations to Europo of sheotings, ahirtings, and drills. Heecutty efforts havo been madoto sell bleached goods aldo ou tha other wido of the Atlautico—witu moderate suce cose, DINECT INPORTATIONS, About all tho forcien dry gooda now sold in this market aro ioported direct by our Chicago mircbauts, who now bavo residout agents at all the prineipal manufacturing centres of Europa ag woll ag tho Unitod States, Aa a cunsoquenc2, tho minimum of cost in’ tranyportation and Landling ta Hecured, with the additional advan tago that all the latest noveltios aro now oferet hero ag eoov as on tho acabusrd. Our stocks of foreign goods are thus opened out to bavors fresti and 004, na woll ag cheaply. There uro fow intorior buyera who'do not now nuderstand that theysave 1!¢@2 por cent in freights by pur- ohasing hero, aud they act accordingly. THC PAST YEAR WAS WITNESHED afurthor Jarge focreaso in tho trado with the Bouthweut, particnfarly with Toxas aad Now Mexico, The opening up of now linea in that direction, within the pnst two or threo ygarg, hag enablod our mercunuta to send largo quan tities of goods whero thoy novor sold beforo. Aud tho psople in those voctious aro now ino prosposous condition, tho whole South having raised good crops, wo they can not only afford to take Jargo billa of gooda, but to pay tor thom promptly, for which Chicago dualora hold out superior Inducemonta. Cho volumo of our trade which gocs in that direction, past 8t. Louis, will comparo favorably with tho entiro gales of tho dry goo.ls marchants of that city. It is now.s wotl-cstablished fact that Chicago can undorasll Be. Louis almost at hor very doors, BUORT CHEDITA. ‘Tho pante of 1873 pressed heavily upon aomoof our dry gouds jobbers, but it realiy did good to the trade, by emphasizing tho lesson already partly learnt,—that long credita moan big pills, au well ag loaaca by deprecation on stocks which yo out of fankion before thoy can be wold. Tor- merly tha interior merchant bought twice a year, visiting Now York or Clucago for tho purposo, andhis bifla ran six months, requiring the nss of avery largocapital, and tho charging of high profits by the city jobber to cover rivi aa wall agintorest. Now tho country buyor makes hig purchases every month or two, cr follono tho examplo of tho ‘city jobbers, who aro constuatly roplouishing thoir stocks, and he pays us he oes, ‘Tho congoyuorico is that the intorior iner- chant has comparatively fow stala goods on hand. His articles aro frosh, and not loadod with cravita and the expenses of a long Journey. Less capital is required iu tho city to tranvact an equal yolumo of businoza, and the buyor (vols tho offects of thiain prives. And this 1s poculiarly favorable to Chicago, as ordora can bo titled hero promptly, saving tho time required to tranaport poods fiom tho woncoast. New Yori hag alyo shortoned ber lines of crodit, in defor- once to our Weatorn aystom, but in go doing has taken away the ouly inducemont which formerly draw Western buyers thither. Very many of those who bought in Now York bofora tho panic sow sood ail their ordors hore, sod tho numbor of those changes is continually swelling, whitu nonolfeayo this cityto ttade clsswhore, after having exporienced the advantages of trading in Chicago. WOOLRN Goons, ‘This branch of the wholeaale trade ina grown yory rapidly Hinco the fire, tho incroaso having been lows in 1975 than in the two previous years. Tho salos woro 20@25 per cont greater thau in 1974, reckoned by yards gold, but owing ton shrinkago of 10@15 per cont in prices tho ang- mont in cash recoived is only about 9 per cont, the asles list footing up a total of ©4,350,000, againat $4,000,000 in 1874, The capital om- ployed, $1,600,000, ia about tho wamo, There ia no Increase in the numbor of firms, and no fail- ures in the trade, though the year's business was, trauuacted on » declining markos, for which roa- sou it bas only beon moderately profitable. But collections wore casy throughout the year, and the market ia now ina firm and bentthy ‘condi- tion, with good prospects for the spring trade, Most of the forsign goods now sold here in this department are imported direct to Chicago, and strike tho seaboard at othor points than Now York. ‘Tho tendenog in tho demand ia to modi- um and first-class goods; the lowor grades of cloth selling moro sparingly than ovor before, WIUTH AND FANCY Dit GOODS. ‘Trado in this departmont of tho wholesalo dry goods buatneus oxbibite a decitted growth, ‘Tho grvator portion of the gain during 1875 {a por- coptiblo in tha wide-spread country trade, In tho jobbing and manufacturing’ of faucy and gontlonion’s furnishing gooda Chicago holds an cnviablo position, - In tho smount of whito goods which annually paus through the hands of elty jobbora, Chicago stands second to no other city in tho United Statos, soveral of tho largest Eastern factories having sgoncies at this point, This, togothor with tho large stock which is ou- nually manufacturod hora, nakes the total trado a yory important one. The capital upon which the buainesa waa conducted in 1474 was about €150,000, and tho valuo of suoual products in the Hoighborkood of 1,400,000. During the past year tho capital invosted haa romainod at substantially tho samo figures, while tha total aunnal sales avo awolled to nonarly 9,000,000, ‘Iho trado of 1875 hae, aside from the advantage gained in the inoreaged business, been a much more protitabie one than that of thoimmodiate proseding year, owing to tho fact that tho walos havo boon mostly for cast, notes on long time being almost invariably refused, More troublo is oxperioncod by the dry-gaody jobbors of thia city in tho mattor of collections than by almost any other department of trade, ay the greater number of orders aro from tho smaller dealers of the Weat, who sro comparatively slow Iu realizing on tholr goods, and thereforo expect undue lonien- cy from tho waolesalo jobbers. ‘Tho credit principle, however, baa proven excsodingty unprotituble, and hss consequently beos aban- doued, Market prices for tho yoar have ranged a tritlo higher than in 174, aud tho fecling hag boon ono of coutldonce. CANPETINGS, Tho trado in carpotings has grown vory largely within the past fom vente; aud never more rapidly than iu 1875, ‘Pho record of tho yoar shows an agurogate of sales amounting to $5,- 751,000. against 85,000,000 in 1874, Loiug au in~ eroaso of 15 por cent, Tho capital employed in the business bay received more thau & corre. sponding auginent ; owing chiatly to the estab- lishment of ‘ono now firm. ‘Tho capital ly uow fully $2,600,000. ‘Che martet haa rated steadior than {n t874and More prolitable ; houco moro satisfactory to tho trade, Pricos of woolen carpets havo averared about G per cent higher, owing to scarcity and strong quotations on tho warp. Tapestry and Bruaeota ara 6@10 per cant higher than a year ayo, Atocks su the banda of maoufacturors uro light, and continued firmuoss in the market is auticipatad, es MILLINERY. ‘Tho wholoente millinory trado has boen quite activo—tho increase in volume boing uot far from 20 por cent; but in consequence of a cou- tinued decilne in prices of almost all classes of roods, the cash roalized on salou is only about 5 per cont greater, bolng $5,250,000 in 1875, spelnut $5,000,000 in 1874. Millinery gooda have now deoliuod to ante bellum prices, and deal- ery find enoouragemont to hope that thoy have noarly touched hardpap. ‘Tho spring trade was not eatlafactory, The Beayon wag very backward, and tho resulting Guilncaa Isstod into July, cold wot wosthor be- ing lalinical to millinery goods, But the latter Dart of summoer, and botweou, trado was never wo good. In the Innguage of one merchant, "it waa superb,” After the close of the Exposition it wad again rather quiet, as country bayors had stocked up during their visit to the city in Sop. bomber. Collectiona have been good all through tho yoar, aud profitu fair. Tho increased competi tion has, however, reanited ia concentrating more and more of the business upon the already prominent firms, and some of tho lesser ones havo not mado much headway, white oue has succutnbed to ths force of cirenmstances, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TAADE, in millinery in this city is proporly estimated hy very fow, [t lina been claimed that more mil- Hinory goods ara Jobhad ia Chicago than. In Now York, Thia in ecarcely trio, butit ian fact that throa bounos horo transact a larger business and koop larger and more variod stocks of goods than auy other threeon the continont, and that aovernl other firms can compare favorably with prominentonos on tho seaboard, And thoy ara constantly extonding their trade, doing wall thoir part in austoining aud improviog the repu- tatlon of Chicago aa tho xrext inland commercial contro to which tho whola Westorn world looks for the supply of ils luxurics ae well as many of its necessities, . ———— CLOTHING, TR VALUE OY G09b8 OLD Is aboot $12,000,000, being a littio In excess of the total for 1474. Tho quantity of goods sold exhibits an inoreaso of 10@29 per cont. Lut thet wan nearly compensated bya decline of 12015 per contin prices, due to reductions Io the coat of matcrial, aud a great saving in the cost of manufactur by tho use of patent machines for cutting, which cnablen four mon to do the work horotofora porformed by cight. Tho capital in- vestod in tho bugiuoxs bero is about 25,009,000, including that employed in manufacturing. ‘Tho business hos been transacted on very close margins, and wos not, thorofore, #9 profitable an in somo former years. This statemont holds good all over tho country, and for thia reason failures have been rather mora numerous than in formor yoara. Notmportant failuro baa oc- ourred in the trado in this city, With o singlo excoption, all our clothing. houses MANUFACTURMTHEIR GOODS MENT, riving employment to a targe number of work- ora. It is cluimod that the zoods can now be mado up more cheaply in this city then in the Fast, aud Chicago atrica sult country buyers bettor than thoss made on the seaboard. It is the growing appreciation of tho Inat-named fact which has enabled Chicago to manufacturo nine times aa much clothing in,1875 as in 1870. Our clothing fs mado to suit tho chmate and the wearer, One class of gootly being mado for tha Southorn trado, another for the Western, and still another for Northern wear, #0 that tt finds favor in each eoction, while till very recently the Enstern doalora have offered ona clags of goods to all customers. Our trada with tho South and Honthwest baa grown in surprising manner within the past threo years, snd Chicazo now stands at the head of the list of citioa whieh supply ready-made ciothing at wholosslo—not oven excopting Now York. Ihe combined caprtal of St. Louis io this department docs not equal that of two of our leading firms. peter ey HATS, CAPS, AND FURS, THERE ARE SEVEN Tinxy in thle businoes, tho aggregate capital of which is about 700,000, and tho salea for the past yodr, 4,000,000. Tho profits wera amall, but tho year Was moro uatisfactory then the proced- jog one, ‘There wore fewor firma than in the boginnlug of 1874, bence less competition to de- tract from tho profits, and tho country was in- Guatriously canvassed, which roaulted In a grati- fying inereaso in tho ened. Prices have gradu- ally shravk about 10 per cont, tho greatout decline being in hats, The cold summer considerably diminishod the demund for straw goods, and it waa feared fora timo that the business would show a dim- ution, but tho fall trade, especially in furs, bapnily increased iu yolutoo, thus compousstiog forthe lowsof tho early mouths, Tho usual proparations wero mado in tho spring for the Bummer business, but the dealers wore soon ablo to seo the courso it was taling, and by buy- ing judiciously afterwards, avoldedcarrying ovor a heavy etock of straw goods. Tho autumn saloa of furs exccoded those of formor seasons, necosaitnting corrospouding {ucreaso in tho mapufacturo, which is now largely dono tn this market, Furs, iu common with other goods, woro lower than in 1374, Chicago is the great contra for the Western raw fur trade—n buamnoss which hay risen to con- siderable importance within the past few yours, Tuo raw furs oro generally shipped to Now York, and thero manufactured into fur goods for re- distribution, or exported tosEurope. ‘The locat mauufacture of fur goods is aunusily iuercasing. ildaintalon seine BOOTS AND SHOES, THE PAST SEAL HAS DREN TUE DEST ever known in tho hietory of this department of trado, The volumo of sales was fully $15,000,- 000, boing an increase of 10 per cont. As there haa been a shrinkage iu prices to tho oxtent of nearly 10 per cent, those figures show au aug- ment of 20to 25 per cent in tho quantity of goods sold. An incrosae oftilvo in the numbor of firms bas brought a considerablo addition to tho capital ongaged in tho busioeaa ; it is now oati- mated at $6,000,000, including that employed in mannfacturing. Thoro, aro now about twenty jobbers in tho trade, Tho hard times, which havo proesed go heavily on gome other branchos of commerce Lava bern the dirget cause of a ma- torial oxtonsion of the wholesale trade in boota and shoos; they have induced tho purchase of roady-tnadu goody by thousands who proviously only wore thowo mado to ordor, ‘ho latter in- dustry oxhibits a markod falling off, eapecially in tho couvtry. ‘Tho firms ongoged in the business now mavu- facture NEARLY ALL THR HEAVY GooDs (men's wear) that thoy soll, tho flue work, for masos’ and ladiow’ wear, being wt! supe plied chietiy from Esstern factories, Tho hoavier stylos, to which our manufacturers havo paid spocint attention, aro now gonorally pro- forrod to those of Eastorn mako, wherever they Lavo boon used, and are rapidly growlog in I[nvor with consumers. This city is tho great centro of “the * trade in hides and losthor, and mauufactureras aro ablo to avlect thoir own stock from tho most oxten- sivo sraortmenta, and obtain it at prima cost, with no exponso for haahug or transportation. Maving tho bost of machinery, they oro thug enablod to aupply first-class goola at priced which can scarcely bo competed with by Eastorn makers who havo to pay the cost of transporta- tion both waya in competition with Chicago, It is now sbout twetve yeara sinco the manufacttro of bvotd sud shoes for the wholusale market bo- gan here in roal earuest. THE LARGE INCREASE IN HALES noted for the past year js partially dite to tho continund extendivn of tho trade with Texas and the South, noted to our ast aunual review, Hat there is alo 5 decided growth in the Weat~ ern Stated, doalera ln which uow patronize Clie eayo, almost to the exclusion of the seaboard, 39 they profer thoxe goods that aro mado boro, and order thoso of Eastern make at tho fame tins, both kinds going ty the ons invoice, ‘The trade that cow oca Hast {a chietly that which needs long credit—s kind of article not in favor with Clucazo dealers, Wo nota, huwover, that the trade lisa beon built up ouly by the mont persistent oxertlau, More travolors aro omployed than over before, and a still further augment in tho number of dram- mora to bo dent out is expectod to bu made early in this year. UEBER GOONS have been unprecedantedly active, A doclino of 20@085 per cent in to walling valuo of those arti cies bad enormously etimulated consumption, the volume of xales being more thau five tuted that of 1874. ‘Tho greater domaud was chioily from the country trade, the city ccusamption being searely larger than the procoiling year, owiug to tho more general uve of box-toad baat- wear, which 18 notao wall aaptad to tho overshoo as other patterug, , t i. pRuvas. ‘TNE VOLUME OF TRADE fn thla department, not including paints and oils, iv ostiniatod at @5,0U0,000, which iy an in- croaso of 25 per cout over tho busiovea of 1674. It has heen traneactod on a enpite! of about €900,000, which cxhibity little iuercaso, One failure bas occurred, ‘Tho sugmeout iu business {a chiety from tha country,the local retail trade having exhibited ttle amprovement fromm tho dullness of the pro vious year. Ordurs hava beou received from all the surrounding States, Kuat far Wess aa California, and the opening of tho Baltimore & Ohio Railroad having given direct comniunicstion with a weo- tion of country, the trade of which formerly went to Cinclonati or Bt. Louis. The ‘BUSINESS WAS SATIBFACTOLY, on the whole, with fair profita to those engeg dealora = y avolded " 2 a beayy © ‘ reriour of lare brane’ ‘ somo vious, wy behos” duced» - Tt china-? other fog fe. factory: avorage anincro - goods hat. crab recoip. to tho oxtor 750,000, ‘Th nilvor-xaro, whir of crockery in our THE cou Early in tho yoar tha. during the Jaat six monte mado amplo amends for thu Trado has beon moro aren than . thera is now tesa of tho intens which nearly ruined tho business 6 great fire, An incronsed trado 1. Towa and tho Southwest, Each yx takes more and more of tho trado wht. New York till rocently. Goods aro: fo of sold at tho samo prices here a4 on the seaboany, with froight added, aud etocks boro will comparo favorably with the display thero. Music. | THE TRADE IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS has been vory gecd during tho greater part of the year, and tho volume of sales, 22,500,000, oxhiblta a alight {ncroase over tho €2,400,000 of 1874. Tho quantity of goods sold fs connidera- bly larger, the goocral shrinkago iv prices of merchandise, and the closor competition of man- ufacturera and dealers, having neceesitated ro- duction in prices of what bad provioualy boon comparativoly stable quotatious, Thia was por- mitted to nome extent by reduced wages of Ia- bor, which is an important clement in the cost of pianos aud reed organs. ‘The marking down has not been go extousive on imported gooda, but has extended evon to that department. THE COUNTHY TRADE exbibite a markod increase, though interior buy- e18 do not carry so Inrgo stucks aa herotoforo, and latterly report a logs disposition to purckase, though they have never bad less difficulty in making collections on goods sold. Tho city trade, on tho contrary, bas fallen off, Tho feel- ing of dullness hero is ao general, and so mauy poople have fiad to economize more closely in conacquence of high taxes and other clomenta of hard times, that they buy very sparingly of mu- sical goods, Toence the retail trade has been un- satisfactory, as compared with the wholesale. Both classow report wn excallent trade duriug the Expouition season, since waich time it hus ruled relatively dull, ay country visitors to tho big show selzod the opportunity to buy music goods, eothat a good dealof the trade which would otherwise avo been spread over three or four montha was concentrated iuto one, TUE MUBT }LOSINENT PEATURE in the trade cf the year wthe marked growth in the disposition to clioose **cheap" ingatrumenta. ‘This has beou fostored by the rapid production of pianoa of very inferior make. which fave not yot beon in use lung euouch to show their lack of keeping quality. Upright pianos sro still in good domand, but are not bought eo extensively nein 1874, when thera waa almost a mania for “uprights,” tothe neglect of the square and grand, ——— JEWELRY. AFATR INCREASE IN THE VOLUME of goods sold, with tessof shrinkago in solling prices than fo 1874, enables the wholeasla deal- ors in watchos, jovolry, otc., to report a moder- ately prorperous year, though it baa had its poriods of dullness, Tho carly months woro slow, but the summer and autumn moro than made amonis, and tho last two months of tho year, which include the holiday trado, have been unexpectedly active. The record of the year has been comparatively {reo from those disasters to tho trade which followed tho enhanced com- petition that sprung into exixzenco aftor tho fro, INE VOLUME OF BALES cannot be given on astnictly wholosaio basis, a6 thoy cau in most other lines of busivess. We aro obliged to include retail sales, and give the following admirable summary made up by a leading firm: Bt aNeraging $5250 8, averaging $150,000. 4, averaging $50,000 10, averaging $30,0C0, 20, averaging $5,000, Auctloneers and’ pa Dry goods, millinery, et Total. .esssererseres, + +#4,360,000 Against 3,700,000 in 1874, one largo house bay. ing boco omitted from our summary of that year, being an increaze of 17}¢ porcont, The capital employed slightly exceeds 91,009.00. There aro no now features to record iu this department, uuless we note tho fact that the loading houses sre now oloctrically connactod with the Dearboin Observatory, from which timo-signals aro transmuttod avery miuute in the yoat. Direct roforoucu can thus be mado to ab- wolutely truo timo at almost any moment, and the regulation of ohronametors carriod out with a precision not obtainuble elsawhero, —_———— LEATHER AND FINDINGS. A REVIEW OF THE LEATHER businosa dovolops nothing over which the jop- ber neod to felicitato himself. The damaud from tirst to last was of s haud-to-mouth charactor, the declining tendenoy of prices leading buyors to restrict thoi: ordors to such quantitics as wero nesded for tho prosecution of current trade, Tho dopreciation in stocky about ato up the profity of the business, aud tho year may bo 6ot down ag an unprofitable one to the Jobber. Not for many yoars previous bag tho eupply of leath- er axcesdad tho demand, but during tho past senadn there haa constantly been om overplus, and on avorage decline of 10@15 per cent is one of the rogults, STOCKS ARK EXCESSIVE. Of Inte thoro has Leon ncurtuilment of pro- duction, but tho utook now on band is oxcassivo, aud there ia little to oncourage the belief that the near future will bring avout any radical chongo for tho botter, . ‘Shera has been no ine creas of capital, Quo now tiem has ombarked in the Lusinzeds, and ono haa retired. Tuo yoar olosva on a dutl and unvutivfuctory trade. The volumo of Dusinow in evtumatod at 84,600,000, which jaciudes findings. ‘This total of ealos is about tho ame asin 1874. Some os- timatea have boon mado largely oxceading thou Higuros, but those above given are bolloved to bo fully equal to sho truth. —. COAL, A LARGE INCAKANE IN OUR COAL THAP ITO fa reported for tho past yoar, ‘l'ho causos of tha rapld growth, beyond what would naturally ro- sult from the jocreseo in population, are cbiotly found in the stoady expansion of oar maoufac- turing industries, and im the largely fucroased number of public buildings, bueinows blocks, and privato rouldences, where wteam-houting is om~ ployed, though tho growing scarcity aad 4 tivoly higher price of wood as a fuel le oack year causing an iuereasod call for coal from tho into- rior towns, Not only was tho volumo of sales muob larger, but tho business was dono at a pros, and our dealord have in great part mado good their louse of tho year botore, ‘Tho won- sou was somewhat remarkable for tho steadiness aud stability of prices, yalucs having boon subjected to fowor and foxa violout tluctuations shan during avy former soason for ten years past. ‘Tho hoalthy stato of trado was the reault of the action of tha Coal Doulers' Exchango, through which bouy pricos have been stuadily aajotainod ata point that tolt a fair margin for tho dealer, and at the wanic timo did uot boar unjustly ov tho consumer. OWING TO THK FNOLONGED STUIKY inthe anthracite coal rogiony, and tho conse- juent lessened production, nard cosl cost tho dealers more than in 1974. Kroights, tv, havo averaged from 15 to 20 per cont higher, snd thue Ja accounted for the additional coat to the cous gumer of about 50 cents por ton, ay compared for. By lake... Total... Tho sipmer, Tho followit: * at the pointa L y THE MOV for tho past two yoa “T Lath in, Tho receipts from the « follows : St. Joseph and Bento Minor snore porta. South Haven aud belo HAUGALUCK sere eeees Mollaud and viewnity’. Gran Manletee...e cess vee: Mluor rhore ports. Frank(ort snd bel Peusaukee,,... Buamlco.,..., Tho lumber business of 1875, like that of th two preceding yoars, is not generally considered to have been pecuuiarily successfal. Soon aftor tho soason opened, tho utagnaut EASTEBN MAMKETS WERE GOROED, and, a9. result, a largo quantity of Lake Huron Tuber was thrown upon the Western markot, alcoady heavily supplied, ana aided to brosk prices down toa point which loft little or no profittothe manufacturer. It is possible tliat the production of the Lake Michigan ports prop- erly tributary to this market would not of itvelf haye proved excessive, and that without the Lower Lako lumber tho seagon would havo beon moderately profitable. ‘There wero uo positive failurea in the local market, aud but fewin tho neighboring dis- tricts, but several, some of them prominent, in the conntry ot large. PRICES WERE LOWER, Coarse lumber declined 5@8 per cent, and tho upper grades fully 10 per cont, Thoro hay beon as turco falling off in the domand for tho better qualities, owing to tho depression of tho groat manufscturing interests of the country, which, espoctally in the East, allowed a Jargo surplus to accumalate, ‘The consumption of coarse lumber in tho interior was unusually heavy; novertholcrs prices, which openod lower, gradually deciiued, and no perimanent advance occurred until about the middio of October, when prices rosa to nearly tho opening figures of tho scagon, under a sudvon demand to supply # deticiency in both city and country yards, Many of tho milla at the Lake Michigan ports closed oarticr thau naual, having exhauated their stock of logs, but Lower Lako ports again camo to the rescue, and the recoipta Lor November (noarly 42,C00,000 1.) enabled retailers to partially complete nesort- mouty. Tue yard dealere bought on a steadior market thau ia tho provious year, but the advantages thus accruing wero partially offsct by mcreased competion among themsolyey, with the wholesala market, sudan ‘nduo oxtension of credits. Nevortho- loss somo have probably como through with o small profit, Maunfacturers had # nore exten sive log crop than in 1874, and paid a little more, for transportation. ‘Iho receipts wero larger than in avy former year oxcopt 1872. TUE INCREASE OF RECEITTA from Lake Michigan and Lake Huron ports was for cach nearly 60,000,000 fect. And Lake fu- pestor and Canada cantrilutod over 1,000,000 feet; the former bolog 8 comparatively Lew eource of supply. Tho shipments oxcecdod thosa of any former year, ‘Tho actual whip- ments for recont years aro about 25 per cent larger $hau the published coports slow them to bo; hence tho shipments tor 1675 would proba- bly approach closely to 800,000,000 fect, Thu loca! consumption of lumbor is cutimated st 250,000,000 fect auaually. ‘Tho surroundiug couutry bought here as usual, and lato in August large ordera waro driven this way from those voctions of tho Wost usualty supplied by tho Minaisinpt River dlatricts, by a gonoral advanco mado by the rivor manufactar- ors, which pormstted Westorn buyors to placo their orders hore at lower figures, And, In tho past autumn, venorablo Bt. Louis bought freely jn tho Chicago markot, ‘THE PRODUCTION OF SITINQLES AND LATH was smaller, as prices wor too low to encourage tho macufacturo. Thore wag also 8 diminution lu the receipts and ebipments. Much of tho abingle trado is ow divorted from this market, the complution of _rallroads through tho pineries haying ennobled intorior miurcbants to ordor direct from tho mills.and tho city tire ordivatico has materially lowuoned tho local domand, ‘I'he production of shioglos was wimalior tu the Greon Bay districts, and larger iu Michigan, than in 1874, ‘Pho oarty domaud was for choice brands, which ranged 40¢/300 above common. Afterwards tho call turned on the ordinary grades, which advanced, while the others romained stationsry. Prices for singles alloat ranged from $1.89(02.75, aud for car-lots from 23.25 (02,75. Priceu for cargoes wero about 50 por ta lowor than io the previow year. Lath afloat oponod at 91.75, declined to 81.40, tho general prico of the season being $1.50, AT TIE DOCK, pleco utuff oponed at $9.50, declined to $7.50 7,75 Juno, rose to €8.50 in August, scou foll to Juside pricos, aid advanced io tho fall to $9.00, whieh wua ths closing price, Clear lumber ranged from 240,004r32,000, selects from $20.00 @#i,00, and coumon tuck frou $3.50@12.00. At the yanta common lumber opsned at 811.50, dectined to $10.00. wuld at @.50, aod closed'at $11.00@/12.00, Clear lumbor, ablaglos, ‘and Jath were also lower, tho decline belug prow Portionate to the depreciation of the same afiuat, ‘THE BTUCK AT THE YAuDs at the dates named was aa follows; Dees 1 dant, Jandy Abts. loTd, 344,169,913 $27,817,749 #ljutyouy “9;342,000 By,531,00 — 28,8:0,150 a9. 682,839 19,183 Me. . \ try at the 2 * “Vang 5 hecawia « % izo the co charcosl-t¢ only 12 of t. of pig-iron 2,854,854 tons UST, 1,900,000. leas than 1.500.007, Indiana, Hiinow, .. ca mado 131¢ per cent of a. tid ‘in 1872, and 1234 per cent of nll. tna: the 67 stacks in the United Stat hisa 262 ; Obio, 84; and Now York, i Tho fullowmg table will suowt . ~ mente, in gross tons, from the Las ; iron ditrict for the season of 1875, up aud for tho corresponding period last yc " aRON OnE, 4 From Marqactt From Favauaba, From L'Ause. ‘Total... From Marquatt ¥rom Escanabs, From Grand Iuland: ‘Total... ‘Total ore and plg-ron Tho yaluo of the aggregate yield of the Lake Suporior mines for 1873 was $21,995,887, and for 1W74 $7,692,811. — HARDWARE. WITHIN THE PAST FEW YEANS the hardware trado of Chicago has grown te gigantic proportions. Tho trade extends norty to tho British pos-casions, west to California, and south to the miudie of Tosas, thu» supply- ing a country partly claimed by St. Louis, Mil+ waukoo, aud tho largo citics in the Far Weat, Tho facilities for doing this immonse business are unsurpassed, Nearly all tho houses are con- yenleutly located, within « stone's throw of cach other, aud al! modern appliances are employed to facilitato the traneaction of buelness. Since 1872 tho sbrinkages im values havo been very great, but tho trade, by dint of romarke Dio persoveranco and uorgy, lias aur uually enlarged ite business ond is now in a prosperous condition, During this period only threo or four failures, and thoy com fined chiofly to specialties, Lave occurred. The wales of the Chicago haidwaro houses for the yoar 1875 oxcecd €20,000,000. Thia agxrogate embraces tho ales of shelf, heavy, cabinet saddlery, aud carnage hardware, natls, iron, aud othor matala, ‘Tho shrinkage in prices of eomo of the lesd iug staples within the puat three years is abowr by the following table of quotutions: + ey 623 Tu 1872 carrisya bolts and ecrows wore double tho proscut price. BIELU-GOODS AND METALS. Tho deatury in shelf uardware aud motals ro nort s better yoar than the ouo preceding. The decline 1 values wos not wo Leavy nor fitful, and by guatdiog againgt carving large stocks tho deaters averted much of the redpoustbility of the decline, In sholf-yoous tho reduction in pricos way modorato, ‘Iho lower rates for tin and iron brought prices down a little, but the trado did not bayo to contend with that constant and severe shrinkago which was a foatury of tho years 1873 and "74, Perhaps tho most im- portant chungo was in screws, tho rates for which were reduced by the loadiog company CO er cont, tho old agreement of screw manufac ures having expired by {umitation, Metals saf- fered » sovera decline, and the soagon canuot be wast to have boon remuuorative. The groatost roduotion was in tin and tin-plates, which, taking into considoration tho In- creased taritt, wero novor betura 80 low in Amorica. The old prico of tin. plates has dectinod 22.25@2.50 por box.’ Tho production of tin hag targely incropood pince the dovolopment of tho new inines in Australis, and the doniand in this country, the chief consumer, has greatly fallen off, whilo stecku have rapidly accumulated on both sides of the Atlantic. ‘Tha year was esposially unfortunate for Esstorn its porters of tin, who genorally Isid in hoav stocks, and in thelr preusure to realizo lout heavi- ly, even undarelling tho English market. Coi- per opened low, and continued tolorably steady, and shoet fron was extromely cheap, ‘There ar¢ twelvo shelf hardwaro, inclading tho tootel, houses in the city, the aggrecato cupital of which: iv placod at 3,000,000, aud tho sales for 1875 are ontimatod a¢ €21,009,000, ‘The #alow of anddlery and cartlugo bardware cro extimatod at 31,600,~ 0U) on acapltalof about €250,0u0, Thero are now four pouses m thly branch of tno trade, twa having atepped out during tho soason. HON, STEEL, BTC. ‘Tho trade in mercbaud:eo ron was larger tha in the proceding yoar, aud has besn conducted ata moderate prott to merchants, Priooa grad- tally declined about 10 yar cant. In tho spring an Sttempt was made to cétablish an advance It iron, tho stucka being st the timo badly broke, Dut it was promptly mot by an {ocreaso fo the production, which mude the effort futile, . The market was burdened by the large surplue croated by sho wtspuationof busivess Rast, which surplus bas constantly sought © market in the Wout, whore business bas been comparativel good. ‘Tho production of fron hes ecraansad eopocially at Pittaburg and voluity, where strikeg