Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 1, 1880, Page 12

mz, TUE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: TIMLURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1880—-SIXTEEN PAGES. drought mors moncy than at any time in tho yenr. As soon as the early egm season was vor tho reccipta Increased, which Jowered drices ton range that was continued nearly wsummer. In the autumn the bulk of the recelpts arrived. They have beon enormous, ey Indicate a large supply. The fall market ina been very active, but nt a range of prices 1 : ¥) Minthas been anything but satisfactory to 1 sellera. ‘Che wann weathor, which extended into December, did great damnge to dressed | gtook, and kept slippers out of the market, + thus leaving it to tho caro of tho local ; trade, =Tho low ‘the ‘home consumption, but the sup | ply’ far, oxeeeded this demand, and the only way left for recelvers to dispose of tho surplus was to lump It off to canners at very low prices. During Thanksilying week the market was greatly overstoekerd, and had rely recovered from the effects of too Miceli turkey when the holiday season priecs —_ Increased opened. ‘The colder weather of tho past fow alays has given shippers an opportunity todo something, and the result is a slight {nprove- ment in the business at the close of the year, * Poultry sold in January tnst at O'g@ic per pound, advancing steadily to i3@titge in April.’ Live chickens sold nt $2.50@50 in the spring and summer, and fn the fall at '3.%h, Dressel stock hos sold tho past “fall nt 4@i0e, The deinand for poultry—chicfly chickens -p—for canning purposes has been larger this * Piast fall than in former seasons, Both local rand Ensiern establishments have hd buyers ‘ke the street, and the business appears to be incseasing. fs 3 GAME. ‘|. The receipts of game have been below the | }avorngo of former years, In the fall the } fweather was too warm to hunt, stecesatully, Sand the loss on consignments frequ ently off. ‘set the advance In prices, Lt Is also belfeved that there )ins been tess game to kill, the Inst [Brows having been 1 severe one for if, and a large quantity was shot.and marketed In the vagon of 187%, ‘The bulk of therecelpts now rome from the country beyond the Missourt Iver, here the supply is decreasing with he rapid Jncrease in population, AI kinds “lof gine have brought better prices in’ the ypnst three months than na year ago. ‘The ad- ~vanee was greatest just previous to the holi- rdays, when, in addition to the [neal demand, rehere was an active inaniry for shipment, ‘with light suppltes on the strect, . Prairie ehiekens sold from. $3.50 per doz Soarly to 26.25 In December, Mallard du soll during the migration period at &: 50 per doz, and a few dass ago at $4.00, with ‘very few in the market. Quail were wiusu- ially scarce and firm at $2,003.50 per doz. “Venison has come forward rather freely from the North, and sold at 7@1tc per Ib. —- VALUE OF RECEIPTS, é THE FIRST SELLING VALUE tof the receipts of produce In this ely during {1670 was.nenrly ns follows: ‘NBrenlstutts, $$ 78,020,000 . p-Live stock... T0000) Igobol, ote. ByA,000 ovisions, talow, and D. Fe aad cheese, hides, and wool... woda, potatoes, salt, and 1. corn... tay, poultry. apples, ¢ Wilscollancous........ + 6 $25,000,000 Total produce........ fe STB OKK0,000 0,000 in 1878, speoin basis. Bs In Ist eprelonses ce . the Increase from 1878 1s about 35,000,000 or ‘SG per cent. +. e . ‘The value of tho, receipts of lumber, coal, ‘and fish are not included In the above, bela ~ divorporatad in the following statistles 0 vholesale sales, * ‘The total weight of the fu eae it this city uti z the ir Sar aot Lons, against 6,210, fons In 18733 hb eat of 6.1 per cent on welght. This ‘Isat tho rate of 17,860 tons for euch of 310 working days in the year, or 1,472 ear-loads y Of 24,000 ths ench datly. ‘The oficial estimates compiled nt Washing. _ \ ‘ton Bive $1,004,480,640 as the value of Inst 4 ear ‘8 crops of wheat, corn, oats, rye, barley, uickwhent, cotton, tohaceo, hay, aid pota- ). toes, inst $1,488,570,806 for 1878, This is a » gain of 27.9b percent, It should be remem: ered that a largo part of the amount to be , i feeelved by the farmer for his crops belongs to the account of the coming year, ’ ‘THE WHOLESALE TRADE. A marked improvement In most depart- ments of our wholesale trade has been in * progress during the grenter part of Inst year, v Etbegan much sooner than seems to have + deen generally supposed, and continued, in sacarcely pausing auginentation, to the close. -It wns a gratifying contrast to the depresston which had ruled so generally since the panic, isanda most agrecable disappoininent to the ‘many who foreboded that’ the depression swould extend through the past year, The winter months were marked by a de- “se¢lded tameness in many lines of trade, People were walting to seo the effects of “re- »‘eumption,” and thea partial bul Induced a “valight reduction in prices from the improved .tonoof quotations {1 the Intter part of 1873, ‘An’ the spring months many lnes of goods “Ewere selling at the lowest prices that have .. Deen known, since 1860; and somo of our jrmeorchants wore dlsposed to luok on tho Sgloomy side fow- the ner future. The great minfority, howevar, felt the boom coming, and ‘quietly prepared far it. They saw that big ‘crops had Increasud the ability of the people ‘eto buy goods, belivved that tha greater abun- srdance of money must ere long stimulate “trade, and attached groat significance to the , rfact that there was very Iittlestrplus of man- vifuctured goods anywhere, and probably *+=wotild not be til prices Improved. Manu *(Sactured goods were belng sold below the sactunl cost of production, and this had grad- - “ually worked stocks down to a low point. ‘This train of thought had been running Rhrough the minds of thousands, In city and ;soountry; and a silght impulse only was needed to actualize the Idea. It eama in the vshape of low rall frelghts, The railroad ‘ comipanies were offering to carry merchandise Ffor “almost nothing,” and this started a vast ‘quantity of goods out to the-country, In- .pterlor buyers rushed thely orders Jn by mall or telegraph, or brought them In person, at a ;, Tate which soon caused a widespread deple- ' \tlonof stocks,..reduecing many Hnes to on . Smaller point than had been known for many + years. Jobbers drew on’ ningufacturors til }! {Ahey' wore bare In turn; and stilt the demand eontinued unabated, as retailers hod been running on low stocks, ond met with ‘a rush of patronage that they could produce re- r was about vs Beareely keep pace with. Tho tow frelght fi j.-rutes not only Invited an incrensod constup- +! (tion by people who had formerly been sup- \ piel from Chicago, but brought in arders 2 {from large sectluns which had heretofore 18, beon ehjefly supplied by other cities; and the {prapld dovelopmout of mining Industries in ‘ithe Far West swelled still further the yolume ‘Sot outgoing traflle, The effect was most }, ‘Motlcenble in the heavier Ines of merehan- dise, aa sugars, tobaccos, Iron, hardware, ‘walt, ete.s but iL oxtented along the whold ‘Tine, A'little stufening in prices naturally Zollowed, but there was no general change :in’quotations tlil the hot weather was nearly jover. Tha regular “Fall Trade” was anid to ave opened much earlicr than usual. It really opened In summer, and was In full tewing during August, about the tine that the upward movement in produce began, “Thon quotations started upward, jn symp ‘thy, and continued to advance, without any + @ocrease in the demand, till two or three Weeks ago. Indeed, it seemed os if the ribo Par 1) pices doubled the anxiety of tha gunoral \ ‘pt lis to buy before they’ should go. still ‘yuhigher, In tHe carly art Of Decoinber thore yas & perceptible lw In some Mnes, ag many zeta merchants had fully stocked up for the holiday trade; but business continued good, “nevertheless, right Into the lust week of the year, ‘The rise in prices ranged all tho way fron D5 to 7% per cent, ‘The great maajirity of , goods were marked np 25@s0 per cent, which ‘ Wag searcely qual to the edi vaiieu in prod. + dee.’ Ina few lines of manufactured gouds has been Httlo change in prices as yeh ut in all these vases It la understood that jew price-tlsta orev inorder for the opening f the new year, . : The wholesale trade has not only been act- ve, but. it bas pald better, on the whole; the increased demand enabling sellers in man ES fo slightly widen thelr margin of profit i ; ! : E 3 hohe ti-7 aoe 3 onthe is handled. ‘They haye also nade vdewer bad “debts: than usta}, | Collections “were Toported “very good” in ull * branches Interviewed on that ost poportant staple, People haye been dettor abla to pay; +s. but thery was also important - fuob } .'that nearly all those traders who Nive a were pecuntarily Jame had taken ad: vontage of the bankruptey act the previous ‘ ry Hud left the business on a moro solid nsis, even before the resinption of speele- payments inereased the volume of tho cireu- lating medium twelve months ago, It Is a fitting tribute to Chica, of the few cases of bad payin the eountry very few buy in this city. Our merchants aint give time, the old story about doing bust- ness ow a purely cash basis being largely mythieat; but little credit Is given over thirty Ue and none is glyen to parties of doubtful abi ity: to pay, "That class is left to patronize the merchants of the seaboard. Tho interlor merchant who [s known to be all right finds on aeconmmodaling spirit ere and the ability to supply atl bis wantans they arise, The system of dolng busitiess tn all our wholesale Houses, perhaps without an execntion, makes fete. to any that It nat only possible, but an {nyariable rule, to forward goods within a few hours and generally after they are erited for, by the next train. ‘Pho retailer ts, thus able to keep hia stock ns low as is consistent with iis Ideas of enterprise in display, confident that he will be able to replenish almost on the Instant. He, therefore, buys in smaller quantities (han would be necessary in deal- ing with the seaboard, aud is able to pay as hy goes, while avolding the loss attendant upon the keeping of ol stock on hand, 11s goods may be always fresh and ever attract- ive, whieh Is no sntall clement of success; and he has ong sinee found that they can be matntatined at that standard of excellence on tho most favorable terms in every respect by trading with Chicago. Indeed, the new pian bos in Stsel€ the element of even farther reaching economy, The elty jobber Is able fo haute his own stock In the same way, He ts constantly turning it over, always re piguishing, hag comparatively tittle fdle cap. tal on the shelf, and can handle his goods at less cost for rent, elerk-hire, ete, when do- ing lemendlly, than under the old-fashioned pluntof a rush twice in the year and compar. allve idleness the rest of the thine. The coun: try buyer shares tho full pecuniary benefit of this improvement. ‘The nrea of the territory applied, by our wholesale trade shows a continued increase during the past feat Our merchants have pushed out still further, keeping the supply traln well up with the advance guard of the army of civilization as it pushes on conqner- Ing and to conquer, In 2 peaceful contest with Nature. ‘The elties and villages of Colorado, Arizona, and tho Biack THNs region, the atores of the Salt Lake Valley aud of ‘Texns, are fairly stocked with Chieazo goods, while the wheat fields of the Far Northwest are enlttyated by men who eat, drink, and wear, and use pools bought here, Along the shores of the Gulf, and over nearly all the interven- ing country, with much’ of that whieh stretches eastward to the Atlegheutes, the thle fs the same, And the cost of distribut- ing the wooils is very much less than it used tobe, There ts little nved for the services of the drummer now; and, where he fs em- ployed, he chieily meets with eompetition from men who hail from near his own home, a jrepptatton of Chicago as the place In wileh — to do business is now so well established that our merchants: are able to give to thelr customers tho ad- vantage — gained by dispensiny with travelers: nud for this reason they ‘net- ually do supply goods more cheaply than the same qualities ean be Inid down by the merchants of other places who are geo- graphically much nearer to the .constmer, Se well ts this midorstood that the most euter- prising among Eastern manufacturers and founera now establish agenctes ar branches here, as the only way in which they can hope to recover a part of the patronage Which hag become centered pun this city. A few failures have oecurred anon our wholesale houses since a year ago, but all are traceable to ontside causes. One had become loaded down with real estate, another had tnwisely attempted to stem the tide of. ad- vanelug prices in produce, and two or three sinall firms yielded to whatthey feared wasan overwhelming competition from parties who controlled more capital than they. ‘There has been, less reason to complain of freight dis- erhninatians by the railroads than in many 4 past years, Indeed, as already noted, the condtet of the railroading business in the first halfof the year, we ited awhde ex- pansion of our trade, We note that there hus heen Mts change in the cost of conducting business during the pust few mouths, Salaries have been Increased in a fow cases, but rents Temain the sume, though undoubtedly look- ing up for thase who have to make fresh Jeages the coming spring, ‘Tho following figures aro intended to appt to the wholesale trade only, They Include retaillng only inn few minor cases where It was impossible to separate the two, Thoy cover ouly the first selling costof the goods sold here; second gales not belng counted, even when nade by jobbers, GROCERIES. THE WHOLESALE GROCERY TRADE, has been « satisfactory one on the whole, though Irregular, It was very quict during tho first half of the year, the volume of sales up to tho middle of July belng probably somewhat less than for tho corresponding time In 1873. Prices of staples and most faney gvods were lower, In some cases, than at nny previous date since 1600, ‘Tens and coffees were never before’ so cheap, and sugars were ut the lewest point known for years, This Involved some loss in carrying stocky, especinily as many dealers had oper- ated more’ frecly, in the anticipation of an advance; nnd tho result was a generally unprofitable business, Trade revived in August; and from the beginning of September til about a month ago It was very netive, Many inore goods woro sold than inauy previous three months in our history, and prices were marked up all round, advancing rapidly in some enges, A sllght renction set In threo or four weeks ago, Many of the country buyers had-stocked up su freely during the evrller excitement that thoy needed Lo buy Tlttle In December, and the stackened demand was marked by a de- cling In prices. Staples, faney groceries, do- mestle fruits, and lnported do, ‘nll declined, especially the latter, ‘Phe indications now fro that quietness will continue for two or three weeks more, and that thon more actly- ity will be exitbited, unless the weather should be so bad as to Interfere with Interior transportation, * ‘The sales of the autumn were about 25 per cent larger than twelve months previously, The total for the year shows an Inerease of fully 10 per cont,” [tts estimated at $65,000,- 000, ngalixt 358,000,000 in 1878, ‘The average advanee In prices on all descriptions of goods may be roughly stated at. 1234 per cent; but the average of prices for the year was senrec ly per cont above that of 1878, 25 qttotations wore very low curing the first seven or glght months. Tho capital employed In the busl- nasg {a stated to be nbont $7,000,000, nearly the Ran 18 an year Ago, ‘Thera ara now forty firs {n the business, Only one failure om curred during the year, and that not a large one, During 1879 more COFFEES wore distributed from this polnt than In an: previous year, aud although prices touched & lower point than aver before known, the year's business was profitable, as the lowest prices prevailed early In the senson, the trade during tho last half of the year being done at advancing prices, ‘ho Rid crop fur 1879 was short of an average, the deficiency being ex- timated at 1,000,000 bags, but the quality wis superior, ‘Phe ‘anticipated shortage. enlied outa speculative demand in September and October, and prives advanced tutly 2o per Ib, but the recelpts at Rlo Janelro proving heayler than expected, nnd the demand sinaller, prices reaeted Uge, During Decen- ber there was amore than ordinarl ly mao demand, but the visible supply for the United Btates ly unprecedentedly large (900,000 bags, or nbout flye months’ supply) and .thnt fue! iniiitates against an apprec! ation tit values, despl{e the fact that the present price Is from. Lelye below the cost of importation, ‘The your opened at Hs wat for Rlo styles, but Prices soon ndyaiiced to 8@tsKe, where they Fematned until the Intter part of Februnry, When they began to decting, In Bfay they stood nt Logcel7e, In une the market ad- vanced to (£017 ‘ey Toll back to Loxi@ltnce in. Angust, andin September advanced to 1g aye In November prices advanced to 1 eve, and elosed at H@iske, The produc tion of cotfeo in the world may be ah ng follows: Brazil, 460,000,000 pounds; Java, 130,000,000; Cuylon, 112,000,000: Central Amer= 00, West Indles, 60,000, 145,000,008 | Stunutrat, 2.000.000 "Arabia, 490,000,000 Fhilipping | Islands United States of ken tera panyieh dalanda, 3.000 hits cellaneous, 7 ora ol ~ or about a thousand ‘millon ands “Ortits the United States takes nearly one-third. In the West tho consumption of AUOAR has been largely in excess of any former ear, ‘The Inerease fa abtributable, In pa hy the natural growth in population, td no. previous period ‘slice 186L have prices touched so lows point as durl and auimmer of 1810, luring the spring .inerense' in our trate with Ohto, Pentsyl- 0; Venezue- 11,000,000; olombln, 10,000,000; Mex: but prine cipally.to the bravalenes at low ntloea ‘At "lie highest quota from March 1 to Sept. 18 for etandaud A wus { rent during the first nine months of the year were the result of a fall Cuba crop and an Anticlpated largo beet-roat crop. But during the fait the carter reports of n partial failure of tho beet-root crop were confirmed, On the disclosure of this fact. on Tar Apeculntive movement xeé in, and during November the price was run rp 2c, Subsequently thore was a renetion, but liter apartial recovery, the year closing nt 98@ Bee for Standard A. ‘The sales in this, mie ket during 1870 exceeded 500,000 bria. For THAS, also, the market on ed very low. It stenll- ly declined until July, when sates were mato atlower figures than ever before known. Low arades of Young Iyson sold down to 13 @iie, and to B8@otde for choles, Poor to com. mon Japan grides were pressed to sale @Me, ant Oolongs and other styles y “of” tn about the same ratio, At these low: figures there sprang up a Tare demand, and In August the priee beaan to ndyance, ‘The upward movement continued until valtes of low erates had nearly donbled, and the higher-priced —gools “had _ndvaneed from 25 to 40 per cent. Late in November the market reneted to the extent of 3@6, but closed firm. All through the autumn prices in Chiengo were 2@4e under the New Yorke market, and, as a result, there wasn laree 83(c, and the lowest 8c, The low prices rar | yania, Indiana, and Western New York, “Tt is a fact. worthy of note that during the past year Japyn teas ‘e shipped fron Chicago to New York City on orders, the claim that Chicago ts the cheapest ted market in the United States were any longer a matter of controversy, the question would be set at rest by the above eloquent fact. Our direet, Imports have Increased 5 per cent, amonnt- Ingin round numbers to 175,000 packages. CANNED GOODS & PICKLES. PRINTAPS NO ONE BRANCH of trade is making more rmpld progres than $s that of canned goods, It ¢x- tends from “Passamaquoddy Bay to the, Golden Gate, and from the Lake of the Woods to the Rio Grande? and embraces nearly every esculent in common use. Bose ton cans baked beans; New Orleans cans hirln ps; Virginia, oysters; Oregon, salmon; and all the rest of the country Is engaged In canning of these and numerous other artl- eles, Not only ts the home demand rapidly increasing, but it Is accompanied by a stend- ily growlng business abroad. Canned yeg- etables and fish are coming Into very gencral use in England, and such of our manufact- urers ns have established reputations dnd thelr transatlantic orders constantly in- creasing, as the quality of American canned goods is conceded to be superior to that of any other country, not excepting France. That the 7 : SALES OF CANNED GOODS io Chicago for the past year were but slight ly if any In excess of 1878 was not beewuse of a lack of demand, for that was Inrger than aver before, but tho business was re- stricted by the Jack of supplies, the crops of | tho smaller fruits and of vegetables having proved partial fallures. Up to the beginning of September the trade had beon character- ized by nothing more than tlie ordinary movement, and the extreme low prices of the closing months of 1878 had barely beon sus- tained; but early in September therd sat in an active demand, which did not lag until the close of November. At no previous perlod In the history of the trade was there such a serambling for goods, and never before was thore so sliurp im advance in prices. Ex- cepting pentches, which were — plenti- ful and “not — materially higher. than for 1878, there owas (an Inadequate supply, and prices advanced fron: 20@80 per cent. Strawberries, blackberries, — green. ages, and oysters show the greatest change, hey having moved up from to $1.70, froin 85c to 31.20, from $1,00 to $1.80, nnd from. $1.00 to $1.75 respeetively. ‘omatoe: vanced from $1.00 to $1.20, and corn fron to $1.05 per dozen, Asa result of the highes poss. current, there was a marked falling of In the demand during December, but holders are contident that the consumptive demand will take all the goods before tho new crop, and the market, therefore, las not weakened to any notable extent. A part of the advance In canned goods 1s due to the rise in the cost of tin cases, brought about by Itterease In valuoof the raw material and tho higher wares paid to cat-makers. ‘The growth of the trade in PLAIN AND FANCY PICKLES has also been Inmpered by a, lack of sup- pl . ‘Lhe extreme low prices prevalent Nroughout the season of 1878 tenderl to dis- courage producers, and during the last sea- son f° materially diminished werengy was planted. ‘The wenthor, too, proved uttfavor- able to a large yield, and the crop of cucum- bers turned out to by Httle more than half as Tnrge as for 1878, With the opsning of tho fall trade It became apparent that tho suppl; would nowhere near mect the demand, and, tharefore, prices wore sharply nadvanded. The yenr opened with, prices very low, viz! ‘at $5.00 ) por bri for medinm, $6.00" for small, and $6.00 for gerkins, ‘There was not mich change from these figures until Jato in the summer, when the market begnn to advance, Tho upward movement continued until $8.75, for medium, $10.25 for small, and $10.76 for gorkins was reached, at which quotations the tuarket closes firm, with yery light stocks on hand, For fancy mixed pickles and chow- chow Chicago Js the recognized centre in the United States, She now sends these goods tonll polnts South and Enst, while in the West she is practically without a competitor. The growth of this branch of the trade may be seen by the difference In the consumption of a single arilele yiz.: cauliflower. Five years ago from eight to ten casks of that veg- etable sifliced to meet the requirements of our manufacturors, while during the past senson one house alone used 800 casks, ‘Lhe sales for 1870 could linye been doubled lad it been possible to get tho goods. ‘The year closed on a tirm market and very light stocks, TOBACCO, THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT at Washington estimates the total arca under tobneco for 1870 at 493,167 neres, and the yleld per acre at 779 pounds, orn total ylold of 884,177,000 pounds, This fs an tne crensa over the product for 1878 of 36'¢ per cent, From tha tax on tobacco the Goyern- nient derives a revenue of about $40,000,000 annually, of which amount Chicago pays avout $1,500,000, The annual ‘consumption in the United States of cigars Is nearly 2,000,- 000,000, or an average of about forty-four clgnrs for every man, woman, and child, Tho consumption of tobacco other than cl- girs and elgarots Is about 25,500,000 pounds, Fully 50,000 persons’ ave employed in tho United States In the manufacture of tobacco, and turn out a product worth $73,000,000, ‘ha average consump- Won of tobacco In tho United States Is nbout43¢ pounds. It is interesting to note that tho average consumption of tobacco for each head of the population {n Germany In 1877 dtd not fall far short of six pounds, In England, tg annual avernge for each porson isnenrlyapoundanda half, In Franco, nearly everybody smokes, and in Holland amore nionvy ts sald te be spent on tobacco than on bread. Indeed, {t may be necepted asa fact that tobacco is more generally used than any other slngle article of commerce consumed by man, ‘There {a employed hero by tho Jobbing trade. In manufactured tobaccos and clyars a capl- tal of $1,500,000, anid THE ANNUAL BALES make a grand totul of $8,000,000, The year opened on a pretty badly demoralized narket, The continued agitation in Congress of the quistion ofa reduction of the tax eaused tho demand to be resteleted to the smallest possibly dimensions consistent with the pros ecutlon of current trade, while values wore greatly unsettled and the general aurket rendered jnost unhealthy, Stocks through out the country wore reduced to.1 minimum, and the Jobbing trade languished, So soon as defnit'xetlon was had on the tax question {ee DIN redueing the tax beenmne o law in Curch) there was a dvelded yovlyal of busi- ness, Urgent orders came pouring in trom all quarters, and thosmall stocks In the hands of manufacturers and jobbers were soun ene. threly oxhuusted, Although the utmost ox- erdions wore muy to keep up with the de- jnand, Jobbers and munufactirers fell farther and furthor behind, and by midsummer their books showed orders that had been entored two, three, and four weeks previous to their execution. ‘The decline in prices which fol- lowed tho reduction of the tax was in the IMeantling mostly requlned; some grades ad- vanelug to within 1@ae of tha prices current before the passage of the law yeduelng the tax. During July there was a Intl in trule and the market vused off a little, but later in 0 suazon the demand asain dlaylayed un- usual activity and showed {ncreaged strength, Next to tho agitation of. the tax question tho attempt of nantfacturers to establish a AYSTEM OF LIMITED VICES was tho most serlous obstaclo ft the Nat to an active business with which our jobbers lave had to contend. Atones comprehend. ing the injustice of the contract system na ate tempted to beenfurced {its penctical working was to effectuntly exclude Chicago merchants from conmipetition for trade outside of com- parively narrowdhialts), jobbers asked that ‘he contract pulght be so modified ng to include the privd joe of equalizing freights. This proposition belng rejected, they prontpt ly organized for resistance to the unjust de- mands of manufacturers; and {he entire aboll- tlon of thecontrnet-system now seemsina fair way of neconiplishment. One of the resuits nnd an inportant one to Chicage and the West-—will be, the establishment here of a lnrge factory for the production of plug to- Anevo. Abundant capltal for the enterprise is already pledged, and ently in 1880 Chicago muy bonst oneof the largest. plug-tobaceo works in the United States. . Within the past six months an enterprising firm of Tenf- fobneeo dealers has erected here an ex- tensive swent-house, ‘This 1a the only establishment. of the Khul west of New York, and, by a new process, dark colors enn be produced without detriment to tho quallty, nnd. without rendering tho leat tender. Our tabacco-trade Is steadily grow- ing In alt directions, The past year’s sales were fully 15 per cent larger than for any provlous year, and 1880 bids fair to show a slill more marked growth, DRIED FRUITS, THR FINST ALF OF THE YRAT was chiefly notable for the limited character of the demand and tho prevalence of ex- tremely low prices, At no thie dur. Ing that perlod did the market rise to anything more than 1” moderate degree Of activity, while the naverngs of quotations was the lowest for many years. During the spring and early summer trade was very dull, Even the most staple lines were linrd to move except in tinted qnantt- tles, and the pressure. to sell Was such that the margin ‘of profit was whittled down to nil, ‘There was, in fret, no profit in the busl- ness, anda majority of those engaged In it would gladly have retired could they have done so without too great na sacrifice, With tho beginning of July there appeared evi- dences of n revival of trade, but there was ttle actual improvement until Angust. From that time until the middlo of Novem- ber thore was unprecedented activity, and the course of prices was continuously up- ward, The fall season was tho most active and the most profitnble that our = jobbers | have ever experlenced, and the trade at the present time is In a sound condition, It was feared that after the “big rush”? was over there might bo 2 protty general, and in. some. Space a aeyerGs reaction in prices, but trade has continued falr right np to the close of the year, with prices well supported, Generally speaking, stocks are sminiler than they have been for many years, and the present outlook seems favorable to higher rather than lower quota- tlons, FOREIGN FRUITS thera were smaller crops than for 1978, that of currants heing estlinated mt 90,000: tons, aginst 100,000 tous for 1878, and of Vatenein ralsins at 20,000 tons, against froin 27,000 to 23,000 for the previous year, Prunes were not a full crop elther in Turkey or In France. Some estimates place the new crop at less than half of an average. Prices opened at 7@tKe for ‘Turkish, but the inarkot gradually decined until June, when itstool ot 5Y@5se. In July the upward movement began, and was continued wntil 8@Si¢e for old was reached, in October, The year closed at 95¢@l0c for new. Currants opened at Bg@tye, advanced to 4@437e In February, where they remalned withont change until July. ‘They then advanced to 47@5'e; fell off In August to. VaGiie ant liter advanced to BNG@aKie, and closed ‘ab 6@ Oe, Raisins have avernged higher than for 1678, though from tho Istof June till the 1st of Senteniber the price was very low, rang- Ing from $140@L65 for Inyers, Prices for the new crop opened In October at $2.00@ 2.05, and steadily advanced until — $3.60 wns renched. About the 1st of De- eember the market dropped off, but Inter reacted, and closed at $3.8 340, Catlfornia raisins are beginning to ent quite an iinportant figure, the quantity recelved here during the past season having been about ten. carloads. The receipts would have been larger but for the great In- crease in the mountain trade, which took most of her surplus. In quality they aro fully equal to tho imported article, and in rice also they can compete successfully, Tho product for 1873 was about 60,000 boxes. phe ‘uture of the trade looks very promis- NBs DOMESTIC FRUITS of all kinds ruled exceedingly low. during the first six months of the yenr, but the Ha crops of 1870 called out 0 spectiative d mand during the autumn under which prices stendily advanced. There was a large stock of old peaches left over from 1878 by which prices were kept down In. the neighborhood of de until July, ‘when—tt becoming Apparent that the new crop would be a fall- ure, thoy began to advance, and are now firm at 10:¢@10%4e for new halves, Apples were 4 short crop all over, and values have more than doubled ginee the beginning of July. Prices opened ut eo; advanced to 4eoiige in April, and closed at 84@8!4o for Eastern fruit, Stocks are light and well con- eentrated, and there Isa prospect of higher prices before the next crop. Blaokberries ave ne Up more than 100 per cent since July, tho price at that time being, j@stfe, and Ky Iegtie, ‘There Is very little stock in the country, and that fruit will probably be out of the market before the next crop comes in. Tho last six months of the year havo been the most proftublo that the — trada has ever oxperlenced.’ During that period thora was an average Increase in sales of at lenst 50 percent, hile some merchants claim tohave sold more than double the quantity sold forthe same months of 1878, Next to New York, Chiengo ts tho largest foulbadtstetbutinng market In the country, and of domestic fruits 1s tho largest. GREEN FRUITS, THE SHASON AT TIE OUTSET promised to be ono of the most ‘satisfactory sitico187L, Good prices wera obtained for small fruits, and the lower prices of some of the midsumuicr varieties wero offact by thelr abundance. ‘Ihe drawback came in the late fall, when the unusually mild weather mado fruit deeny rapidly, and the losses In many cases wera severe, The total sales are aup- posed to approximate $4,000,000, ‘The receipts were much largor than in 1878, DOMESTIO FRUITA, The crop of strawberries wes largo, and sold nt good prices, the Michigan frult aver- aging about Ze, nnd the Southern, which came early, about 100 per quart. The crops of the Inter small frults, raspherrics, blackborrics, and blueberries, were Nght on necount of the dry weather, and the recelpta consequently sold at fulr figures, Peaches were late In coming on the market, the Southorn Iifnols crop being very light, and the first fmportant recelpta were from the Atlantic coast, The Michigan peaches were a little behind time, but fino In quality and yory abundant, They were the product of the now orchards In the fruit section north of St Joseph, Prices wero low, good peaches selling at 50@00c per pack basket; but the yluld was go prolife that the growers made monoy. They were also favored with low freights, A trot crop of pears was raised, but plums failod almost everywhere; both fruits sold well} Grapes promised to be yery plenty, but carly frosts killed them in this State and aitehigan, and most of the tine frult offered eam from Ohio, ‘They sold nt 3@5o per Db, ‘The crop of apples was light, und the win- tor-frult’ was nearly ruined by the warm weather In October, which over-ripenaid It, Fail apples rotted so fast that dealers were afraid to buy them, except on wide margins, tuylaven then they lost money, because tha early trade was dull, and the imild weather extended into December, and spolted quanti. ties of frult on their hands, Sound fruit ad- vance, however, and promlaes to pay hollers gomotlilng, The bulk of the apples cama from Mlchl e Some good stosk urrlved from Canada, few York, and Ohio. ‘Tho Mitnols and Abtagourl crops wert ght, ‘The uvorayo rings of carols was $4 on bri. The: sof, mild fall weathor also injured cranberries, and made trade slow. ‘The Wls- consin crop was light, having been touched by tha early frosts, and considerable stock was recolyed from the Enst, clifetly Capo Cod, where the supply was good, ranberries jaye sold at $3, .00 per bri. A aneh larger quantity of Califa inuch largur quantity of orale nm frults wy roeely d than in the previousvear. The recelpta aro ‘estiinated at 4,000, 15, and tho antes at $295,000, er, owing to Incrensed enmpetition and to the bad weather for carrying, fruit. ‘Cho receipts of grapes wero tho nga ever known. bits Ing over 1,000,000 Ibs, ‘They suld at s@ietge, anda greatimany for less to wlie-makers, being too soft for tho regular fruit trade, Pears, wero Plenty, and sold at Se 5.00 por box. Peaches, plums, and quinces were also handled in small quantities, and Agnerally: came through in good conaltion, Phe California crop was a falr one, but somo of the frult was Injured hy tho couling-mot which first appeared thera in 18t,_ ane threatens to do intel damage, The local and Shipp li demand for these fruits fins beon excellent, and the sonson has been falr- ly proftable, though the loss in the fall by Tot was rather severe, THOMICAT, FRUITS, ‘The sales of West Inia fruits reached about $200,000, ‘This trade hag grown very rapidly In tho past two years. The butt o the fruit now comes direct from Now Or- Teans. The receipts of Jametea and other West Initia Island bananas wero larger than In any former yenr, and Inrge quantities were sent fo the interior towns, where this trutt Ws almost.n novelty, ‘Ten years ago twelve bunches of bananas made x big stock for this market, The ayortge prices were 81.50 @275 per bunch. Cocuannts were plenty and higher than usual under a large demanid from confectioners, Sales were made at $40.00@50,00 per 1,000. The receipts of piic- apples wors small, Nobody thought there was any money in them, ORANGES AND LESIONS. A large and paflofoolory: business was done in lemons and oranges. Both fruits sold aé a tower range of pricos, but the loss by de- ey was much smatier than usual, and the fruit sold about as fast ns itarrived. ‘The re- celpts of lemons were the largest in the his- tory of the trade, the Srop being a good one. Lemons were the subject of some speenla- tion carly, but tho frult came forward so freely that thore was little chanea to make money on arise, Sales were made at $3.50 Soo per ton and for ashort tine In July a $3.00. Oranges sold ab $2,509.00, manning up to $8.00 Inte in June. ‘Che new crop 0: Jemans and oranges Is probably a fair one. The Valencia orange crop ls expected to turn gut falrly, in spite of the recent severostorms 1 Spain, ‘The Louisiana oranges were plenty, but ar- rived In rathor poor order, eapeelally in tho first partot the season, Sales were made at $5.00@6.50 per bri, ‘The Florida crop of oranges Is estimated nt 250,000 boxes,—the Inrgest yleld of the State, ‘Tho first arrivals have brought $6.00 por box of 200 oranges. FISH. THERE ITA8 NEEN A GENERAT, and, insome Instances, a very pronounced, advance in prices, and the aggregate sales for 1879 show 20 per cent increase over the total for the previous year, the figures being $1,800,000 as against $1,500,000 for 1878. ‘That tho year’s business docs not ‘make a better showlng must bo nseribed to tho fact that during a considerable part of the year our dealers were unable to obtain supplies sufficient to mect the de- mand, whieh during the last half of tho year atleast was more active than for a number of sexsons previous, Tho first six months saw arather quict market, with sales at a very close margin; but ns a whole the year hag been tho most profltable that the trade has enjoyed since 1873. The number engnged in the wholesale trade has been increased by one, and tho capital now employed is given at $350,000, which is an Increase since 1878 of about $50,000, Prices have avernged imn- terlally higher than for tho previous season, the adyance in mackerel and cod being the most marked. Tho catch of LAKE FISit ‘was much less than for 1878, ‘This ts true of all descriptions, though tho falling off in the supply of herring was the greatest, the fall eatch being o total failure, Tho receipts hero during the fall scarcely exceeded 1,000 pack- Ages, while from 18,000 to 20,000 {s the usual supply. Of whitefish and trout a falrnum- ber were taken In the spring, and the summer entch was fully up to the provious summer; but the fall catch was o partial failure, and the stock now on hand {s less than one-half as large ns n your ago. Asin ndditton to tho usual demand there Is 9 Iberal call from the Lower Lake ports, the chances are that prices of fresh-watog fish will atill furthdr advance, One enuse-of the decreased supply of cured fish is the fact that cach year a larger percentage of the cateh is marketed In A fresh state, ‘There is, however, an undoubted decline in the Inko fisheries, ‘and It isso sorious that those Interested in tho trade have asked National logistation, that the indiscriminate entehing of fish at all seasons may be prevented. It iy also con- templated to {nerenso the size of the inesh so that the smaller fish can escape, At tho be- ginning of the yenr No, 1 whitellsh were quoted at $3.50, ‘The market slowly ad- vanced until tho middie of March, when prices stood nt $4.10@4.50, From those fie- ures there was no change until the luttor part of May, when they stood at $4.10@4.95. ‘Tho reacted to $44 .10 In Juno, then advance to $4,50@04,00 ind Uys declined to $4.00@4.15. in September, and Inter advanced to $5,00@ 5,25, at which figures the year closed. THE BALT-AVATER FISHERIES algo were attended with vory poor success, Of mackerel the domestic cateh was equal in finotunt to thatof tho provions year, but the number taken In foreign waters was only about one-third as large as for 1878, The catch of Inrge mackerel was lighter than for any year in the past, but the sinall fish wero fatter than usual, so that the auallty, after all, was such ng to give little cause for com- plaing, Prices opened very low and ruled ow all summer, but under a large consumpt- Ive demand the market rapidly advanced during the autumn and nt endl of the year stood nt $10,75@@20,00 for blouters, and” ot $15.25@15.50 for oxtra _shoro. Stocks aro now well concentrated, and an nd- vanco over present prices {9 among the prob- abilities, ‘Che decline in the mackerel cateh Ig not satisfactorily accounted for, though ditferent theories are ndvanced. Ther: appear tobo leaving the old grounds, ‘This year they have appeared on the coast of Labrador, whore thoy are notusually found. ‘The catch of George's codfish was very light, and stocks are alrendy nearly exhousted, ‘The “ Bank”? fisherles were fulrly successtul, but the pres- ent stock—so active has been the demand— hus got down to about 94,000 quintals, as Against 60,000 a year ago. Prices ruled ro- murkably steatly during the greater part of the year, showing a fluctuation of barely 5c er 100 Ibs for tho first nine months; ut from the Ist of October to the close of December there owns an advance of $1.50 per 100 lhs. Of Labrador herring only nbont one-third as many were caught os for 1878, and since tho middle of October thore has been an advance of $3.00 er bri, the progent price being $7,007.25, tha supply 0 salinon also has been leht, T ‘ornia enteh wase fair average, but at the East le was an almost total fallure, Tho supply is. now said to be all out of first hands, and higher prices are predicted, ‘TILK PRESI-VISH HUAINESS has ruled active during the past year, and better prices wore realized, Tha supply througlont was small, and in many instances donlers wero unable to fill thelr orders. As ‘et Llinoly has failed to enact n law relative io “ meshes," although numerous petitions were sent to the Legislature nt. ite tage session, Many of the more prominent deal- ers In this city are of the opinion that unless alaw {ts passed during the coming session tegulating the catching of fish prices for whitefish and trout will rulo much higher, We understand that it ls tho intention of the denlors here to, vigorously push the “Mesh” aueation af the present session of our Legialature, The number of firms en> gaged inthis branch in Chicugo Is sixteen, wltony enpital ef syittt a : sales nggtegnt|n; Estimating 1 Se por Pou, ait gross welght ‘ofvtish shipped and recelyed during the year 1870 ‘was | 26,800,000 Io auninst. 2,000,000 Ibs fn 1878, 14, are i 1877, 133,310,000 In 1870, and 11,800,600 1875, fi OYSTERS, The trado In oysters during the wus fully one-third larger than for the corre- sponding period in 1878, but the market was Jess firm und prices ruled 10 per eent lower, notwithstanding the fact that the supply was vss. ‘The weather during the fall up ta Christmas was. Anfavorsblcy although a growl i in Now fore known, trade was enjoyed, Shell oysters York are scarcer than ever while Balthnore oysters ara now belng ship, ta Now Mexico, Manitoba, ant Britlsh Columbia, | and the nilning districts, where ey ours sold by the pound, considerad 9 staple article of food. Indecd, this system of purchasing oysters by the pound prevails to ‘a large extent In tlils clty,—prices ranging 10@i%s per pound. ‘There ary twenty- threo firms engaged in this trade In Ghitoa go, whose aggregate capital 1,175,000, The value of the au a sales was + Bgalnae $4,600,000 for 1867S $9,000,000 for dsrr Prices ranged low- past year through + 1s $203, and with annual: $080,000, ‘of accessories: 1s simply. bewllderiug, $3,800,000 for 1876, and $8,000,000 for “1875. Number of men employed, 500, DRY GOODS. TNE BALES OF THE PAST YEAR shown material increase, belng about 18 por cont Inrger than those of 1878, whieh showed an Incrense of 73% por eqnt in gold over 1877, The volumeot sates ts estimated at $53,000,000, against $40,000,000 for 1878. ‘The capital em- ployed In the business Is estimated at about $0,000,000; a slight Increase in the amount In- vested by leading houses belng not far fram equal to thatlost in the Stettater fathuro, No new firms have entered the ranks, Tho current of business was gonorntly steady, as compared with the changes ht prices In other departments, and the trade was rathor less profitable than in 1878, profits cbetng pared closely. ‘Che nbove-noted In- crease was chiofly die to the expansion of trade In tho antunin season, which opened enriler than usual, and was much the most active known in the history of tho trade, especinily in September, ‘Tho ayerage advance in the prices of wool- en and nen goods was about 15 per cent, but thoy ave stil cheaper than at the beginning of the War, and thore Is apparently room for © further linprovement,—certainly so tf tho cotton crop of inst year were 5$¢ per cent short, a3 estimated by the United States. Commisstoner of Agriculture, Tho market at firesant, is only moderately woll supplicd with goods, the ‘superfltious’ stocks living been well worked down, and it would seem that there Is not cnough of the raw matorial available now to permit so. much of an ine erease in production as to again glut the niarket with manufactured goods, It is be~ Weved that the adynnee already effected will not check exports, as English prices are also higher, and the export trade is firmly estab- Hshed by the faet ‘that we make a better grade of goods than our competitors in the European markets. . ‘THE AUSINESS OF TIN CITY is steadily widening; sttll growing in all di- reetions. Ench year brings, in additional custom from the old sections, and witnesses the ndvent of fresh: buyers from places far- thor removed than the outskirts of the busl- ness area the previous year. The South is Increasing her purchases with good crops and returning confidlence, Our aren of trate extends eastward into Ohlo and even as far as Pennsylvania, while the westward trade is augmenting rapidly with the development of mining and agricultural interests west of the Missouri. It appears probable that Chi- eugo will uitiantsly-contral the. entire dry- goods trade of the Mississippi Valley, as the pivotal point af tho whole Northwest, Sho as Dullt wp her trade ott of the lye, active menof the country, Jonving: the slow-going and poor-pnying class to her competitors, The competition between this city and the East is not quite so sharp as it Was two or threo years azo, but ls stitl close enough to cause-the business to ba conducted on sinall margins of profit, We note n growing demand for the better class of goods, but as these ave now supplled by domestic manufacturers, thera is no in- crease Inthe sales of foreign goods. The Intter have been on the decrease for two or threo yents past, though some revival is por- ecptible since the autumn set in, But the day of preference for foreign goods, simply beenuse thoy aro forelgn, is rapidly passing away; anditis probable that within a few years our foreign lnportations of dry goods Will bo almost contined to the fow articles, assilks, which are not manufactured in tho United States, - WOOLEN Goons, ' This branch has ruled quite active, the vol- ume of sales showing a Inertned of about 20 urcent. It is estimuted nt $6,000,000, ngiuinst 5,000,000 In 1878, ‘The ea) Ital hns increased 10 per cent. There has been a rise in rices of about 25 per cent, but it was chiefly In tho latter part of tho year, and thore was a declins of 1244¢@15 per cent In 1878, so that the average niintatloris of the two years were not far from belng equal, The rise In prices ‘was partly due to the higher cost of wool the pastenres months. ‘There hns bean only o eal addition to the number of houses in the UISINCSS. Tho volume of trado was fair till autumn, anc then much the. most. active demand seb In that has eyor been met with. Stocks wore light to begin with, and goods coudd ndt be obtained rapidly cnongh to mect the wants of customers. Mnnufact- urers had been . losing — money for two or ‘three years previously, and in 1878 many.of the woolen mills shut down entire- ly, or were running on short time. ‘This de- crensed production, and the sinaller supply was reduced to a very sinnll point Inst spring by the long, cold winter that preceded It. Tho importatlons of foreign goods were light In 1870, ‘These were nearly confined to farmer's gating and fine broadcloths,—not many of tho Intter, as they are not now In fashion. Imports nre expected to inercase, however, with higher prices on this side ob the Atlantic, We note that the quality of domestic woolen goods is iinproving every ‘They are now vory little infertor, it at all, to the best foreign makes; and some ines are fully equal to. the hest productions of tho Jooms in the Old World. Very few failures occurred in the West the past yoar; and the trade generally is in a very prosyer- ous condition. CARPETINGS show © matorial increase In busincas. Tho volumo of gales is estimated at $3,300,000, on aeapltal of $750,000. ‘Che trade was steady the first half of the year, It would have been more active tho past four months if jobbers had been able to obtaln sup- lies na fast as wanted, Carpets are Rixurtes in the use of which people economized pending hard — times, and were unusually bare when the wave of prosperlty chine along. Tlenco the carpat- trado wag one of the first to feel the change. Business began to tmprovo early In summer, and the demand has since been so active thal it hns left “no stock of nny sccount” In the hands of elthor manufacturers, jobbers, or retailers. We might have drawn supplies froin Europe to till the blank, but tho enor mous, duty, averaging 0@cO per cont, kept for- etgn goods out, especially ag those of domes-. tle manufacture are of good quality, haylny been vastly improved slice the panic of 1873, Of course prices have advanced with ts, Our minuufacturers state that It cost 1c per yurd more in November than in June Inst to innke woolen carpets, and expect x further risa owing to tho adimitted scarcity of wool, They aro now tnking orders “nt value” only, They have the market In thelr own hands, and will probably advance rices ns far as they can without letting In Foret n goods,—possibly bevout that litt. Additions are belng made thig winter to our loom capacity which will Inerease the pro- duction by about 0,000 rolls per month, pro- vided that manufacturers are not hampered by a searelty of yarn, of which thoy com- plained n few weeks ago. Carpotings have advanced 10@15 per cent, oll-cloths 15@20 por cunt, and Chinese mat; tlngs fully 50 percent. ‘Lhe importations of the latter were very Inrge in, 1878, and prices went duwn to tha lowest point ever known, ‘The importations of Inst year were some 30 ercont less, which fact helps the advance hat was athuulated by general causes, MILLINERY, THE WHOLESALY MILLINERY TRADE has been actlve and moderately profitable all through the year, the record of transactions showing an Increase of about 10 per cent in the amount of sales, which fs.estimated at $5,500,000, naguinat $5,000,000 in 1878, and $4,000,000 in currency for 1877, The capltal employed Is about $1,000,000, being not far from 18 per cont of the sales. There has been no material change in this respect, though ono or two-smatl houses have suc- cumbed to the inoyitable since our Inst. Prices averaged a Mttle higher than fn 1878, chlofly on silk and woolen goods, and the whole adyangd on them was not sie tained to the close of tho year, Manufact- ured aortleles exhibited little change tn prices; the cost of manufacture waa ‘not ma- terlally higher than the previous year, the pricv of Inbor being the same as then. -The millfwory buatuess did not feck the boom so much ngs many other lines of trate, Therg was a good, healthy demand throughout, and ® waterial incroaso In Soptember;, bug the sales of October were uetually smaller than a year previous, owlng to tho hof, ‘unsettled weather, It {s noteworthy that business was’ -helped by a much greator diversity. of styles than over before, It fs not long since one or, two leading patterns of hata sufficed for the staple attractions of a season's business, Now they “are counted up. “by dozens’; while the display of new features In the way dlsplay ts however duatisea "by ts foots in casa. “The popalar AS undergone A marked “oultyadon within the past two or thres years, ‘The loud atyles are not fn go much donand ns formerly by those able to. pay for them; and on the othar hand, it 1s {m- yossible to scl tho cheap ribbons and trash: Hinnings of n fow years aro. ‘Tho demand In both tirectlons Is fora“ better? class of Roods; and these, by-the-bye, aro now largely. Suppltedt by home manufacture, The magnitude of the millinery business of this city van be best understood from tho statement that there are three firms here whin Handle jnore goods than any other thtte houses In the world, and more than any other six honses (Gin the trade) fn the United States, OF course they transact the great bulk of the bustness here, and, indeed, the smaller firms And tt hard work to compete with them and make oo living profit, The leading hottaes manufactire most of thelrawn roots, though thoy have sll resident buyers it Europe on the lookout for the latest novelties; and they offer an ‘unsurpassable display of gaods an terms which make outside competition dif cult, F€ not impossible CLOTHING. THIS DEPARTMENT exhibits a marked change in character sinca lnst year, ‘Tho first six months showed little {provement over tho business of 1873, In the volume of business done, or In the profits of the business, Indeed, up to August the Bencral run of prices was the lowest known for many years. ‘There wis at no tine more than a bare margin of profit, and for several weeks the bulk of the sales were actually inado a little below the cost of production, In order to work off rathor Jarge stocks to make rooin for tho fall trade. ‘That season opencil, however, about thirty days earlior than usual, and was quite active by the middle of August, Trade has been very nelive since then, the demand having ine crensed so much thatit was dificult to mect it, though manufacturers made larga additions to thelr working force. ‘The business of the Inst half of the year was disappointing only {n onerespect, Dealers looked for mora In- quiry for the better class of goods with n re- turn of prosperous times; but no material change has occurred in this respect, low and medium prico goods having been mostly pur- chased, ns for two or threa yeurs previous, THE Cost OF rropuCTION has materially increased since thoactive pliase setin. The wages of labor hayo advanced onan average about 25 per cent during the past five months, and the cost of material has advanced from 20@50 per cent, Tho advance in the price of manufactured goods ts about 20 per cont since tho opening of tho autumn trade, and they still tend upward with no cessation in the demand, stocks belng now smalter than for several years past. The fact that dealers are prosporing under the now condition of things is evident whon © itis understood that the capital employed has been increased by abotit $1,000,000 since our last annual reviow, and that mostly from the profits of the business, There has beon no increnge In the. number of ‘prominent firms, and no fatlures In the trade. ‘Tho eapl- _ tal now ongaged Ig estlinatcd at $6,000,000, and the volume of sales nf $14,000,000, being an increase of one-fifth In volume and one- buted in selling proceeds from the business of I, THE WNOLESALE CLOTUTNG is almost ontirely a matter of lomo prodne- tion, Dorlinbs more so than any other, not. even excepting boots and shoes. OChicaga-. mao goods find favor wherever known in the world outside of this city, nnd the great malority of our ome population wear nu other. Nearly all our wholesale houses make their own goods, -and, without oxcoption, they: take a pride in the. character.of.the artl- cles which permits no. slop work-- to be ‘served out their. customors. Thoy are able to ‘manufacture very chenply because the Iatest-limproved machin- ery is tised In. every department 3 but that does not prevent tho employment of an army of workers in the factory and at homo. Indeed, it rather tends to incrense the number of operatives, as. the market enlarges. with every reditetion of cost as compared with unity, ‘The reaty-made-clothing trade of tis city Is helleved'to bo targer than that of nny other city on the continent, not even ex- eepting New York; and it Is confessedly + without an equal in tha variety of styles + which its manufacturors: and dealers place upon the market, ‘ 3 ——. HATS, CAPS, AND FURS. ; IN THIS DEPARTMENT. the merchants report 9 very prosperous season,—one of the best they have aver ex- perlenced. ‘Trade has been continuously good throughout the year, with prices running vory steady titl the early fall, when they ad- vanced suddenly 10@15 per cent. Contry merchants have renowed stocks overy month, and payments have been very promptly made, many denlers remitting the cash carly in order to get the discount on long-time sales, The increase in business over 1878 Is placed. at 25@90 percent. ‘Cho gniftin territory has, been chiefly in the Soutilivest. Texis has been very thoroughly and ‘successfully can- yassed, and the Territories and States near tho Rockies have ordered goods moro largely than in former seasons, A new'anil promis- Ing trade has been opened with New Mexico, which calls for a special line of goods adapt- ed to Mexican fashions and customs, Many of the gooils sent to these far-off settlements areof the finest quality, for- the well-to-do minors and ranchmen will have nothing clse. ‘The sales to the Northwest proper have far exceeded those of several yenrs past, AVERY LAUGH BUSINESS ; was done In hats, especially in the fall, when thoy advanced, Straw goods sold well in summer, and the revival of the trade In buck goods was complete. Gloves haye advanced 20@25 per cent, partly In sympathy with raw material, and tho demand tho past fall has been so grent that it lins buen an effort to get tho goods fast enough to inect the orders. Furs started well tn tho autumn, and the fpbhers distributed a very Inrge stock, but he Inst two months of mild wenthor haye ine jurod the business of the retailers, and cut off the late trade of the wholesale houses, * though thelr season was about over before the inlddls of November, Seal and prime mink hayo advanced materially, while there, has nat een & marked change in common, tur goals, BS ‘Tho number of firms engaged in this line of ponils was Increased to eleven. Tho in- vestad capital is placed at $1,750,000, and the sales nt $5,000,000, Including those of the. manufacturers of fur goods, qe BOOTS AND SIOES, ANTICLES OF FOOT GHAR - : have been In steadily Incrensing demand, and’ in the latter part of the year the productive’ enpacity was fully taxed to meet the en- hanced requirement of purchasers, . ‘The; volume of sales is catinted mt $17,000,000, against a little less than $15,000,000 in 1878, ‘The working capital [a now about $§,500,000, an Increase of 10 per cent; it Includes the. - money. Invested in the process of manufactur ng 4 ‘Tho current of business was good the firat’ halt of the year, exhibiting a alight improve- ment upon the activity of 1878, which at that timo was unparalleled. ‘There wns a regular! “boom” in the demand during Auguat ond’ September, which kept many. hands em- ployed far Into the night fn dlilng: ore, ders, The demand fell.oif somewhat dure; ing October and November, being checked'by tho pleasant weather of those “months, It Was again good In December, The business of the past five mouths has been so large tn: the gggregnto that some stocks are now? worked down to a low point, the manufact urers not being able to obtaln stock as’ Tapldly us wanted, For some thue past there havo bean “no stocks” of Jeather either. East or West, and locs! tanners found It tm salble to keep pace with the orders pouty ng i upon them, This has checked ‘the, mitnufacture of boots und shoes, and possibly neted ay a preventive to 9 material advange: in tho wages of labor, Tho cost of proiduo- tion hns increasod 2 per cent, but this Is ingle gwing to the risa in leather and other aterial, y owe - “Enel auécoeding yer shows a larger per’ eontage of Boodsoe. pica re, NOME MANUFACTURE fae in tho total volume of gales, Nearly all the men's 1s sold are now made here, and the manufacture. of Indies’ wear 1s: pow con- iSight Rog Ra wal OUI ey ago, fh has been claimed that our goods s.