Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 1, 1878, Page 5

- v it i i 1E CHICAGO TRIBUNE: TUESDAY, - JANUARY 1, 1878—~TWELVE PAGES. resent the relative value of goods sold, which exhibita an_{mportant increase, as noted above, fn most of tho departments. Reduced to a gold basls, the figurca of the past year would be the largest of the two. TIIR CAPITAL EMPLOYED in the conduct of the abuve business is about 000,000, or ;omp H136 per cent of the sales. A toeimlcs borrowad capltal, of cours; but it does not includo large amounts of moncy which are Inveated Inother placea—na New Yor! and the lumber reglons of the West. MANUFACTURES. The manufactures of the year would show s dectded fncrease, notwithstanding the dullness in fron, but for the very strongly marked de- cline Iu the price of hogs nud hog product, which gives a much smaller valuation on neasly equal volume. As it is, the value of our ane nual productfon fa about $204,000,000, which Is & fallivg off to the extent of 4.0 per cent. There has been o reduction in the cost of the raw ma- terial in other departments,but it was not 8o ex- tensive as that of provioua years. The prico of Jabor has heen further reduced, and some clnases of workera are recelving but poorcompet- sation for their tol. The number of workers 18 larger than & year 8o, showing a revival of netivity, though this (s chiefly fu the swmaller lines of effort. It is pleasant to know that the number of persons out of employment in the clty fs not greater than usual, and has been less &0 far durlng the present winter. The following summary {s made upon a some- what @ifferent vlan from that of preceding years, and I8 belleved to Include about all that ought to be comprehended, though the ground 10 bo covered 18 8o vast that it ia next to impos- sible to insure accuracy In every detail, and our results are probably not far from the truth, on the average. PORK AND BEEF PACKING. CHICAGO LEADS THE WORLD in this fmportant branch of {ndustry, and each year Increases ler importanco with respect to other packing centres. Our statistics show a falling off in 1877 In the matter of dollars and cents, and nat much change In the volume ot pork product manufactired. But this is be- cnuse prices have been down to o point unusu- ally low for recent gears,and our city mado stch a big stride In 1870 that It ray almost be regarded us cxceptional; kiltlug nearly 800,000 more hozs than In 187. Up toabout slxteen vears sgo Cineinnat! was the licadquarters for hogs and hiog statistics, Early in the War Chi- «cago distanced that city, and has increased her advantaze so much since that time that shie now kifls about 40 per cent of all the hogs killed In the West, and the total of her year's work ne- tually exceeds, equals that of Cincipnatd, 8t Louls, Loulsville, Mllwaukes, and Indian- npolia combined. We mow kill ono fiog for about every fifteen persons fu the United Htates and Territorles, or rather kil af tant vate, as tho product of a vast number of the logs gocs to feed thoe peo- ple of Western Europe. Chicago packerd at- tract hogs frotn nearly all over the West, from Ohto, Michigan, and” Indiana, o8 well as from Tilinots, lown, Ransas, and Nebraska, and cach sitccesalve year ships tewer live hogs eastward. One great” reason for this growing preponder- ance {s the fact that capital and care have com- bined to put down the cost of handling to the luwest possible polnt. Within the past twenty mouths there has n o decreaso of uearly one- thicd i this partieular, the cost of labor and clerking now averaging alittle less than 30 cents per hog. _Qur packers are also wiling to work fur a smatler margin of profit thon that hitherto insisted upon by the backers of other cltiea. We are est~-Inlly favored, too, in regard to Jo- ention, Shusted nearly on the northern edee of the hopx-zrowing arca, we comnand cooler weather than other points further south, while our coutizulty to the lwnber reglons re- duces the cost of cooperage to o wmlnfinum, Qur packers can operate right olong through the winter, and require Jess ico for summer work than would be necessary In Cinclunatl_or St Louls. Our packers are thus ablo to offer the best juarket for hogs, wlhille competlng frecly with other points nas sellers of product. Tl within atout two years past very few hous were packed in this clty cxeept duriug the four winter monthe beginning with November, Now nesrly one-halt of tho year's work is done in the other months, and the shipplug of prod- et towards the consumer is In procress all the vear round, It takes about 40 venta' worth of Ice to each hog In the hot weather to keep the producet down to the required low polnt of tem- perature while it underzaes the curlng process; aud the stwil thus produced (s now actually preferred by the peonle who supposed up ton 1ew munths ago that they could not eat hoge meat unless it had been cured fn winter. The wwmber of firms engawed in tho business s on the decreases the tendency being to cons centration. About a year ago four tirma joined thelr forcea for ‘the purpose of lessening the competition “In the buying of hogs and the selliug of product. The united firm bas a wpacity for killing 24,000 hogs per dny. 1t has one rival. About forty uther firms are engoged in thobusiness, on n smplier scale, about one. third of whom buy dressed hugs, or green meats for curing, or have their hoge killed for them on commission, ‘Two firms pack ex- clusively on English aceount, and three or four atliers tho o mixed business in the samo direc. tlon, while tue leading houses referred to above lave ulso established uzencies at scveral leud. duie eities In the Old World, ot which orders are stken for dircet shipmient, . The united packing capacity s about PIPTY THOUSAND 110GS PEN DAY, which would keep more than 6,000 hands em. "no)'ed‘ i hogs gnough could be obtalned to ieeD themm fufly occupled. Aslt is, they employ about 4,850 e, Including Toremen aud clerks, during the four winter inonths, sud nearly hait that number durfir the remalnder of - the vear. ‘The nagregato weekly wages in. cold weather {s nbout 848,000 Wagenhaveteen muhllz reduced durlng the past year, and are now In the neigh. borhood of 83.50 per week on the averago. In Janyary and February there was o marked folling-off {n production, as cotpared with the eame mouths of 1876, Tho deflcfency wus more thun mude up In the summer mouths, and the run of hoge in November and December would have shown a stlll greater {ncrease but for the unfavorable ~weather, Thoe temne perature was that of an Iundlan sum- mer thl the close of the year, ond the vackers did not care to operaté exeept to fll} brae ‘This kKept the howsback fur awhile, but towards the middle of Decembor they came in Hke an avalauche, fliling every pen in the Stock- Yards, and oceupying the stde-tracks in un- cmnotied cars for o long way fn every direction. The reeelpts wers subsequently reduced by the bad weather which hung on as with a deathe Rrip on so many other {ndustries of the city, NUMDXI OF 110US FACKED, Tue number cut durlng the two lust calendar years {s about as follows; Number. 1877, January and ¥ 867, 130 March 1 10 Oct. « 1,470,000 November and Decetber 1,019,100 Total of year. Ta.0m, Total wolghi, 1o o0 Vuluaof du..... DEKP PACKING AND I'RESERVING, The past year has been an exccedively active ore in beef, The value of the aunusl product 1s mbout 8,000,000, sgainst $3,800,000 {:I 1874, und §2,023,200 Ju 1875, Chis Includes packa; and sait whero uged, The capltal cmploven 1o sbout §1,000,000,and the outmber of hanus 1,200, who draw oii sunual wazes of 505,000, the pay 25 Lo 83 per day. The Increuso 1 chietly duvtosn unprecedented growth of the the business of compressing and cannlng hee, which bas risen from nothing about two years apo to the puttiug up of the meat of neasly 1,000 beeves per day u tho moat activo part of yesr. Within that tlme our indomitabls Chi- cugo packers haveestablisied a market for thele fumll in Eugland, Gerwany, France, Ausiria, taly, Denmarg, Belglum, and (n several citics in Bouth America, Thelr products are used ex- tenalvely fn the Bouth and on the Pacific coast, ud the univeral favor with which the new material 18 received warrants the cxpecta- 3ol of 8 continucd expansion of the busing We note that about 200,000 beef-tongug Leen Em up during the year by one trm, moat of which have gone to the Paclflc coast. Thy Rreater portion of the otber meat s exported lulllorch.'l‘x r;.\'ixnlrh:l. " 0ot of this work {s dono by two firms, an thete Urauds atc. knows ‘eocrywoere, Tnoy s 1ot kil ou thefr own sceount. A great deal of thelr beet fs taken direct from the refrigerator care, of which about 150 arc now coustants ewploved du bringlug i dressed 4 qunmmn frow e fur Wost and Bouthwest. The they buy chicfly from the leadlog wholesale maikets'of the city, takiug the stock which has buens feft uusold ot the cluse of tho dally buai- nusd, By this ticans the uity retall trade 5 Kept ¢lear of wtalc bect, und the cavuers aro able to purchuae thelr stock at s discount from the regular market price, which enables them to oifer thels gools ut low tigurcs, Oceasionally vunplaints are Leprd to the efluct that scalawaig animais lave been purchased for canuug pure osts, bub this practics fs belioved to be gons fined to frregular operators who want to cut into the trade. The quality of the meat put up by our leading hotres has not yet been found fanlt with by forelgn cousumers, On the con- trary, they are unantmous fu peafeine i+ an o oo article, which in aiwaya aweet and well flavored, na well as evidently made from some- thing better than the nooreat kind of stock. An extensive business in supnlying foreign Governments with theee goods [8”cxpected in the near future. The represcntatives of several European Powers have tested and approved samples of Chicago compressed beef; and some stnalt orders have already been filled. TUE PACKING OF REEP IN BANRELS n this city (8 on the decling, and has heen 8o for two or three years past. Consumcers prefer the can to the barrel, auid the Iatter s avolled except In_the lumber-camp and on shipboard. 'Ihe Northwestern lumber reglons and our lake rine aee chiefly aupplicd from Chlcago; but for other consumicrs thic tendeney is to purchnse nearer the bose of supply,—further Weat. The whole busitess of packing beef in barrels ls, however, on the decline, and will orobably die out at uo distant day. The barrel has sccu its best days, allke in the trade in becf, pork, and flour, ~ Four firms are at prescst engnged ln the busincss of Leef-packing. The following is & summary of the packing business: BUMMARY. i it 1857, w7, Irma (abant) ... see 1 k T omere, NorGrinter) 0,050 5,170 Annuat wag $ 1,431,000 § 1,100,000 Captalorueees civesnne 0,000,000 5, £00,000 Value of prodact , ... 48,050,000 58, 325, 000 The number of cattle killed by the regular houses [s cstimated at 250,000, A Inrge part of the product of these animala g:oeu to supply city consumption, and 18 not Included in the above estimate, ‘fhe great reductlon of 10! value of product Is chiefly dug to the fact that very low prices have been pald for hogs. The animal averaged but $12.40 last year, ogalost $18.03 per head in 1870, IRON AND BTEEL. THE MANUPACTURING IRON TRADE for the year 1877 hns been unsatisfactory, and the prospects for a revival (n this brauch are not of an cncouraging character. The agere- gate amount of busincss transacted was only moderately farge, with the cost of labor about tho seme a8 compared with the preceding year. We note a decrease of 8 per cent in+fron manu- facturcs and fully 10 per cent in steel rails, Only two of the three rolling-ills fn this city have been §n active operation during the past year,—thic works at South Chilcago having shut down in_February lnst. The Jollet Iron and Bteel Mills, which were owned by Chicago capl- taliats, suspended in July, and are still in tho hands of n Recefver. Thero have bLeen no ship- ments of Ilessemer steel rails to Cannda, undthe shipments ‘from this poiat were chiefly to the north aud northwestern scctious of the country. Durlnz the vast season the different rafirond 1inca in Pennsylvania bave worked for State fn- terests, by making low rates from the mills in that Btate to Western points, Upon the whole the prospects arc ot of an encouraging tenor, although none of the mills in Chicago will sus- peud operations, 1RON FOUNDRIES, ‘The business In frou foundrles has been dull, and prices ranged low, the decrease In the value of producta belne futly 20 per cent from that of 1870, altnough the {ull trade showed o atilylng Increase. Prices remaln unchanged. tango and furnace worksdidoniy a fafr amount of busincss, and prices of most kinda of work turned out were lower than for several years per cent fn the ‘post. “The fotlowing §s o summary showing thenum- ber of establishinenta devoted to fron Work inits different departments, tho number of workers ’enuilg 731. and tle valuc of the annual production or k4 SUNMARY, ¥o|_cupital, " JIron manufuctures, B8 5,500,000 2,450 $11,700,000 237 A0 LGN U, (0. 1§ ooty 3l ew.00) 3l 7] o, w00 Al g & 18 )0t 4 1750 W, Vi o 2l e Btean-ntting works, | | 40,003, Sicam-heating wo'ks o Machine | tories. Tinware 5 25/ 1 kS bl Btes m i Ha 0} " 4 Thimble: ka1 Chalu nanatactories| 8l SXow: Wire manufactories, 23| 400, ten’ Bealo works, 3 2o Horseshioo nal 1 B400 Totalt.. 1 €114, 455,001 0,524 §24, 140,000 Tlic aggregate anmal wuges pald was 84,281 “‘Uhese figures show 4 decreaso of 15 per cent In annual product, and 10 per cent in eapital cmployed, with a slizht fncreass in the nusber of workers, Of theso 230 cstablishmeuts only 2 were In exlstence previous to 1860, MANUFACTURES O1' WOOD. TRADE IN THIS DEVARTMENT las ruled anoderately sctive throughout the year just closed, although at o lower range of prices,—the decrease Iu the annual production being 5 per cent, 'The quantity of raw lumber utllized by our maunfacturcrs during the past twelve manths was about 13 per cent greater than for the year preceding, (AR ‘The planing-mill bpsiness hos ruled active throughout the year, aud, although the price of lumber was lower, the profits were sbout the sumo as {n 1870, Tho furniture trade was good, aud manufacturers ars hopeful of_sa lmproved demand §n the near future, Pleture-frame, bracket, and molding and rope-molding manu- facturers reported an fucreased demond during the last mouths of the year, and upon the wholc falr profits have been: returned. Packing-bux manufacturers wers unanimous in reporting o Iarger businuss than for several yoars past, al- though the margin of profit was 1ot so large as in the two preceding yeurs, The mnnufacture of clgar-boxes fs )'cnrky increasing, bue vricea ruled lower than In 1878 The plano and organ trude hus exhibited a gratifyine increase; but our returned figuros show a decrease In the wrice of tabor. Tho following Is . SUMMANYT Tanufaciures of Work Wooa, ol custtat. | " ere| Product, 4183500, 000! 5,300 814,000, 000 ! 3,123] 0,000.0m 000 1,400,000 100 150,000 T anom 0 son.00 oy RLENAY) = 4n 24n| 210 8 Ty pel b W 200 80,000 k{“l:‘ 145,000 ual'wages pald was 84,732, “Thiese izares show an Increase of 4 per cent tn productlon, cr eent | the nulube:;l vfiu‘:r et fud 030 1 1IRON AND WOOD, 1IN THIS DEVARTMENT we are again able to note an active and profita- ble year, .Although the uggregate sules were not as large as in 1576, manulucturers, as & gen- eral thing, aro well satistied with the season's trade, and prices have not materfally changed since our last anoual review. The uumber of rcnulzl turned l:::u was smaller thau for the previous year; while plow-mn; u lucrease of 7 ncrpcunt. .l’:llnl:hfi:.g r:m“rm: wauufactured belng cotimated st 73, axaluce 60,000l 1670, 600 1 1673 sud 23,000 fn 18574 There was very little If auy improvem n the carrisge trade, and in the :f::.““ 6 We noto & decreuse of 10 per Car aud bridge manufacturers repost a good {eu. and as coipared with the yzl:g precediog hore biss beon su fucreass of 8 per cent. Host- m‘:‘;‘{l u?‘:u;gmm work:‘ v:‘n in llnm actiye 0 vauco galned twelve mouths azo was filly .nm.nle‘:lhi’hn followiug is : 3 ' Iros and weod com-, bined, o|_cuptat. |wrea|_provues. 1 LX) &lnfllblfl.m $ 3,600,000 T 13! %,000,000,1,200, 15,000,000 carand biid o Vo M ® d {420 70000 A = worl o) S W o § $13, 340 G0 70§20 830 (0 The aggregate annunl wages pald svas $2,599,- i T{'fn nbm;n figures !fihow an Inm;co.w of 3 per o g i pygdled rain product, 2,87ule "Ramber of workere, Of these 116 establishinents, only 26 were In ex- Istence previous to 1860 OTHER METALS TIIAN IRON, THR MARKET FOR NRTALS during the past year has been morderately act- ive, but prices iave ruled & per cent lower than in 1876, and fully 15 per cent less than In 1875, The demand from the country was for smaller amountrs, and credit sales were shurteved. Business In the brass foundrica the last two months of the year was dull, and several shops have suspended operations unuil Feb. 1,1873, Type and electrotype founders enjoyed a profit- nble year, and we note an Increase of 15 per cent In the annual sales, (ias-fxture manufac- tures have ruled dull throughout the year, and B compared with our Jast antual rarfnw there was u decreano of & pur cent In the aggregate Lusiiens transacted. l;' e following fs BuxuART: Other metals, | Nou_Capiial._ lm_r_., Tromt. G, 300 §1. 1 on 30 270,000 sundries.. Drave ilves amelting works| 8 11AWO (i I num' 20! 1,000,0m o1 Pt i | Yauit-ightmanton.,| n o 20n00! w0 iom Tel. Inatre. mantes. 2 oo 150l 200,00 Nxturemanfrs,... 1)) onem 1 elry manfre. » oo 1 rplatingworky.,| 8l ol 43 atch-case works....| 3| 46000, 44 Naggage-check worksl 6 4800wl owlng-machine wke,| 1| sakon! 18 Lockamiths 84 T B Gola-lesf manfrs......[ €aml 40| Eog.met. slgn manira) 3, 64,000] 23| 3:004,000 3,42 93,631,000 y nu! ages pald was $302,211, The above figures show o decrease of 234 per cent in production, and an increase of 2 per cent jo cfluml, with 30 in the number of workers. Of these 131 establishments, only 6 werg [n exlstencg previous to 1800, BRICK AND STONE. THE PAST YEAR WAS A DULL ONE throughout for builders and confractors, and soveral flirma have withdrawn from the trade, anid nvested their capitat In more Jucrative enterpiises, The weather for brick-making was generally favorable, The averaze price of brick in thls market during the past scason was €425 por thousand, which ia a decrease of 50 per cent from prices prevalling one year ago. It s estimated that about 150,000,000 brick was tanufactured In 1877, which is about tho same asin 1876, and agzainst 200,000,000 In 1875. As a general thing, parties who erccted bulldings during the past scason were possessed of capital, and a8 a result brick-manufacturers have not suffered to such o large extent a8 ln former scasons. The brick furnished by the City Bridewell are generally usad for clty purposcs, and the supply from that source does not affect the general market. THE THREE LINZ WORKS in operation in this vity report o fairly active trade during the past scason, but the annuul aalca show a decrease of 13 pereent, The aver- aro price palid workmen in this branch ol trule was 81 per day. The capacity of cuch of the ‘works i about 800 barrels per day. Tle ageregate annual product of STONE-COTIBHS compares favorably with that of 1870. Wages were fully 10 per cent lower, but more uniform. A uew vompany has been or@anized here for the purpose of fntroducing the Bedford Indmna stone, and wil be stronir competitors in the new City-Hall, Our contractors have placed very little work fn the hands of convict stone-cutters at Jollet, owing to the low prices of naterial, ond the decliue in waies, together with the aid of machinery, which has greatly facliitated operations, otjunrfles the past season iave Him- fted tnetr production to actunl wants, dud nence the stock on hand at thaclose ot tho vear ls sinaller than at any tine siuce 1869, The fol- lowing ts o AUNMARY? ~ Tirick and stane, | No.| Caviial. | Whr#) Product. Tirfck-yardn, ! 04118 0500 Stone-cutters 4,000,000 AAREbLS LT o ritficisd sl Toofing-4late mufrs... Tiootin mn Avphialep ' Qeira-cutta “The amererate annual wares puld ls §2,800.- €00, ngzainst £:3,643,970 In 1870, UJI 13,458 In 1875, $4,002,73 In 1574, and 83,715,008 i 187, Of these 1 catabllshinents, ence previous to 1860, BUILDING. NOTWITHTANDING TUR DEPREBSION In business durlng the past year, u large aumount of bulldivg hs Leen done,~stimulated by the cheapness of labor and material. A full record of the number of hulldings erected fe not yet attainable, but we lerewlth present a com- parlson made between the cleven wonths of 1577 and the snme time In 1870, In the frst cleven months of the year the uumber of buijld- fugs crected in all the divislons of tho city was 1,308 In 1877 and 1403 In 1876; the tront- age was 83,603 fect in 1877 and 40,780 fect in 1870; the cost of bullding sud of new luprove- ments for which permits wote fssued was $0,343,800 {n 1877 and $7,003,400 In 18W, The frontaze added to the ity lnst year was lareer, and form nn unbroken stralgfit line of about #lx and a balf miles, THE SEWERAGE EXTENSIONS of tho year wero smller thou in 1876, Tho sewers Duilt were as follows: WOUTI DIVISION, only 26 were in cxlst- Fourtli Ward, Fifth Ward Total.. Fifteenth Slxtocnth Wa Heventeanth Ward, 1,238 Grand total for city, 63,054 £t, or 11 4074-6280 milen, LAMP-1'OSTS, The total number of lsmp-posts erected in the city the past year was as fullows: North Division South Divistog Weat Divislon, Total, LEATHER, TAE TRADE IN LEATHER during the year 1877 was 10 per cent less than for the previous year, but the tanning capacity of Chicago has nearly doubled duriug the past scason, Woalludo to tho erection of new tan- nerles, of which three first-class oncs have been put up, while onwe other, which has lald fdle for somu years, s again in operation, having been wut fo perfect repalr. Ilere tanuerics are owned by finna who Yave had experioneo tn the busi- uess, and the locrease noted s yery gratifylog: showing, as it docs, that the business has been fulrly remunerative, and that Chicago Is pre- pared to tako her place in the front rank of leather,producing cltles, The leather mado fn Chilvago is upper and kip stock, aud thore has uever been but oue sole leather yard bere, A New Yors flem, located here four years sgo in the leather trude, has, however, just erected a large solo leather tannery, with & capacity fur 1,000 sides per week. Auuther has been changed from upper to solo leather, makiog two new urds for the production of what is known as cnv{:lmk. About one-balf the leather tanned here'ls sold to Boston munutaturers of boots and shocs. and the goods made from them ary sent bac! d sold. Radival changes are, however, o this respect, and wore 0} tiits leather 18 yearly used in the Weat. Prices of leather wers lower than In 1570, and the raw material was higher, until the last threo mwooths of the year, when values slightly decreascd, leaviug a margin to the tanuer. BOOTS AND SLOE3. ‘The wholesale boot wud shios business of Chi- caxo shows a large increase, aud it s estimated that st least 2 per cent wore koods were jobbed during 1877 thao for tho provious year. This city is now the largest boot and shoe jobbing nt (o tho United States,—belng abead of New ork City in this respect. ‘Tho manufacturing of s and sl also shows su lucresse, cspe- cially ladies’ fino work,~—u branc Litherto neg- lected ju this market,—aud preparations are be- fug mado for still Jurger operutions (n 1873, A cuntract bas been entered futo by a leadivy rm bury for the labor of 200 convietd in the Wilscou- #in Penftentlary, and_there will be made ther over $600,000 worth of bouts and shocs ""’f,‘ " fovers In heing darze The, manufacture of *5LC saddle an hariiess 1, 1an ; ifade fiow incroased fully B per cent, while trunk manufsctures hare had a corrcspoudivg im- provement. The following Is a UNMARY D 7L Product, 700,00 U0, L) manutact ‘Trunk mssufacto) Hlan k. book mant’ 2 . rath's-belt man 1 Whip manufactories.| 3 _ TOtL seessunns 11O 83,70, W 3,292 11, 2ghuazm'e ate annual wages pald s 81, I above figures sliow an increase of nearly 8 per cent fn product, 8 per cent In capital, and 245 In the number.of workers, Of these 110 establishments only fifteen were {n cxiatence previous to 1600, BREWING AND DISTILLING. TIE CIICAGO BREWING DUSINESY for the year 1877 has been active as compared with the previous year, and prices ruled firmer throughout. The number of barrels put upon the market, as reported to the Internal Revenue Department, was 347,240, against 811,451 for 187, and 206338 in 1875, As has been the case for tho paat two years, maltsters purchased sparingly, and in many instances were compelled to seck other markets for their stock. The price of labor was ahout tha same as reported fo our last sonual roview, and our malt-houses have all been in aperation during the year. DISTILLING, ‘The market for the ycar just closced has ruled fairly active, although a better feeling existed, and prices were a shade firmer. The Californta market has bourht largely here, owing to the high price of wheat In thst State, and as a con- sequence the market here. was materially strengthened, and operators experienced less difMculty in eMecting sates. 1n coinparison with the Bzures of 1870 the oeprezate manufacture of distilled spirits hasalightly increased,—8,900,~ 000 gallous having been manafactured in 1877, against 6,160,000 in 1870, snd 7,014,000 gallons in 1875, We note the suspension of five distilling firms {n Chicago {n 1877, The following (s a sruxany: a0 471507 ek, Dreing and dtstilling| 8a | Capltal. m.| Product, Brewer $3.081,0001 €10 8 4, Distille Tl 1ronuw| a0 Malt-hot B DI BAG LU} 67 Total,sse eone o102 £0,020,000'3, 007 4 ver cent In production, and a slight Increase in capl- tal and number of Workers. ‘These figures show a decrease of nearly CITEMICALS,. ETC. TIHE ANNUAL PRODUCTION 1n this department exhibits a slight {mprove- ment os compared with the figures of 1570, Especlally has this Leen the caso In tho chem- {eal, soap, and confectionery departments. The Chemleal Worka (exclusively), situated in the southwest portion of the city, Is the largest of Its kind fn the United States, baving a branch in 8t. Louls, and hos been In active operation throughout the year, manufacturiny sulphuric, nitric, and muriatic acids, ammonius, spirits of nitre, sulphuric ether, and sulphate of am- mounla, which ore sold to the whole- sale trade fn this city and the North- west. The staple articles manufactured are oil of vitriol, of which article there has been turned out about ten tons per day, a lke quan- tity of muriatic acld, and three tons of nitrie acld. This firm also have contracts for furnish. Ing the different mining companies in Lake Su- perlor with nitric ncid, to bo used In the mavu- facture of nitro-glycerine. Aside from this, large quantities of nitric and murlatle acld are used by the works for the manufacture of sul- phate of smmonis, glauber salts, acetle acld, ete. WINTE-LEAD WORKS have ruled only fairly active, being dependent to o large extent upon the bullding intercst for thelr support, and prices ruled 5 per cent Jower than in tho preceding vear, the auercgate an- nunl - production belng §1,204.000, pralnat £1,834,752 In 1870, and $2,450,000 in 1875, There hns b en a ood demand:for * shot,” but no change of importance cgn be noted in prices. VINEGAR " WOTKS, The movement {n this department was valy a moderately active one, aud a decrease of b ver cent {8 nuted in the ageregate antual !m)duv- tlon. Three firms have suspended within the past year. Bodaand mincral works have fu- creased U per cent. The following isa SUNMANY o Chemieal worls, m.|lm.| Capitat, ‘ er. | 48 3.0 o3 o) Samih worke ol b ool 47 Uontectionery worl g8 fedicine man 3 o) 42 Vinegzar wor! 3 i, 000 Fods sud min' Fo13 zaven| 20n) T2 Plekle manufactories| 13, 257,04 R0, BIR.00 \;l Mu‘mu‘l B ERrRry | b0, 00 1100 83, 30000 The aggregate annual wages psid was $057, “I'ie above figures show an Increase of 4 per cont in product, 1 per ceut In cupltal, and nearly 4 per cent In the number of workers. MISCELLANEOUS. TUE MINOR MANUFACTUHENS report a very unsatisfactory year's busloess, and in snany instaucesa lowcr range of prices was established. ‘The manufacture of flour was larger than In any preceding year, aud upto Nuv. 15 trade ruled’ active, ot which time a speculative de- mand for wheat sprung up, and prices for flour ruled higher. Tho thres mills which are ln operation here bave turned out 200,000 barrels, to which must bo sdded 170,000 barrcls manu- factured at Lockport mills,~which are owned by & Colcazo manufacturer,—making a grand tatal of 405,000 barrels turned out fn both places, Upon the whole, values as compared with 1870 aro & shade higher, and the value of the aggregate production Las Increused 13 per cent, Job printera report an fmproved trade durlug 1877, and the feeling of despondency noticeable one year ago is gradually disappearing. The increase {n the annual sales ls reported at 20 per cent. Clothing manufacturers da not repart an act- ivo year, although the aggrezate sales were moderately large at & decrease of 5 per cent on the flgures of one year a; Tobacco manufacturers have enjoyed anactive demany, aud we bote an Increase of 5 per cent in leaf tobacvo. Luper mauulacturers report a fair year's trade atun Increass of 3 per cent on the ageregate annual production. The following is o rxNaRYL Work Misceliansaus. | cuptiat, |'ers. Frinting (inciu 0 | cro)| 1358 L0000 1,377 § %3300 clufpeweiaperal 1938 1000 LIRS AENGD 4, cape, 17, Fr R v Kwaro 1 T T ol bat' o 174 20 Bodabedduywfsl o 3 e axeries (el ! . 2 s BT 34eklea Flour 1 Lorun B s oo shicuuor| 4, iomnl Cerl Cenize ustard il 4 Ey 21,000 roul b B 1w 3 W] znew ®0 1,300,000 2,140, 3,084,013 1! !0 200 l i ok o 7| senim 15 7l Lo 4 e Tk ded 3 18 e tl B wilow 3 a1l oo Pab wifs. il B e g-fi: wdnemic| 7 S o} Vritiog-lok wrs. ) ul Brual wl 1) o 1w “press 3 b arpot, W | ™ 1 20 3 7w 1 3| 800 i o R i 8 S 3 W w0 Sorka. ] 2 7,000 Musical E: 3 i ALY Jeweiry cas w 1 3 T Ualtel 1 10| 12,0 1 ¥ 100, wl 0 310,705,505 1. 864 Sam.om 51 Tfl' aggregate aunual wezes pald was §5,- The above figures show an Increase in produc- um; 'fl -bo;: 43¢ per (fifi' e pelrmu‘tl:& inthe A DIOY au per cenl 0 Bum- :;g Gt workune. 'O vheas 1,064 setablishmente, u{xmlov twenty-one wero in existence previous to SUMMARLY OF MANUFACTURES, These totals foot up, fn round pumbers, a3 follows: Number of establishments, Number of workera. ... Augregate wages Capita) emplaved Valuo of prodact.,.. Being a decrease of 810,452,000 in the cur- e of production, or 4.9 per centy 8 case {n capiial, and an increase of 1,664 In the number of workers. These figures do not include the manufac- ture of gas, the statlstics of which we were no- able toubtain, Neither do they include several minor occupations, which, though small - of themselves, conatitute a lasge ageregate, The total productiun Is probably not far from 8204, OX,000; the canital employed, $78,000,000; and the nuwber of work 63,200, THE EXPOSITION. TAE INDUSTAIAL DISPLAY of 1877 was decidedly the flucat of the series of five which have been held In thiscity. The Ex- position commenced Aug. 29 and closed Oct, 13. The number of exhibitors was 735 The total receipts footed nup $104,000, and tne dis- bursements amounted to $42,000, leaving s balance of $22,000 in the ‘Treasury. The average paying attendance was 7,500 per day, the running time being forty days. In eneral machinery, the process of manufacture, natural history, fine arts, and textile fabries, tho displays were suncrior to any hefore made. Arrangements have already been perfected for very attractlve and novel displays in natural hls- tory and the fine arts, and the number of wppll- catlons for space in the general Exhibitlon fs much greater than for the corresponding perfod in 1570, Thetlme for the Exhibition of 1878 has been fixed at Sept. 4, to_continue tl Oct, 19, tnclusive, The first dividend on the stock was declared on Nov, 10 lust, and puyable on aud after Dee. 1, 1877, TIE IIARBOR. THRRE 18 LITTLE THAT IS KEW 10 note In connection with the harbor. The improvements commenced in 1875 by the Gov- ernment were completed In the spring of 1877, and, except some repalrs to the North Pler fu the early part of the scason, little or no work was accomplished. In tho northensterly gales of Nov. b and 9, 1477, the sca washed over the North Pler st the mouth'of the harbor, and washed out the plabking, rtone, and the run- away which leads to the ‘outer lgnt-house. It 1s the opinton of marincrs that the pier referred to should be made stronger, and that the north- cast corner of the south pier and breakwater thould have more olling, as it {s asscrted, in case of 8 vessel falling to make the harber, the pillog would serve to throw the craft off ln the chiannel. The per northwest of the outer lght-house 18 also an objective point to those dolng busl- uess In this port, as 1t s at this portlon of the lnke several vessels were stranded In the fall gales, It s asstimed by maay, and with little fear of contradiction, that if piling were driven from this vont to the end of the outer light- house, the chances of disasters would be mate- rially lessened. Thé south Lreakwater, it is thought, should be carried to tho round-house ot Twelfth strect,—as it was originally fntend- cd,—as the curront {n the gap I the pler, durine u heavy northeast or soutlieust gale or pqually weather, renders the making of Chicaro tiarbor extremely ditlicult. The vessel interest at this point are azitating the question of briuginie the matter to the notive of the Superintendent of Harbor Improvements in Chicago. ‘The past season has not witncssed any TLG OR KILP BUILUIN at this port. The dry-decks have done considerablo in docking and revairing, aud in many instances vesacl-owers have fimproved ihe goiden vppor- tunity, as docking during the season just closed vas cheaper than for manya‘cnra Laclk, Mesars. Miller Bros., the largest dry-dock owners in Chicago, have done in the’ neighborhood of, £5,000° in vocking and repalring, and tonved 1.000 tons. _‘The other two docks have trans- neted aboyd $3,000 work ' sepaire, and 15000 in tounagé, It s rumored that Messrs. Woll & Davidson, of Milwaukee, will vommence dredging for o ship-yard In the North Dranch near the foot of Carpenter strect, stanearly o and that Capt. Ben Eyster coutemplates bull ing during the present winter a river barge, to be used in srunsporting and Helitering b wines from_the distificrics. During-tus pust season the Unlon Towing Association hus run twenty tugs, the Vessel-Owners' Towlug Com- pan .]”'l’u Tndependent Line eignt, while ive ran X COMMERCE OF THE PORT. TIE CUSTOM-IIOUSE. OFFICIAL BTATEMENT, ‘The followinz fs un ofliviul statement of the business transacted ot the Unitel States Cus- tom-Hlonse fu this city during the year 15772 DUTIBY COLLECTED, Statement showing the amount of duties col- Tected at the Customn-ffouse at Chicsiro on for- elgn tmuortations during the last three years: .In,):lml. Amannt, .lnllrw:h Wl Eentemter Glaer. £ uvember, Sznl ileccuver. GalBa7. 2 450,31 Total . §1, 444 70401 $14MTIANS SLOW 137,91 IMPURTED GOODS. Btatement showing tos value of and dutfes cullected on lmported goods 0 Chilcage during the year 1877 I cotl ties ected, . 43 po N 7,331 10 Mus! E'(n.m al rial manuiscturing Finesand liquore. .. Fiateand window-gisss, - welt At beer, Qilnery King- [lass plate: s:‘ll‘r.‘ and drug sun Smokery ari allsoeliasitg! ————— e e - Total... $3.200,071 ¥, 446,708.01 FORRIGN GOODA WARENOUSED. Statement showing the valua of und duty on forelgn goods warchoused cach mouth during tho year I8TT3 the value of and duty on goods withdrawn each month; and the value of and duty on oods remalning In warchouse Dec, 31, 1571 Months. Amouat 16 warehouso Deo. 32, 1970, Warebous and parter.. Vulue. Duty, 20170 §134,143 0 Taeal In471WS FIPG T TR ) DAY 2z 4T FIre ] E i 11118 $1,0L32) #433,074 01 AUBHOUE: 1% 14T, 200 § eIty L2 w2 $2,874.08 TS, Following 1s 8 lst of the articles jmported at Chicago during the year 1577: he = fnllln. g Hll(tmlll B ltfl“ o Euu&'i&u Grims 1366 i of articies of domestic produce exported fro Chicago to Canada by lake during lg‘h G 1,09) Sords, pk 231'Tors, 258 Ttn 121{Whisky, eases.,., 1) Window giass, b3 :Lm‘wn[wm paper, w1 bl 70, Wire rope, coli o7z} EXPORTS TO CANADA. Statement showlng the quantities and valaes Amnunt, 2.7 2,913, 341 T Faine. t}mm Elaur, bris. Corn-mesl, Tor, br JimomEora. e wcellsneats pEa Wwan &1 2.2 %01 { ° SUMMARY RTATEMENT of number and tonnaws of vessals which arrived in the District of Chicago during Lhe year 1877 : §'c’.’?¥>§"£“’=‘.‘."" & Total value...... RECEIFTS B Artictes. Lumb 08, 123,410 G, Trult; pk 1030 Herrten: caven 1,293 Coffec, baxt., 1373007, Flour,” Dl 1301, 114 dagar, jrot Mia, tron, Aiz, Iron, tons fron ore. 'tous ity bris, ant-Em'ty 1z e "L and e b 8,59l e SUIPMENTS BY LAKE COAMTWISR DURIND |977, Quantittes.” Arti 3 antitter. S e ) Corn, 772 s, b 1.0 Hreby 1358 Barley, 19 Flour. by o33 coi K fon us 00,508, wines orl 2,973 . “wines, Dria . 7 8,629,303 Ale and beer, b su7e e plipi: 149 (] 3, 8,120 Ttilg stong, ¢ 1014 ity ohk, 1,434 Mdse & sun.pks 690,853 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of marine collections at the Port of Chicago for the past two years: —_— T IS SR IS W TZ0'28 THRDI LS TGUFE T3, v, 5T, lopers Y 10, eesergnf uopaadru) BaTHT' T W IEET T by Y i ! it " lhabivei 1 922) 1 UPY pun o Y| 23 | “BalirouAL puD st B 0ISICS o 108 V110w | seererianp ofpuuol TN GL T B (D OIS o TN = 133/ t3un v puu ednl - 4 8 2a il vy -4 - 2 i I if{'fl pun flur“"yfll 1 53 in o 5 =el o af LUy pus A ZR | Soruniy Siusnosn) z 24 In bl ] (1 ;1 eniowad pup souLy| E . I 4 i ¥lgac3L3zuanza] VESSBLA OWNED NERX, Btatement showing the vlass, number, and tlo.xrlil_mga of vessels uwned in Chlugo. Dee. 31, Lrrgl 1oL [ ber, Tonmage. 2 1 4,013 24 Wil 4ot Lo t o452 Totaliierserass, 388 T34 VEASELS HUILT. List of vessels bullt during the year 1875 aud documented at this port: Niame. Tutal (efght vesmels). ... VES! ELS LOST, List of vessels belouging to this district re- ported Jost during the year 1877: 61 T a L GOE MT W mNy FRug SUGL k-1 A0V O P LK 1000 fi,mt =3 P ou's o0 00T b J LO Buox S 20 vaux d Poowds Soowt W 30 suox o3 36 cao QI “UAMOL 3§ DO SUON. UL L0 00 e Had O Sun; o ARSI 0 SR saw] “suq o 41 L *R0ITEYY .4 13 UE2IY)) 3 oy oo usdsY) puws] did3. ‘eaxnv, pag aun w0} s0M S, Wod ~uoamnp oxag)) et T e, ment sbowl d yumber, tounazo t:?vwe lfislup 1o Cilcsgo Harbar fur winter of 1677-78 Class. Humber, Tounage, Fovpelicrs o (TECMLTE SRV SHR'SL 6% =SusSe SUMMART BYATEMENT of number and tonnage of vessels cleared from the District of Chicago during the year 1877: CoEsETe SEERET a3 1 & (] b sgg i “2p041 DuyTIDL 943 43 e1nry “pss02 risems sasicey | FOREION VESSELS. The followlng {s the list of forcizn vesscls 'fl!'.“" arrived at the Port of Chicago during ] Clase, Name Tonnagr.|Mlare, N , al Prop Aéwila.. O B T irabm Prop Argyl 73 Brop Jenuie (irabain a(Echr Lady Macdonald 51 Beli Lady Ladler 202 et Lillfe Hamiiton Sehr Lis B 5 S amae Mary Merritt... 331 Kehr 41°Schr Mary Robertaon ul-Sctir Magelian 0} Senr Nagars, 543 sehi Oliver 3 313 schr Prince Edway 340 nehe R, Morwood 301 Schr 8. Neelon, B97.6¢hr B, il Mert ¥ fenr it Toula ARRIVALS AND CLEARANCES at the port of Chlmun‘{or 2 SCFICS.OL FOTRS — - ax Yen i, " Vemels. Tunnage. X I XX during the year: “Naine, | ToAnage.| To whal disirict, Fuwr Joun 8 wiMlwavkes. $05 Cavenous. 727 ort buro. Pro; :G “rlfl.‘ll(-l Nenr Rehr Dan Newl ey G, Eilen, senr 0 It Jo 12 ¢ Belr Lbue 234 Detruft. Fehr Two Fazale 03 Milwaukee. L P B ol T “Twelvo vewel 20w THE GRAND TOTAL. The following Is au approximation to the total value of our trude in 1877, 1t includes only the first scllivg prico in each department, second sales not belug counted, though madeby sy 112,800,000 1u the sbove there sro essarily mmany du- vlications. Thus, tho boots and shocs, clothing, stoves, ete., manufactured hero also onter into the wholesalo trads; the brick manufacture {8 counted & second time in the cost of bulldings; packing-boxes und coopernge muntiluctures are again fncludul in the statistics of hog-packing, ete. Toublein sometbing hike a currect state- wmient uf the value of our trude and fudustrics, we must subtract frow the above some 371,000~ Q0. ‘Theu wo have: Total ‘sutal in 1ea2). Aotal [n 1w, Jutalfn tod otal in 1630. “fheso tigures show a total shrinkage ot 4.7 percent, as compared witt 1576, This 3 on s curreucy basts. Lut the value of the vajer duiTar bas averaced not far from O per ceut Righer, us measurcd agalnst gold; sothat wo ave an actusl increase of above 1 per ceut it the value of our trade and commerce, calcu- lated on & speciu basts. Reckoniog In gold we have: f R #303,980:858 Or aa tacromse of. s 5,200,000 1t should be abs 0 have omitted & great mavy thinge which would largely swell the totals. Our ftem of “miscellancuus” o produceis the sum of sales fa bay, poultry, game, cgs, checse, apples, beans, and hops, the recelpta of which arc atsted elscwhere. Tho total does not include the sales of produce on tha street, from first hands, es dressed bous, osts, wilk, and vegetsbles, to say pothing of the fcu-supply, which fs a large bualncss of itself. It wo should add In theso things, with the sales of real estate, fnclude the retail trade, and swell the aggregate by taking lu the vast volume of speculative trading ou 'CRange, tho sales of wining stocks, and thu deallng fo pelivilezes, wa might make s much more impos- 1og arvey of fgures, but Bt to o guod & pur pose. Asstated i our last wuuual review, we migat ruughly place the total at $7,000,000,000, or nisarly $6.00 worth of tradivg for evesy man, woulan, sudedSiiE the surlice of Ly glote. | -