Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 1, 1878, Page 4

4 THI: CHICAGO TRIBUN ULSDAY, JANUARY IS —TWELVI, PAGIIN, e e e e e formerly, has run to the botter class of wooas, excepting vigars, of which the reverse wa. trie. * DRIED FRUITS. 3JOBBRRS OF FOREIGY AND DOMEATIO dried frults rcport the season of 1577 as the most profitablo of any siice 1873, though 1t 18 ‘protable that the smount of gooda distributed fell somewhat ahort of that for 1876, Prices of 1most of the staple and farcy articles maintained aereater degree of steadiness than character- fzed them for several previous seasons, and thers was & comparative freedom from the continious losscs to which trade was subjected during the three years following the panle of 1878, Whatever of increasoin rales there may bave heen was confloed to rafsing and one of two of the most staple articles; fancy goods having been dealt in rather sparingly un- i the cloaing month of the year, The three leadlog etaple frolts, TRUNES, APTLRS, AND PEACHES, were rather more than so average crop, and prices have ruled low, and In the caso of apples and peaches without frequent fuctuations. At the North the apole crop was comparatively light, but there was a large Southern crop, and as the Kuropean demand hns taken scarcely more tharone-fourth aa much asfn 180, the supply will no doubt sufficiently excced the home demand ta keep prices down o reasonabla Jimita. The quality was Inferlor, and that fact will tend to lessen the consumption, as it fs a well established fact that one pound of poor froit will po as far as three of good quality. Another circumatancs which willoperate againat hilgh prices, was the fact that n lareoquantity of old frult was carricd over from 1876, The year opened at 41¢@0c, advanced to k¥ Bi4c in Fobruary, fell back to 88{(@5i(c in April. From that point there was a gradual hardentng of vrices untll 6@74c was reached In August. Later the market cased off to G(@@7c, which were the closing quotations, Prunes opened at, U;‘(«ER& and were without change until about March 1, wnen they declined to 5}{837,‘{0. Toward the close of April, under the influénco of a large speculative movement.,| growine out of the war in Turkey, the market yuscxcited snd prices fumped 1ip to 8@Bic. In June areactlon sct in, snd July found the market back wu(@Ssgn ‘The new crop, which bezan to arrive in October, opened ot 8i¢ msyfc. and has since advanced to 11@114c, While prices of this fruit have ruled somewhat higher tban for 1876, thoy have been cheaper than In orevions years. In 1576 the lowest vrices ever known were reached, viz.: 43{(@43c. ‘The importations of RAISING were larcely in_excess of any former year, and the market during the greater part of the scason waa depressed. DPrices started out in January st $2.05@2.10 for layers, and {rom that time on *antil the close of Beptember tha course of the tnarket was continuously downward. In Sep. tember sales were made as low as $1.301.45, ‘The loweat price preylously known_within the past tiwenty vears was $1.85, In 1878, Durine Uctober the market **firmed up® to the extent of 104215 per box, but_has fallen off a trifle #ince. The extremely low prices materially Atimulated the consumption, but there is stiil un oversupply, and continued low prices are Juaked for. * Currants wors a lght cm}., and, uwiug to heavy rains durfcg the season for cur- ing, were of poor gnality. Considering the low duty and the low gold premlum, prices have ruled high,—avernging about Te. Pitted cher- rits were In falr supoly, and cheaper than for a number of years past, ranging from 15@17c. Biackberrfes were an average crop, and wero of excellent_quality, The pricd averaged about Si¢e. Raspberries have been fn light supply and eold high _throughout the year,—now quoted at 30@33c. . Our direct mport trade shows a healthy growth, and dur. inz the past year a very conafderadlo portion of the fore ruits £old in this market were ex- ported by our merchants direct. To carry on the business a capital of some $700,000 I ro- quired, and tho annual sales foot up about J(I.M,W). GREEN FRUITS. CHICAGO 11AS BECOME one of thelargest green-fruit markets on the continent. The sales of forelgn and domestic wreen fruits last year probably excecded $5,000,- 000. The trade, especially {n forelzn varfetics, has Increased greatly in the past fow years, The Northwestern States are supplied with oranges, lemons, and West Indla fruits chiefly by this city, and the bulk of tho California fruits that aro sent East pass throuch the hands of locul dcalors. » The past year was a successful one generally, The frult crop In Bouthern Illinols was heavy, and growers did unusually wasl. In Michiean the yleld of carly varfoties was fair, but peaches and nopples did not do so well us usual. The southern scctfon of the peach- growing district across the lako Is affected with ® disease, which «threatens to spread north. ward. The finest peachies came from Southern Illinots, the East, and Northern Michigan. Prices ranged from 60{@70c per ¥ bu for Bouth- crn, and 35@50c per basket for Aichigan fruit, ‘The berry crop, cxeept of blackberries, was large, and pears, grapes, and pluins were plenty. TUE SUI'PLY OF APFLES came chiefly from Bouthern Hlinols, Missourd, aud Western New York. Tho Michigan crop was light and poor. Apples -have been $1.00G9 1.50 per brl higher than in 1870, owing to the shorter crop, rauging {n price from $2UKLU.L5 ver brl fa car-Juls, 3 The production of crauberries was the targest ever known, and prices wero Jower thon for years. The muarshes of Wisconsin, Cape Cod, und New Jersey all ylelded :bundnml{. and the market has been fouded with berrles, which have suld at 8 wide range of pric Cultivated crunberries sold at $7.00@10,00, and wild at $5.00¢07.00 perprl. These prices are $3.00 por brl beluw the range in 1576, A good deal of 1nis fruft was shipped to tho Pacitle_Const, m‘g Lasteru berries were cxported to England conslderables quantities. TIIE 8ALLS OF CALIFORNIA FRUITS reached $250,000. The ruceipts ware somewhat larger, and the season matistactory, though the early {rult sold at a loss. Pears vame in contact with a large home crop, and wero lower, the average prics belog reduced to $3.00 per box, A few boxes were oxported to Glasgow. The grape-cron of California was large, and the Tecelpts here were one-third greater than in the previous year. 'Tho fruit-crop, except of graves, bn the Facific Blupe was below the average. owing to the drought, The business 13 Callfornla fruits {s attended with great visk. ‘The losses by ducay are often heavy, and the “exorbitant " frelght chargea zripple the trade. Iho myhz on i singls care load fromn Callfornls would quite swullow u Chinaman's fortune, ‘The rate un frelzht-trains 15 8500, snd on passenger—which bringthe most perishable frull 900 per car, Tha freight puld by local dealers lost senson probubly ex- ceeded $35,000. Californls frult fs sald to be the third ltem of Importancy of tne East-bound freight transported by the Pacltic Rallroad. ‘The market has Leen well supplied with or- anizes and Jemons the year round, and prices hiave ruled uniformly steady st n_range that made tho husiness “lucrative, The Medit- crranean fruit {a now brought across the ocean in steamers, and 18 much riper and better than the binlf-green stock woleh” used to arrive at long lntervals on the slow-soiliug veascls. The crob of buth frults was large and fine. Lemons sold at $LA04C5.00 per box, and oranges at $L00 ¢4.50 per bux. The new crop will be large. BOUTUEKN OBANGES bave been pleuty durlug the past two months. Orange culture In Florlda and Loulstuna {8 in- creaaing, und the domesfle cron promises to be- coue a formidable rival of tho forelgn frult In a few years. ‘Tho quality, especially of Florids oranges, {3 fine, A car-load of Tahiti, Society lzlands, oranges wus recelved here in the suwe ner from San Fraucisco, The trude in West India snd Asplowall fruits has Increascd enormously fo the pust fow years, ‘Theat fruits cutne vhlcxlfi‘v N York sud New Orleans, the latter avenue of frade which was opeoed thls past year, “The sales of bauauas, pluc-upples, and covornuts Jast year reached $160,000. Cocoututs ure the most ymportant Iu the group, thoussuds befug used fn the scason by coufectioners. Bananus ever 0 pleuty as In 1877, u valug uf the fruit crop of the United Btates (s estinated by the Government statistfe- fun ut $140,000,000. “Ihe value of the wnnual crup of Michivuu s placed ut $4,000,000. Ilinols oW Lo 520,000 aeres of orchurds, e a 1L THX VALUE O TUE CUEED FIsu handled Io this market duriog the ‘year 1877 by {uhuers alone waa §1,500,000. ‘'Fhe Lusiness was dune un & capital of $350,000, which was about ibc asme as for 1878, Fvices both for lake aud salt-water descriptions bave averuzed consid- srably higher than for the previous scason, cotscquently there was s lessencd consumption, sad, 83 compared with 1876, s slight dectine in the volume of buslness bus jo be noted. The warket wis characterized by greuter steadiness. Ybutrade is 1o fewer Lunds than beretofore, wu tirme haviog retired; aud in tho sbseuce of the Sures Jocal rvalry which prevalled durdug 1878, prices have been maintained at a point which insnred & falr livinz nrofit for the job- Lers; and, notwithstanping the diminlshed volumn of ealcs, the year has proved a falrly satisfactory onc In its resnits, The catch of LARE F18it was smallet than for many yesrs past, the fall- ini off as comnared with 1870 belng estimated ot fully one-thinl, The Green Day flaheries, which In years gone farnished the bulk of our supplles, have become practically exhausted, ant the most of tne whitetlsh and ‘trout sent to this markies during the past scason sere eanght on the north and east shoree. In the apring of the year there was nn exefted market for family whitcfish, The stocks of that particular grade were large, and as the reason for the new catch approached holders grew anxlous to une load, and then sprang up a brisk loeal compett- tion, under swhich prices rapidly recensed unttl they touched $1.001.45 per by brl,—the lowest fimires ever reached, ‘The larze demand called out by these low prices caused a sharp reaction, and the beginning of Junc_found the market firm at 83,00 No. ! whitefish opened at £1.75 (@3.00, declined 1o 8405 in March, and to 84,50 {0 April. . During the last half of May the price advanced o $5.00, from which polnt theygradu- ally fell off until October, when the market was quoted at £3.0074.00, whith were the lowest quotations of tha year, Hiuce the middie of Uctober there has” been o steady hardening of orices, which are now quoted st $4.50624.60, MACKRREL haye been comparatively scarce throughoit the season, and prices have ruied very much hizber than {n 1870. In fact, of the beat grades there was & mercly nominal supply, and the cost 10 the consumer was cubanced at least 40 per cent. The scarcity of the lower gradds was notso marked, and the Increased cost was not more than 30 per cent, ‘The prices were the result of the poor success attending the mackerel flshs cries. The American catch was barely one-third as large as for the preyious year, and the qualls 1y aleo was inferior. Forelgn importations were sbriut the aame. The year opened at $0,25@2.50 for No. 1 sliore, but foon_ advanced to S0 0.73, and later to $10.00@10.50. Extra in now uoted at $1A.50@14.00, nud select mess at 2mm per 3¢.brl. — Lodfish also has buen leas plentiful,—Georme'sespeciaily,—and prices rufed 25(E50c per 100 s cheaper than in 1870, Toe lowest point reached was #4. H.035¢, In May, for “bank.” ‘The market s ndyanced tu $5.25@5.75, where they remained firm to the end of the ecason, [Hallbut hus been unusually plentiful, and tho season s said to have becn very uuprofitable to curers. The averago price for'tho season was about S per fb. CALIFORNIA SALMON has been ex:cculugl{ searce,—has, in fact, been Juctically out of the market. The Columbla tiver salmon Osherics have proven disastrous fallures. The supply in that stream Is sald to be cxhausted, and somo of the extensive cunnerivs there have been taken up and muved to other pointe. The searcity has been partially relieved by the substitutfon of Eastern salmois, though at a somewhat higher cost. TAR FRESI PISI BUSINESY during the year 1877 was _moderately active, an compared with the previous year, and the sup- ply of whiteflsh and trout wus smaller than for several years past. It is the prevalling opinlon among tho leading dealers that traps, pound- nets, and scines should be done away with, and some lcgislation had Ly the States of Illinols, Michiean, and Wisconsin, in regard to “‘meshes ™ suttable to tho size of certain flsh, s at present there s uo law regu. lating the catching of small fish, There uro cight firms In this clity which are engaced ex- clusively In the fish ‘trade, with a capital of 300, and whose anuual sales amount to 8700,000. The gross welzht of flen, cstlnatlng at ic per I, ahlpped and received {n Chlearo during the 14,000,000 s, s in i, and 1500, Tho Cities of San- dusky, Detroit, Bay City, aud Toledo, which in former years put up large amounts of s for winter ‘use, have this season put up less than ever before known. ovsTERS, The Chicago oyater trade for (he yoar 1877 would undoubtedly have heen the largest ever before known had tho weather proved favor. able. The range of prices as compared with 1870 ro a shade lower, and, as the supply is in exccas of the demand, a despondant feeling per- vades the market. There are sixteen firins en- gaged in this trade In Chicago whose nzrxrcrmm capital foots up $1,000,000," The valus of tho aunual sales was about $3.500,000, agalnat $3,500,000 for 1570, and &3,000,000 for 1875, The clty consumption 18 smialier than for several years, which fact {s partfaily duc to the unusu- ally mild weather the past two months. DRY GOODS. TNE SALES OF TIUE IAST YEAR aggregate about $50,000,000, which {s an §n- crease of some 10 per ccot oh the totals for 1876, though the latter had been estimated by some at & much higher figure. The capital cunployed Is in the neighborhvod of £8,000,000, Tne market has ruled much steadier than in any previous year since the beginning of the War, Btaplo goods hava declined but sifzbtly, and fn no department has thero been a serious Lreak in prices. This steadiness, with a better demand owing to the fact or prospect of better times, has enabled both fobbers in the eity, and retaflers throughout the Weat, to make moncy 1€ they attended to their business., The Sepe tember sales were the largest ever known, and the volume of trade sinve then wns generally satlsfactory, in spite of protracted had weather. During the autumn there was o much Increased demand for FANCY AND HIGI-PRICED GOODS, which had heen frecly tmported early in tho ecason, a8 jobbers belleyed thero would beo a revival of trade that would warrant fuvestment. year was +in botter gootls thau herctofore. The event Lias Justifled thefr expectatfons,—partlally at Teast, ~and they are now far from beng overstocked. The increased demand for expensivedress goods waa partiolly uwing totho fact that the polonaise has been In faghfon. The pulonalse scems now to bb dyloz out, snd with it will possibly dleappear a portion of the fnnuiry for tmported goods. Domestics are now manutactured of very superlor quality, aud, as is well known, they sre ablu to command a market in tho Okl World side by slde with the products of En- @lish looms, The great mass of our staple articies are now manufactured on this side of the Atlantie, and {mportations ol dry gomds are therefuro on tho decrease, It now secms probuble that within o few years European dry guods will be very Hitls Inquired alter by Weat- ern consutiers. Our trado with the SOUTH AND PAIL WEST s mpldly extending. Our jobbers now sell goods from Chlo round to Texas [n the south- wodt, amd have an established trade with Call- fornis and Oregon, wiile some rather large bifls havo veen even sent tu Hiritish Americs on the Uacific coast, Merchants rflmrt that collections liave Leou much better during 1877 than usual, During the gear ang of tho oldeat houses in tho trade, snd formerly one of the most promiuent, Las retlred from business: but the discontinuancs was scarcoly o * faflure,” In the usual acceplation uf tho term, WOOLEN 0uoDS. ‘Thia brauch of the whulewalo trade lias heen fairly active, the quantity sold being 15420 per cent larger than i 18703 but prices have aver- agzed 104153 per cent lawer, The lust named {act 18 not su much owing to o decliue fu quota- tatlons on the woods actually sold, as toa large Ialling ofl In tholmportations of forelen gods. Our fmports of this materdal are scarcely mure than one-quarter of what they were in I575, This eratiylog change Is &dlrect consequence o1 iuerensed bome production, and a very marked Improvement In the quality ol Amerivan manu- factures. The lmportatlous nowaraiesriy et ed to the Huer grades of Engllshand Scote h mako; but it {3 o secret fn the trade that not 10 per cent of the goods sold by our merchaut tailors as imported woods are anythlue elso thsn American. There can b o doubt that it the tarlff ou woolen waterial were abollshied, or re. duced to a low polut, the Unlted States wonid lead the world u the manufucture of woolen goods, ‘Fhe volume of sales 1s eatimated st $4,500,000, against $4,250,000 fu 1470, aud $4,000,00 in 1674, It s diflicult to urpmxhuaw closely to tho fact, huwever, us all the wholedsle clathing houses trade in wouleus as well as the dry goods merchauts proper, Dealers report that collees tions bave been botter, with ower bud debits, tha for several yours precediug, sud that trads Las been, un the whole, the most protitavle of 8vy year's business since the panle. TUE THADE IN CAKFRTINGY has Leen = biecalthy ove on the wiole, though the competitiou between denlurs was unusually sbarp, fuvolving the necessity of befog coutent with wwnall profits, Tho business was much better thug that of 1870, the volume of sales showng au lncrease of 10215 per ceut, but thls has been partially compensuted by s further re- ductiun i prices, tapestrics nud the bigh-uriced goods generally Lelug wost affected, Bowe of thede bave been warsed dowa fuily 15 per ceat duriug the year. We uote that tho trade in fprelgn carpets i decreaslng, with a stead growth of production 1o dowestle goods, whicl bave recently been o wuch unproved b quality &4 Lo be yury RUrad to purchusers, The past year hus been marked by 8iuch better de- mwaud for Turkish sud Parlslau ruge, which are uow * thy rago ¥ with thuse whu wish to have their houses strllshly tited. The carpet-trads Jonurnala and trade reslews eny that Chicago fa how THR CIIRAPEST CARPET MARRET in the world, This results from the fact that capltal, na swell as taste nud sxill, have been en- listd n the bisiness, and_our lending deslers are hence handling goodsat the minlwium of cost 1o the buger, while giving him the adeantage of aelectlons that van be made In tew other citles. The sales of the “flc"L jobbing trade are esth: mated at £3,000,000, the business being co ducted on a cavital of §750,000. Much Inricer cstimates have been made; but they fnclude transactions at retail. MILLINERY. TAB WIOLESALE MILLINERT TRADR hns been quite active duriag the greater part of the yenr. 1t opened weil, and continued good through the summer, but was almost paralyzed by the bad weather of the autuma and early winter, which told with especlal [arce upon this department, as it was death to display. But for this the year would probably have been Lhe Diszest in the history of the trade In this city. The business has, however, been far from orofitable, us a whole, Intense competition and the recotlection of hard times have caused a still further shrinkage in prices. They have again been reduced fully 20 per cent, making them not more than about half what they were tiwo years azo; so that twice s many zoods must be handled now as then to give thoe sstme returns in paper doflars. As o consequence, three or four of the weaker tirms have gone to the wall,— chlefly crushed out by depreclation of stock while on hand. ‘Those remalning In the trade are dolng business ou a relatively small proft, which enables them to offer guods on lavorable terms o8 compared with New York houses. . THR FOLUSMB OP BALES at wholesale is estimated at abuut $4.500,000, agatnet $4,530,000 fu 1876, Leing an Increase of 13¢ per cent. nearlv, The capital employed ia not far from 25 per cent of the sales, being In tha nelghborh of $1,200,000 The busiucss has underzone a radicat change Qur milll- ntest novelties nery merchants atill fnport th lmr{| the fashlon fonts of the Old World, bhut they also menufacture a verv large part of the materisl they sell. There is at least ong estab- lishment in” the city which cmploys its own urtists to model shapes In plaster, casts the metal blocks in jts own foundry, and makes its own “*ahapes ™’ by the ald of powerful machin- cry: makes its own artlficlal flowers {n almost cndless variety, from the preparation of tho materlal In sheets to the Jast touch unon the honguet which rivals those of France, and offers thie homo product side by slde with the lrnipt)rb ed pouwds, Several hundred pairs of skillful hands are thus employed in this clty in addition 10 those who find a profit fu handling the zoods for individual custoniers. As a result, the vis- ftor to Chicazo finds here the greatest profusion of design and material that is offercd on the contluent, and s able to satlsly the most culti. vated tastes at the minimum of cost. We nota that this statement Is fully indors=d by the many who went East In 1870, and studled up stocks and prices on thelr way to and from the Centennlal Expostivn, These aro now among tho fastest friemis of this city, und are full of confldence that in milliuery, aticast, Chi- cago can beat the worlds CLOTUING. A SATISPACTORY TRADS 18 REPORTED in this department, though prosccuted under somo disalvantages. Trada was dull durlng the spring and early summer, but there was a larze demant durlog the sutumn, which amoply com- pensated for previous tameness, and It was con- tinued into the winter, being limited to some extent by the bad weather of November, Prices have remaloed " about the same on the more desirable goods, but the poor- cr grades have averaged considerably lower, and as the demand was moro than ever beforo for low sud wedium priced goods, the cash realized on an cqual volume of material has experienced a further strinkage. Profits too haye been smaller, as the cost of production was about the same as In 1870, cxcept In the matter of rents to such firms aswere on renewed leases, ‘The trade has been in a sound condition, no Jm- portant failures occuring here, and fewer throuchout the West than {n 1870, Tho South- ern and Western trade present a record of von- tinuous growth, especially the former, aud s a consequence our leadingdealers report an actual {ucrense of 10212 per cent. Tite aggregate of atrictly wholcsale is estimated at $13,000,000, against $11,000,000 fn 1576, The capital em- loyed, including that engazed in manufs Pur ing, 1s about 3,000,000, We might proba rzdr be able to swell tho nbove agerezate by the nd- ditfon of another $3.000,00073,500,000 if we Included walea that would be taken intn the ac- count in making up tho totals for some other cities. Nearly all our wholesanle clothicrs now MANUPACTURE TIELL GOODS MERE, giviog employment to a large number of home workers, and producing at the lowest possiblo cost, lg the use of the most improved machin- vry, Chicazo, too, set tha example to the East of manufacturing goods to sult tho climate ns well as tho occupation of the wearer, and thus huilt up a farge trade nmoog parties who liked to be “suited ” Ina double sense. Enstern houses have rcccml{ been forced to follow this example, but un:]y have not been able to get back the trade which they lost throueh want of intelligent vatering to the tastes of consumers. A [ew years ngo tho *‘atore oods ' were worn only by tho fowest classcs, and could be fnstant- ly recognized on the street as ready made. Now this-description of zoods {s largely worn by well-to-do people, most of whotn tind them- welves Tully sulted, except where personal pocu- liaritics of form render s special it necessary. Our city now stauds st the head of the llat af places which supply wholesale clothing, not even excepting New York; and only that clty can make anything like tur oxbibit in this ne, Our leading dealers look for o further large augmeant In the volume ot thelr busiucas during the current year. HATS, CAPS, AND FURS. TRE VOLUME OF DUBINESS increased about 25 per ccot, tho sales being $4.250,000, sud tho capital was enlarged to 1,250,000, The average shrinkuge In values was about 15 per cent, but azainst this there has * been o fargo fucrease fn tho quantity of goods sold, and the scasun ns & whole has been sotis- Tactory. ‘The cxpenses of conducting the busi- ness aro stifl rather disproportfonate to the value of goodsy but are gradunlly getting dows to the same level. The demand was very good during the spring and summer, and tho autump trade opuned auspicliously, but was Infd flat fn November by the bad weather and {mparaable condition of the country reads. Tho salca of winter goods, eepecially fues, there: fore havs been considerably below what they doubtless would have been had tho weather bicen cool cnough to create s wunt for winter clothing. TUK MOAT NOTADLE EXTENSION OF TRADR was {n the direction of Texas; the business with the Territoriea and the Western States has also fncrensed, aud tho Northwest proper has been nupplied us usual by Cileago, The eity retall truda fs utill oyentone, anud Jobhers huyo labored chietty to En\u country cistom, The numnber of Lirmy has been reduced to elght, ong hiouss hay- fngg futled during the year; but the stock of this coucern I8 being closed out, and thers is o pos- sibility that the business will bo re-establishea ou a new fuoting, ‘Thy spring und summer trade in straw goods was a declded linprovement over that of 1870, and the result more gratifving, thoueh prices were lower, except for harvest goods, the de- mand for which was cxtravrainary In the suwm- mor, RAW FURS TIAVE DECLINED nseverely during tho past year hoth in this coun- try and Eurupe, und the acason was disustrous to deale-s on both sides of the ocesn, Beyeral beayy fallures occurred. 'The troubled state of Europesn poliths has ereatly helped to ro- duce thodenand from countrica which are large consumers in times of pescs and prosperity, and the mild wether [n this coantry this fall’ and winter bas almost rained the home trade. Bup- plies ure accumulating everywhere, und the out- look now I3 for a simall exvort uovement this svason, ‘The leading exportable furs ure 507200 per ceut lower than 8 year ago, The h this scason will probably e smaller thau usual, us prices ure so low that trapping as u busiutes 1s 10 Jonger protitable. BOOTS AND BSIOES, . AN IMPOUTANT INCREASN 1s veported {u thia dupastinent, both fa the vol- ume of goods sold and the cash recelved thero- for. The two have prescrved mearly the samo rate, though tho cost of labor aud material has been a trifle lcss than iu 1876, giving & small decreass Lu selling valucs, with protils remalu- tog about the sawe. The lucreaso is estiwated &t 15 per cent, sod the sggreate of transactions ut $15,000,000, oo & working capital of $5,000,- 000, which ucludes tbat employed lu wavu- fuctunug. ¥ The hoot 80d shoo business 1s growlog very rapldly,—probably e 80 than auy othsr wer- cantfle line in the city,—but {t has been oser- estimated fully one-quarter. ‘The abovoe figurea are belleved to bo not far from the truth. The trade never was In more healthy condition; there have been no fallures here, and fewer in the Weat than in 1870, The prosperity of the trade 13, however, lnvittng Incresased competls tion, two or thres new Grms having startedin re- cently, and some Eastern houses are sald to bo negotinting for opening in this city, There are now twenty-five firms enyaged in the mannfac. turing and jobbing trade, and threa or four of them each do 4 larzer husiness than (s trans- acted by any house in the Unlted States outslde of Chicago,” Dealers roport that trade with the Eouth bas been eapecially zoad, and collectlons in the Southern Statea have been as prompt s in any other scction of the Unlon, which fact 8p.aks valumes ahout returninig brosperity to our once “erring sisters.” Probably the great- est Incrcase has been In tho sales of rubber goods, which have nearly doubled fn the last twelyo montha. The cost of thesa goods has been reduced so much as to materfally stimulato consumption, and we note a gradual dving out of tho prejudice agalust the uscaf rubbee which has heretofore existed in tne South and the ex- treme West, The firms now cngaged in the business here now MANUPACTURE NEARLY ALL the heavy gouda they sell; and it {s estimated that not far from 90 per cont of these are made from Chivago loather. Prominont among the new Industries of the yoar Is the manfacture of ladics' wear, which has becn undertaken ona rather large seals by one of our leading firms, pting in the cost of lahur, boots and slives can be praduced here much more chieaply than at tho East; and labor mmrenlnllon i8 gradu- ullY settling down to equallty with the Enstern acale of wagea. ‘The material §a produced In our midst, and can be . procured “hy the manu- facturer at primo cost, while tho Eastern maker Is obliged to obtain his hidcs or leather largely from this city, either In tha raw or the manu- factured state. Chicago-inade goods have thus the advantage of a saving in thie cost of trans- portation both ways—to and from -the East—in addition to the cost of extra bandling, to say nothing of the further advani of "“*natural sclection,” enjoyed only by those who ean ‘take tha stock from first hands. With the cholce of that which best suits thelr trade, transportation expenscs in thelr favor, the employment of tho best labor-saving machiners, and particular atten- tion paid to the quallty of thelr workinanshin, itis no wonder that Chleago manufacturers hiave taken the lead, Neither is thera room to douht that they arc unly just beginning to show what thoy can do In supplylng o large part of the civilized world with fout-gear. DRUGS AND CHEMICALS. THE VOLUME OF DUSINESS fncreased about 10 per cent, with o reduction-of B per cent in the value of regular goods as com- parcd with 1878, ' The sales of tha scven wholes nala houacs ara estimated at $4,750,000, aad the capltal $800,000. The ycar was fairly profitable. The fluctuations In prices geoerally have been within narrower limits than usual, and chlely in sympathv with gold. Tho most severe changes wers {n oplum and quinine, which, in consequence of war in the supplying countries, were unusually high eacly. Theso articles were manipulated by Eastern speculators, who commenced their operations o the latter part of 1876, and carried them through to the Jate spring of tho past year. Oplum advanced to $8.00 perib In the spring, sod hns aince declined to $5.25. Quinine sold up to 84,50 per oz, and declined to $3.25 in an- tielpation of larger suppliecs. The territory which depends on Chicago for suppliea Is increasiug cvery year, and this clty Is now the largest distributing polnt west of New York. The most notable fncrens of trado this scason has been with Ohio and Missourd, The Exposition brought to tha city many East- eru merchants, who discovered that thoy could buy to better advantage here than clsewhere; and 8 considerablo trade has been bullt up with tho Soutlwst, oxtendiog even to the very d o 8t. Louts, i U CROCKERY AND GLASSWARE THE WIlOLESALE DEALERS IN CROCKERY, Elassware, lamps, and numeroua other articles usually embraced undor the above general head- Ing, report n satisfactory trade on tho wholo, though tha rates of proflt to receipts have been small, and on the decrease. The quantity of Roods sold was considerahly larger than (n 1870, but prices averaged about 10 per cont Jower, the most severe de~ling belng fn giassware. Tho aggregate soles oro estimated ot $2,500,000, against $2,200,000 fn 1870, The capltal employed 18 about $500,000, which s a decrease, partly owling to the fact that dealers generally carricd emaller stocks, and they have been ableto trunsact busincss at a lessened cost, owing ton further reduction In salaries and rents. The curront of trade was gencra.ly stentiy, and the busineas s now regarded ua In a healthbier con- dition than at any time since the panfe. Two fallures occurred during the year amone glass dealers, and ono In the general trade, We uoto that cach year now witnesses o de- creaso of the intense competition which set {n after the, great fire, and our trade Is gradually oxtending fta area, Chicaga contlnuaily taking more and niore of the trade which used to go to tho scaboard, The country dealer finds that prices nre uniformly as low iere as at the Eaat, aud that, a8 a rule, ho has even beltor oppor- tunltles for sclecting from the stucke of the Western merchant, MUSBIC, THE TRADE IN MUBICAL INSTRUMENTS has about held ité own.. Tho'course of business was fafr with most of tho houses during tho grenter part of the year, and more gdods wers sold than ever before, the sales of suine firms dnrfog August and Scptember being fully 20 per cent greater than those of twolve months oreviously, But there has been a further shrinkace In prices, which has about compen- sated the Increaso in activity. The volumu of sufcs was not far from $2,250,000, against 82 500,000 for two years proviously, ‘The reduction 18 not so much due to fn- creased competition botween dealers, as to Jess- ened first cost, and smaller expenses hiero, Most of the {nstruments sold hero arc of Ameriean make, and the manufacturers have generally re- duced pricea on certain classes of goods, and added tu the real valuo of other kinds without changing their quotations, The same tendency exists now, as was noted & year ago, to chooso extremes. Medium Justrumcents are compara. tivelyneglected. The puorer kind of instru. ments, those which can scarcely be dopended upon to wesr, have found ready customors, ‘This is especially trus ot cottago organs. On tho other haud, the very best Instruments have sold freely, but there ls s greas change In tho taste for style. Tha squarc piano, for instance, meets with Jess aud less fuvor, tho upright plauo belng preferred by very muany buycra, The uprights are now belng nade in & variety of styles, and manufacturers clalm to have obyi- ated the old-time ubjections to this cluss of fne strumeuts. TIE JonniNd TRADR IN THE CITY and the retail music busincss in the country have been satisfactory on the whole; while the city rotoll trado lus Ilrnmienl, thicro belng less inclination to buy, unless * burgalns " could bo secured. ‘The last two ar three months of tho year brought a greater increasa 1o activity thau Is ususily dus to the approach of the noliday seasou, aml this [ regseded as o favorablo sucury for ‘the future of the trade. The musical instrument (s now very widely recog- nized as a genuine howne comlort in the farm- ouse, and'with rood crops and falr returns for the surplus thereal tho sgricultural classes' will be able ta provide wore largely than uver I'ie(uru for the cultivation of musical tusto ut ome. —— JEWELRY, AN INCREASS OF 5 PER ORNT in tho valus of goods schl, with u much larger augment fu volume, f§ about the uverago of the cstimates made in the line of foweiry, The ag- gregate of snles was fully §4,850,000, sgalust $4,000,000 the previvus ycar, as ¢stimated on the same basis. These totals, however, includo the retall trade, as It is ditfcult to soparaty that from the wholesale in the sticmpt to gather sn ldes of the business dove. ‘The course of trade has been rreguler. The number of jobbers s incrcased, aud a part of tho business of the new firms was gained at the ©xpenss of the older bouses, so that the trade bas scarcely been 6o profitable to individuals as tuat of 1876, though oue or two of the sculor establishmenta have more thsu held their own. The greater competition, too, bes touded ta reduce profits, and all the more aa buyers have decldedly favored the cheaper class of goods. ‘The jobhers bave. however. dous 4 satisfactary husineas on the whote, wiille the retail trade was ratner sfaw, Onr trude {0 jowelry, clocks, watches, etc., Is NOW a very Iarge one, . TIIE GOODS SOLD HERR are distributed allover the Northwest, and as fnr as Texns In the Southwest direction, The Jobhing trade ot Chicago, with Its fully $1,500,- 00 of capital, 1s larger even than that of Newr York, and of course excceds that of any other cityin the Unfon. And the tendency Iston further increase; mannfacturers are ‘making thisn special point for exertlon, and conven- trating thelr encreies on Chicago as a distrib- uting point for their zoods, ‘The lending establishments are now connected by telegraph with the Dearborn Observatory, which turnishes an automatie record of tima by menos of the electric telegraph. Tacy are thus able to mnake direct reference any minute In the day totrue time, and can thereby regulate time- pleces with a preciston that would otherwise be impossible. LEATHER AND FINDINGS. 18 SOMA IMPOUTANT PARTICULARS tho course of this market for the year just closed was more satisfactory to johbera than were the two or threo that immediately pre- ceded it. In the volume of salcs we cannot re- port any considerable Increase, business having Just about held ita own; but values throughout tho year were characterized by a remarkable de- gree of ateadiness, and if tho quantity of goods distributed did not nitain as farge proportions as waa desired, or oxoected even, the business was unlformly profitable. The fact that sales have not fallen off may be accepted as an on- couraging feature, for it s well known that ever since the panic the busincss of the small manu- facturera throughout tho West have been steadily oozing away, The hard times have com- pelled the practice of economy,and the thousands who, when times were flush, were wont to patronize the custom shoemaker, forsook him, aud bought Inatead the cheapcr “atore work,” As tho manufacturcrs abuve referred to de- pended upon this market for thelr aupplics, thelr cnforced, suspenston of busincss was ff- mediately_and serlously feit by the Chicago Jobbers. " With the rotarn of rrusncroun days, 8 revival of business with the custom shoo- maker may reasunubly be looked for; and then nay our leather and findings trade be oxpected to again display thut steady and rapld growth ‘whicn marked (1 {n the years prior to 1878. Tho beginning hero of the extensive manufacturo of LADIES' AND OHILDREN'S SHOE3 has ereated an increased demand for the finer wrades of leather, 'There is another featuro of the past scagon’s trade which inust not bo over- looked, viz. : the great increase in the sales of Moroeco, kid, glove-call, shecpekins, and lin- ings, During the vear at least threoof tho Inrgest Eastern manufacturces of tho above lino of goods have established branch houses in Chicngo, It Is no longer necessary or profitable for Westorn buyers to go_Enst for suoplics, as thuy may now bo obtatned hers at actual manu- Incturers’ prices; thus saving time, traveling exoonses, and frelght charges. The sales of these goods here within tue past sfx months have {ncreased more thaa tenfold, and the fu- turc of the trade is very promising. The capi- tal rergumu td carry onthe jobblng trade is about $500,000, COAL. IN THE QUANTITY OF COAL handled the scason of 1877 was the most im- portant {n the historyof the trade, the aggregato reccipts by lake and rail betng 1,705,143 tons, or 04,831 tons moro than reccived In any previous year. The scason was one of unprecedented low | prices, both for anthracte and bitumioous conls, and the year's business was dono at a smallor profit than ever hefore: but sales more than formerly were for cash, and as there were fewer bad debts than In post years, the scason after all proved a falrly satisfactory one In gon- eral rosults. The prevalence of extremo low prices led to a largely fncreased consurption, cspecfally {n the country; and, notwithstanding the largely Increased recelpts at this poiot, it 1s expected that stocks will ba exhausted before the reapeningg of navigation, g that the wants of the trade will have to supplied by rail. Shipmenta from the mincs direet to the country trado have been sumewhat less than for 1870. The nxceptivnally low Jake froights which prevalled during the spring and summer months more than counterbalanced the cost of transferring the coal from the vessel to the cars, nnd n larger percentage than usual of our teceipts was by the water route. Owing to the low cost of authracite the country buyers have very gencrally abandoned tho usc of the inferlor qualitics of soft conl herstofurs In use among them, and the scason of 1878 bids falr to witness a still moro markod growth of the hard conl trade of this city than did the year just passed. 1In consequenca of tho strikes in tho Indianaand Illinois mines, throuzh which the production was serfously curtafied, thers was a larco in- crease in the consumptlon in the West of Ohlo cuals the increase in thu sales of Erio {n this market 1y estimatea at 50,000 tons; The year opened at $7.50(8.00 for LARD COAL From those figures the market dld aot vary until the middle of May, whena drop of $3.00 Eur ton toukplace. From that date until the eginning of Aus the market waa unusually steady ot 65.15@3‘1)0, but {n fact thers was no fixed value for the article, and orders wero so- Yiclted at $5.50 aud even ar $3.85. Abaut August | prices wers_advanced to $0.25016.50, and later to_$0.506i0.75. Tho lowest (lzurcs of 1870 were $7.00027.50, and thoso wero lower ‘prices than_ had lmnvmufly beon known sluce Leforo e War of the Rebeltion. DITUMINOUS COALS ruled very low througliout tho season, Erlo opened ot §0.00 and stood at that fzure until May 19, when it declined to 83,50, where It has since remained. From 1603 t0 1975 the lowest quotation for Erlo conl was £3,00 per ton. Wil winuton did not sell above £4.25 or below $4.00, Bomo grades of Iiffnofs coal wers offered at $3.003¢3.75 but owlnis to the relative chospnesa of the better varieties thero was ot much salo for the Inferlor qualitie: LAKE PREIGI'TD havo ruled almost unprecedentedly low, Open- {ug at 40c, they soon ran dowa to 23c, whers they remained during the summwer, The chieap frelehits were dua to the lizhe Westward moye- meut of conl duriug the continuance of thoe striko {n the unthra. * reglons, 1u September the rates wers odvinced to 75e, snd further slong to 8L.00. Dealers clalm (sod thoy give the figures for it) that with freights at $1.00 the cost to them of range coal was $1.00 per ton. The amount of capital employed in the conl trudo of this city {» 86,000,000." Tho past season’s sales reached 1,735,118 tonb. TIB NECHILTS OF COAL for tho past three yoars bave been as follows: 1473, 1670, 1 Tons. Tons. Dy lake, a7, 757 780,421 By rail, . By canal... i Total ...1,081,488 1,010,033 1,745,148 Tho shipments of last year were 805,650 tons. LUMBER, , 'TIIE RECEIPTS AND SIIPMENTS of lumber for the paat and next previous year, s reported by the Lumberman's Exchanie, were as follows: —— Recelpts,— Ipmmts.~ T T Lumber, m 11, 1,0413,600 1,1K0, 785 Bk, 231 087, 11t Shingie S EA SUNTT 17,2 214 aR ‘Tho rerelpts werg distributed among the man- ufacturiog points as follows: Lumber, Lumber, wit,' et Raugatuck and shore, Grand Hav N W Pei Ludlugton Livcoln and jismita Manistee. . Vraukforé and Leland.'] Traverse flay. Cliebuyg Al [ 13,4 Escanaba sua castward.. 15,903 11,630 Ford and Cedar Rivers... 38585 25,014 1,4. Menanluco. + + 138104 140,078 301 3 5,543 2044 OLas oo LU0 W45 8K B GU87 10043 20,48 b,agg 14,831 B80S ‘'wo Rivérs #0d ehof 1408 10,500 Lake Buperior.... #,310 1,051 The past season bas beon the most satisface tory one for lumbermen of sny since 1872, the year succecding the great fire. The production was large, but there has becn a steady snd FIUST-CLASS DNMAND sl through tho scason. The dealers bave been very fortunate fu baving a widerares of countey tosupply thau In 1570; water freights have ruled very low, and the cost of manufucturiog lJumber has been redueed. Tho local yard dealers sud mill-owners who have ¢ty yards bave beeu rewarded with good, if not handsome, protits. aud the coaiguors generally bave fared A littlo hetter than fn 1970, The happy turn of affalrs was due to the tailure to get a full stoek of logs out of the rivers In the spifng. The cop of luga way large, and the production of Jomber would ~ have sheen ns great ns in any recent year, and the scs<on per- hans ‘nore ul-u‘lrnuu to the trade at large, but for the low alage of water In the streams of Minne<ota and Wisconsta fu the spring, on ace count of which a Inrge pereentage of the lor crap was hune un until too late in the fall to ho of much nvall In stockInz the muarket of 1577, The shortazg i stock was greatest in the Mls- slasippi River district, where ahout 310,000,000 1t uf logs, or IAIE the crop 4f that section, wero ont of reach during the season of aawing., And at Iaka ports, exclusive of Snginaw, about 125,- 000,000 1t falled to’ conio out of the rivers until Yery near the end of the eeaton of navieation, Tha hamense shortage on the Mississipni really proved tobe the ealvation of this Jumber Intercat of the Northwest. The doll:ency on the river brouuht to Cniengo a very Inrire Western trade, which In 187 had been” suppited hy the river Iumbermen, and caused the rise in the price that made the business remuncrative. The Sear opencd with the BTOCK AT TIN TARDS ahout 17,000,000 ft larzer than at the begin- ning of the pn‘mdln{{ season, but the early trade was cxcellent, and the stock was redaved to about the usual averaze upon the opening of nayization. After lunher beean to arrivo free- 1y by lake, the market weakened, aud In Juna Tumber tonched a lower fcare than at any timo In the year. In this month common grades were lower at the yards than for several years, and the price of careoes was as low as it 1876, In July tha shortage on the Mississippt was assur- ed, and the market immediately begon to fm- prove, ‘The carly fall teade was Immense, The armers, blessud” with splendid crops, bourhe heavlly, anl orders poured Into Chicugo from all purts of tha Northwest, Dcalers at river distributine polnts were soon driven to Chicago for supulics, the stock on the Mississippl avon running ehort, Prices ndvanced, reaching the maximum fu October, hut broke In that month, ecxeent nt the yards, under heavy receipts; the fall " enns Tiaving brought down abandoned arlves of logs, which were suwn into Jumber aud rushed t market while there was a profiv in shipplng. This was durlng tha long spell of bad weather, which fnlured trados and the cargo market gave way under the hcavy welght, Until atout Oct, 135, the recelpts ol lumber showed a deflelt of aoout 30,000,000 ft as compared with the fig. ures at the same time in 18765 but alter that tima thoy Increased rapldly, and were about *15,000,000 In_cxcess of those of tho previous year at the close. TILE DEMAND ON TIUE YARDS has been extraordinary, The action of the rail- roads In charging by welght instead of per car- loud niade dry tumber tho most proticadlo Kind 1o purchase, because a greater nuinber of feet of that than of groen stull Iy contained in a car- laad; ana as the yacd dealers onlv wero able to furnish dry lumber, the country trade went to them forsupplics. This, ofcourse, was a discrim- ination aeninst the cargo market; which, belng aupplied chlelty with ereen lumber, was depriv- ed ol the benefits of ontside competition, and waa sometlmes placed at the merey of the clty trade. Canal shippers were ablg” to buy car- gous, and some of tho ralironds, that had kile docks, mnde rebates fu a few eases, which per- mitted other country merchants tohatudle green Jumber. Tt has heen predicted that IE this course of forwarding by welght bo continued yery Jonit it woulid Jend ulumutel[v tothe abol- tion of the wholczale market, unives consignors ship more dry lumber, which they will probably do next scason. Yard prices advanced 10315 per cent. Common lutnber sold early at 810,00 (@11.00, declined to 89.00:210. in the spring, steadily advanced after June, and closed at $10.50@218.00. Green luuber sold from_the fnrdn in midsummer nt 83.60210.00. On Dec. , the stock of lumber ot the loeal yards was 405,433,700 1t nzainst 401,808, 485 ft oo Dee. 1, 1870, " 'The stock wos robably reduced 25,000,000 1t fn December. Le fact that dry lumber now takes the lewd makes (L neceasary Lo carry larger stocks than forinerly. ‘The trado of toe yards promiscs to lic oxecllent throughout the winter provided tho weather is fuvornble, becatteo the extent of territory to be supplied by Chleago fs so much larger than usual, and stocks on the Missisaipol and clsewhere ara lght, The number of lime ber-yards in the city has been reduced to efghty- efght by consolfdation and withdrawal froin Dustucas. TIHE DETTER QUALITINS OF LUMBER ° wero tolerably steady at the sale docks, while cuminon grades were irregular. Heleots sold at $16.00717.50, choice - mill-run lumber at $13.000214.50; the nverage ranic of medium Dboarids aud strips was $10.00 @12.00, and of common do S8.0029.50, Plece- stull jumped nbout ltke a graschopper, ‘The Alrat carcoes solil in April at $7.50, the price fell to $7.00 in May, rose to $5.00 in June, went back to $7.00 1n Ju to 87.95@7.50 In tho months following, d touched the hizhest fizure ($8.75) in October; sclling oft alterwards to #7.70. Tho_averaze brico of pivee-stiil was $7.01, against $7.70 the previous year, Tuo sca- son was nut satlsfactory 1o sbippers of two- ncn lumber, ‘The average freight rat last season was about $1.05 to Muskegon and $1.35 to Menom- fnee. TiR PRODUCTION OF LATR was smaller than fu 1870, prices belne tog low to encourage manufactare. * Shingies wero also n smaller supply, Both 'soll at anremuticra- tive prices carly, but advanced conaiderabiy in the autumn under an urzent demand, which was stimulated by the apparent shortage in the stocks ot distributing centres. Lath “sold on tho carzo carly nt §1.25 and in the fall at $1.75, Shiugles, standard “AY ranzed from 81,756 2,25, and extras from 82.11) 4240, The stack of Inth on Dec, 1 was 43,873,000, ngeafust 39,110,000 Dee. 1, 1876, That of alngles was 102,526,000, agninst 103,076,750, ‘The production in Michigan was as largo as in tho previous vear oxeept along the rallroads, ‘The shortazo was in Wisconsin and Minnesota, The quantity of lozs and lumber lcft over ot manufscturing poluts on this lake Is ratlinr light. {'repurations were madv fn the fall to get out a full stock of lows this winter, and, althourn the weather thus far ls been unfavorable fur lu:ihm thy productfon fn the Norchwest will probably be large in 1878, The lutnbermen ro- fuse to head the admonitlon of the poet, *“ Woodman, sparu that tree,' OILS, PAINTS, AND GLASS, BALES OF GOODS in this line during the year just closcd amount- cd to about §5,000,000, which s an Increase over the previons scason of fully 10 per cent. ‘The capital employed in the johbing busincss is about $1,500,000. The averago ol prices was slightly Jower than for 1876, but there were fewer fallures and fewer bad debts; and, ull things cdbstdered, the svason bas heen moro satisfactory than ouy slnce 1374 The trade at the present time Is sound financially, and the coming scason Is looked forward to with Lopo- fu) feelings. The sales of CARTON Ol1, have conalderably excecded that of any former year, amouutlng to wors than 100,000 brls, nzaingt 95,000 bris for 1876, and 91,000 bris for 1475, Prices vpened at 20@e, according 1o test, which wero bigber Bgures than hive pre- valled for & number of years, In Fobruary a marked decline took place, 110 test scding down to 10¢, and 173 test to e, Sinco that date the markey bas been subjected to but fow fluctuations, and at tho closo of the year wos steady st 143{@23fc. Linaced ruted comperatwely high during tho first half ot the year, opening st 65@70c, and fluctuating but lttle uutll August, when prices took a downward turn. During the fall months, owlug to the low price of seed und the almost nomiual value ol the cake, thero was a serious decline, the market receding to ug December thero was o slight uresent (‘uunllunl are b@ule. Lry Was ¥ comparatlvely large salo fur turpentine, but the roduct was u[go‘ and the price declined from ¢ fu January to 35¢ In June, From that low flgure tho muurket has varied but littie since, though recently thers has been developed an advaucing tendoncy, owjug to the ralds mads on thouse “who bad poached on the Guyernment’s ploe-lands fu the Bouthern part of Alubama sod along the Gulf. Resius bave becn plenty the year round, at s deciine from the previous yeur ‘of 10 per cont. Of resins and turpentine vbu house here has handled durivg the vear over 30,00 packages, ‘Thu sules of lard and whals oils bayo been largs at lower prices. TS TRADE I PAINTS was active during tue spring aud very satisl wrly 10 dealers, but the fall business was disap- 80 uting, White lcad eold ut Ocu January, at ¢ 1s Fobruary, aud (o March bad sdvauced to 3¢ .- At that quotation the markes remalned stoady until Octuber, wheu thero was 8 decling to e, Tu Novewber It ol off to 8¢, which waa the loweat J)rlcc {or pure lead kuown for many years. It closed at dige. The bl drop durd ctober aud November was chivtly the tuullfi Lrisk® rivalry betweon Esstern and Wustera manufaciurers, Woite lead caun be pro- duced bere chesper thau st the East, sod our Western — wavufacturers have made 8 market for thelr woods 10 all the large citles of the Last, to the lutiuite disgust of the manufacturcrs there. Ia ury palats the busl Dess was lurzer than fur 1570, but was dove at somewbal lower prices. The sales of window- glass huve showa littie, if any, increase, though prices have declined 10715 Der centi—a result of the cntting process rocarted to by #weak man- ufacturers who were compelled to realize, PIG-IRON. 1N MOST DRANCIHES of trade the acason of 1377 witnessed some tm- provement over the previous vear, both as re- gards the volume of husincss accomplished and the stabllity of priod, but the same cannot be said of the market for pig-fron, From first to last dullness refgned supreme, and the course of prices was as steadily downward as in the previous years since the pante of 1873 The number of tons sold was considerahly below that for 1976, reaching about 125,000tons, and In sclling value there was o mgrked falling- off, prices having declined fully 83 per ton. 1t any one ir in doubt as to tho unprofitable- ness, during the past four years, of the trade In plg-iron, hic hins but to chll to miud tho changes invalues that have taken placo within thay veriod. When tho panic struck thecountry No. 1 Lako Supcrior Iron was selling at $53.00. The price to-day Is $22.00, Thescfigurcs sliow an av- erago YEANLY SHRINKAQR of $7.50 per fon, or an agizregato of €30.00 per ton. The dizastrous losses to which the trale have bieen subjected coulid ho barne with greats er fortitude did the immediate future hold out any encouragoment, but unfortunately 1t does tiot. Even should the demand materlatly in- crease,~which, for the next twelvemonth, fs not ontleipated,—the capacity for production Istwiccas lnrge s tho consumution, and the Scores of turnaces now lving fdle would be ready to start as acon as there wers any indications of & return of prosperous times. The great trouble with the pig-tron market, all stong, bes deen overproduction, and that ia iikely to remain o binrrier to fts recuperation. Tha {cnr opened at 82,00 cash, and _gradually decllued to $22.00, ‘which fs the closing price. IIARDWARE, IN GENERAL LSRDWARN the year's business has been a declded improve- wment over that of 1676, and, taken afl fu all, quite gratifving to merchants. Prices averaged About 5@10 per cent lower than {o the preceding year, but the quaatity of goods sold hss been much larger, so that tho sales actuaily amount to more when measurcd n doflars and cents, ‘The sales of shell hardwars and metals aro estimated at 812,230,000 on & capltal of about $3,230,000, The dealers roport a falrly profitable scason In spite uf the shrinkage in prices, which was gradual, and scems to haye been due principally to the deeline in tin-plates and fron. And the competition between local and nelghboring merchants was not so continue ous nor destructive to orofits as In the previoue year. The spring trade was light, but thearand crops of tho West helped husiness immenscly In the autumn, and the fall sales probably ex- ceeded those ‘of any corresponding time alnco 1878, Tin-plates declined 10 per cent in consa- quenco ol overproduction and low freights, and closed weak, the farclicn market befog 1o an unsettied state. Tho closing price, $7.75 per bozx, Ia tho lowest over touched th the history of the trade. Copper decelined In the latter part of the year about 10 per cent, The salea of fence- wire have follen off. This fs owing to the fuct that barbed nud other patent wirc or fencing Liave been sold extensively to the farmers by the agents of the manufacturers, THE CARRIAGE UARDWARE firme, which are four in number, hnve dono & larger and mors profitablo business than in 1870, Tha eabluat hardware Liouses have beon reduced to three, and their sales wero smaller, The sales of the seven houeca noted above orobably ap- proached to $1,760,000. IR BALKS OP NAILS wora less than in 1870, A good deal of tonnage was shipped, and a larze number of ordera wero taken hero and fillod from he factaries, but the nall-makers ara steadily taking the trads away from tho dealers. T'ie losa Is nut deplored. Prices have been so fow and frregular In late years that tha comnmisstons un sales have scarcely paid for the troubloand cxpense fne curred 1n handitng the nalls. Early In the senson, nails sold at 83.00 per keg, and in July at §3.40, which bas sinco been the publisbed rate, MEAVY GOODS AND [HON. Iron lias been tower the past zclr than over before in this country, Prices have averaged fully 10 per cent lower thau in 1870, This sca- #0N Was an fmprovetuent ovar the previous one, I'rices have been steadler, and a greater tonnage has been sold, ylelding & Jarger profit to tfiu merchant, The demand for fron and Leavy hardware was flrat-class, cspoclully fn ths autumn, whon a slight advunce vecurrod, which, however, was lost during tho wet s2ason, which interrupted the movement of the crups. Deal. ers in rallrond supplics roport that they have had g beavier fali trudo than fn any ?‘emr sfuco 1878 The rallroad companies boupfit largel 'y being abliged to increase thelr ro'ling stuck {u order to transport the luinense crups of tho West, 'Tho impression scems to bo general that prices have reached bottom, but thers ialittle prospect of a permanent riso in fron while the eapacity for manufacturing Is as large au It now 13, The production, which was larger in 1877 than in 1875, keeps paco with the do- mand, and any aceming {improveno tono of the markot has been the sf erenso it. Sterchants look for {ittls chauge for the Lictter until the market can ba rolleved of tho surplus production by exportation. A lapco trade with Bouth American and other forelgn countriea could bo bullt up under a reduced lgrlll . ‘The sales In tho market are estimated at 1,000, on o eaital of about BL,800,00), One swall house sdspeuded, but afterwards resuined business. ‘The wules of hardware, cutlery, and stoves, sporoximated $32,000,000, belng ‘an averaze ln- nr‘cfig u:)l nearly 85§ per cont over tho business of 187 BUILDING MATERIALS, TR DEMAND WAS SMALLER than in the previous year, the country trade having bieeu dull, and the cityfsales wero some- what less. The fall busincss was shortened by the bad wentber {n October ana November, Tho scagon was very favorublo for manufacturing materlals, and the production has Leon heavy, aud In sotne cascs at & cost that was out of pro- partion to the selling value of the product. Neurly all materials decliued, and dealers have made very little money, and had hard work to collect soms of that. The sales aro estimated ot 31,023,000, The production of brick was heavy, and com- petition toreed prices down alinost to cost., The local facilities for making brick are atmost Hm- itless, aud any turn In the markot which prom. fses & small gain s almost auro to stimulate production. Boveral vards have been fdle, Comunon brick apened fn the apring at $0.00@ 7.00 per 1,000, .“Re.mr new bm-E caiug {nto tho market, the price fell. to #160504.%, closing at $4.50:25.00. About 40,000,000 brick will be car- tled over, Common brick sotd st $3.50 just be. fore tho fire of 1571, uud alterwards at §10.00, Kinve [873 the markel bos been 1o an unsatisfac. tory state. Pressed brick sold at $12.00:416.00. TUN BALES OF LIxE, ncluding the recelnts, wero about 375,000 brls. Nearly all of this was consumed {n Chicazo, the country demand having been lgit. A large propartion of tho Hma sold Is munufactured on the outskirts of the city, Prices have ruled tow a rmiqm per brl in”bulk, and 75c@$1.00 in rels. e Cemonts declined neariy 25 per cent, and the sales were conalderahly below former tigures. The domestic brands” were scattercd among several agencies, fnstead of being under tho contrul ot out, ae formerly, and cfforts todo a profitabla busincas proved fulle, Dowmestic nte sold at U8 (on cars) to $1.85 per brl, .23, English Portland cemont ud the Auierican—said to be a very good substitute for tbe fmpurted article— at $4.75. The dewnand for stucco was smatler, ‘Tho averagu price waa about §1.40 per brl, WINES AND LIQUORS, TILB WHOLESALE JOBBING TRADN duriug the psst year was only modorately active, In sympatby with the gencral stagnation in business, ana prices decressed 10 por cont. Bourbon grades of whisky are fully 5 ver cont lower, while domestic goods huve suffered a de- creass of 3 per cent. The stocks carrled by the {obblug buuses o 1877 were smaller than for the year provious, and jobbers were gencrally disposod ta shorten the time of credit on ail salcs. Tho yoads In the couutry have been in 80 impassable condition Jor several weeks past, Beacothe ‘decmand from the. IsteHr hos bech leasened, althouch Jobbers are sanguiue of an {mprovewaent in b 8 in the carly part of the year 1878, TOTAL WHOLESALFE, SALES. TUB GRAND AGOREGATSE. ‘The total sales roported sbove, under the hesd of wholesale, fuclude cstfmates, in many cases, where It was not possible to obtain pro- «iso igures, bus they are‘belioved to bo not far from the truth. They fout up su aggregste of §376,500,000; which {s =-decreaso of about 1t per cent on the money received at firet sale of tho goods bandled. Thess Sgures do nob Far Spm e o Lo