Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 1, 1880, Page 13

. tal add! —_—_—_—_—_——SXSXSXSXSX—XS—— are actually better than those Wnade Bast, There is no room doubs that equal qualities are aclunily made cheap- er here than thero; and for the reason that the great bulk of theraw materialis produced in the West. Tho Eastern manufacturer has to pay frelght on his lenthor, whether it goes 1o the seaboard on the hoof or in the pelt; and return freight is necessarily pald on so mich of it ns Ja shipped Weat In the shane of mantfaatured product. ‘This important item of expense, to say nothing of other costs In- eurred in banding, is saved here, while the vast quantity of raw material here enables the local manufacturer to select Just what suits his purpose, and hoe ean thu’ pay pnr- ticular attention to the quality of his wares, bout 90 per cent of the Chicago made goods aro now manufactured from Chicago leather, and their popularity is stendlly growing, Ens' as well ns West. Our trado ts rench- ing out in every direction. More goods have. been sold to Ohlo, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania than ever be- fore; more have gono to the South and to fexicos and the development of mining in- astries in Colorado and Arizona” lias largely auginented the demafid fron the far 8 nunnER Goons ‘aro now a very Important item in tho trade. ‘They have advanced about 45@50 per cent, and & stil! further riso Is expected, ns the raw matorial hos advanced 90@100 per cent, and the country Is bare of goods. The higher prices hinve checked the inquiry some- what; but In prosperous times ike these tho 9 demand depends rather’ onthe weather than upon cost, and Jt $s considered probable that stocks will be unustially low before tha spring, The sharp advance js only anatural reaction from pre- vious dullness, In_ 1878 prices were so very Jow that there was little inducement to gather gum. ‘The resulting sinallness in supply at- reacted tho attention of speculators, who now control stocks and dictate prices, Tho market reacted in December, tho supply proving to 0 more liberal than was. expected. DRUGS AND CHEMICALS. THE TOTAL, SALES ‘were about $5,000,000, on a capital of $850,000, ‘Tho gain in the wholesale trade is estimated to bo about 10 percent. The senson was n° Profitable one, though there was a general fall in prices carly in the year, and they did not rally till about tho middle of October, When a rather sharp reaction occurred in inany articles that had been remarkably low. At tho close of the year the price-list exhibits few changes when compared with the one followed in December, 1873, ‘Tho fluctun- tions have been duc quite as much to spect- ation as to anything else, and {t cannot bo aatd that drugs and chémicals, with n few ex- ceptions, have taken a very active part in the “business boom.” ‘The most notable event of the year, per- haps, waa the repeal by Congress of tho duty on quinine, which took effect on July 1. THE GREAT AGUE KILLER sold previous to this date nt $3.65@3.75 per oz, and advanced after tt both In this coun- try and Europe, targe orders having been sentabroad. As soon as the freo quinine be- ‘came plenty in this country prices weak- ened, and closed fully $t.00 lower than In December, 1878, at $2,602.05 per oz. Tho stock in this country has accumulated faster than many expected, partly in. conse- quence of the demand falling short of ealeu- tations. It was given ont early that quinine ould not bo made In this country without nele Sam’s protection, but since the repeal of the Import tax a prominent Eastern house 1s understood to bo getting ready to manu- facture it. A. remarkable change is noted tn shellacs, which advanced over 100 per cent during the year in‘consequence of large sale and a Short stock in Calcutta, which caused a heavy ‘adyance there. CONFECTIONARY. THE VOLUME OF BUSINESS shows an Increase of about 15 por cent over that of 1878, which is chiefly an actual in- crease in the quantity of goods handled. Prices remain nearly the game asa year ago, the advance being only In keeping with that in the raw material The aggregate sales mre estimated nt $9,500,000. The great bulk of all the goods sold hore aro mado In this city, Ohiengo representing, in this interest the .largest manufactories dn the United States. ‘Their business extends all the way to the Pacific States and the Gulf of Mexico. Working on very closa margins of profit, our dealers haye really captured from those of the seaboard tho trade of the Great “West. In this effort the reputable ‘merchant has also had to compete with some small manufacturers, who, by a rather frea ‘use of starch, terra-alba, ote., have been able to soll ** goods” nt less than the nominal cost of the raw material. We are warranted in gaying that tho confoctions of our leading ‘rms are strictly pure. = OROOKERY, & GLASSWARE, wag 2 THE TRAE, IN, CROCKERY, s Blassware,. lamps, pla, shows a decided ro- section from tho unsatisfactory conditions ‘which obtained from 1873 into 1878, Improv- ‘Ing some during the Intter year, The volume of sales Increased 15@20 per cent, being estl- mated at $3,000,000 for 1879, against $3,500,000 the previous year. Tho capital employed in tho business is estimated at $550,000,—bolng nn increase of 10 per cent. No new firms havo entered tho wholesale department of the trado during the past twelve months, and ‘uo failures have been noted, - Business was quiot, sometimes dull, during tho first half of tho year, and prices were very low; belng nearly the lowest ever known." About the beginning of August Jarge demand set in, which was sustained to ‘the close of the year, and prices advanced some, though they have not been marked up in proportion to Increased cost, Domestic manufacturors have advanced their prices 30@25 per cent, and new price-lists are now the order of tho day, tapecially in glassware, We note that: the demand fs now runnin, moro.to fine goods than for many yenrs past, nnd to faney articles for decorative purposes. Porcelain ware is now much'sought after, Many new and attractive designs Nave been recently brought out by English and French manufacturers, In marked contrast to the Chineso patterns, which aro substantially the same as 180 years ago, E é MUSIC, THE TRADE IN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS has been a. very {regular one in polut of activity, the different bouses not having ghared allkein the general prosperity, With Bone the business dragged during the greater part of the year, and showed a decided Im- provement only in the autumn. With others there was a marked increase from spring on- ward, and an ‘almost surprising augment. ‘The oxtromes noted wero 13 per cent in ono vase and about, 37 per cent in the other, giving an average of not far from 20 per cent, ora volumo of sales mensured by $2,050,000, Against 2,200,000 In 17H, nnd $2,250,000 In 1877, There have been two falluresin thetrade, owlng to the prnaarS of Habilitles previously ineurred, and little change has bee mado tin be, weeny working capital engnged in the e855, Prices have averaged nenrly the gama as in 1878, They wero still further shaded aut ‘winter, making tham the Jowest ovor known. A modcrate advance two or three months ago about ‘compensated this, leaving prices of standard goods some 6 per cen} lifgher than year since, with the prospect of a substun-: ition ere long. Stocks are worked down to u rathex low polut, as leading doul- ers could not obtuin choice goods rapidly: A enough to meet the outuinn deman somerot them found this to be the mea summer, decided tmprovement in the character of the demand ‘4 noted, Buyers now chiefly want the = BETTER CLARS OF Goons, and the poor trash mects with little favor, he pre ference of plano purchasers is now chiefly for the upright, the square riot being ‘wanted for the parlor. The uprights are now Delt jo with throe strings (to each note), and ‘anes strong enough to wurrant dura- bility. “There are four or tive manufacturers of pfanos tn the clty,—In a small way. ‘The ‘use of the cottage-praan isspreading rapidly, About 4,000 of these instruments are made annually in Chicago, Band Instruments aro ea aah ee a ae Hy Y nuch favor, found ful Saual to the Imported goods, E JEWELRY, . . - A MATERIAL ADVANCB . in the volume of goods sold 1s reported fo: 1870," and: the aggregate of valties was fully ‘W per cent greater than the previous year; 000, 1877, Ph iooma 40" popu man; being about 85,600,000, ngninst £4,8%0,000 In 1878 and 1877, Tho capital has been Incrensed about one-third, being now nearly $2,000,000. This ig eliiefly because there are more houses In the trade. Six firms hava opened out dur- ing the yenr, and two have failed; leaving an inerense of two In materials and two in jow- elry proper. : Tho course. of trado has been frreautar. Some have done less than in 1878, but the majority more. Trado was rather tama dur- ing the first five months, but became actlya in June and July; and was much more ani- minted in the autumn than ever before in the Uistory of the trade. ‘Tho increase in the te- mand entailed o corresponding drain, upon Manufacturers. Tho extent of itmay be in- ferred from the statement that one watel: company was about, 140,000 movements be- hind thelr orders at the. beginning of Inst month. Few persons have even a remote idea of the MAGNITUDE OF TIT DUSINESS In this city. ‘The whole jobbing trade of the West seems to be gathering here, and Eastern manufnetttrers areestablishing agencieshere, ng the only yay to obtain a share init, Our fobbing trade in Jewelry fs now conceded to pe larger than that of New York City, and in thme-pleces the business {a almost equally large, both for domestie and forelgn makes,— the latter ylelding more and more every year tothe former. It!s a fnet that watech-move- ments have been made here which could be, and were, offered in Europe at lower prices than equal qualities made In Switzerland, , LEATHER. DUT LYTLE INCREASE IN RALES over 1878 igSelalmed by jobbers, but, aga. whole, the past season has been by far the most prosperous of any thoy have experl- enced since 1873, The year opened on lower prices than had been known since before the War of the Rebellion, and the first three inonths of the year saw a smaller volume of business than for any corresponding pertod alnee Chicagonssumed importancensn leather market. During April business began to “pick up” a little, and from that time down to the close of October there was continuous improvement in the demand and a stendy hardening of prices, No quotnble advance was established, however, until May; then the market inoved upie. From the begin- ming of June till tho close of November the advances were frequent, and at the close of the year values show nn agereente advance from the lowest point of fully Se per foot in harness and upper, and of 9@10c per tb in sole leather,—an appreciation of more than. 30 percent. Calf and kip skins are 15@18e higher than in May last. while sheepskins have advanced $2,00@2.50 per dozen, An advance in findings of 5@10 per cent has also heen established, “As stocks of leather and skins are exceedingly Neht throughout the country, the — outluok appears favornble to the permanence of pres- ent prices, The DEPLETED CONDITION OF RTOCKS fs duo, first, to tho fact that at the beginning of 1870 searcely more than one vat in ten throughout the United States was running, because tanners could not get for their Jeathor the cost of production; secondly, the exports during the-first six months of tha year were unprecedentedly large; and, Instly, renuse tha demand from manufacturers has heen remarkably heavy. The extension of the foreign trade has proved an fmportant factor in bringing about the marked improve- ment In values o£ Jeather, During the first three months of the year tho shipments abroad were larger by about a quarter of a. million pounds than for any previous three months, aggregating 898,722 sides, or een 8, aeninst $5,103 sides, or 5,041, Ibs, for 1878, and — — 3,678,04 Ibs for the same perlod in 1877 Since 1873 the exportation of leather has increased nearly 100 per cent. The decline jn the fobbing trade is accounted for by the fact of he auperlor workmanship and’ the relative cheapness of the oods now turned ont by manufacturers, The year'asales, exclusively by jobbers, reached $1,500,000. LUMBER. THR RECEIPTS AND BIIPMENTS of Iumber and shingles in this city for tho two past years were: NECEIPTR, Tumtior, £0 “Maat ar raaneata Shingles... tees GiB LEZO00 Doe GH 00 SHIPMENTR, Tammber, ft. TONS ROT 820,735,118 hinges, sees, THB TH0G0 153,241,000 Tho shipments sro underestimated, owing to the fact thatall lumber shipped ts reckoned ns green In making up the reports, whilo there are several thousand feet moro dry that green inacar-load. Tho shipments of Ium- por Jas year probably oxcecded 9,000,000,000 ect ‘The lakerecelpts wore 1,851,492,000 fect Ium- ber, nnd 588,863,000 shingles. Tha Lumber- man’s Exchange gives tho! following state- ment of the receipts from tho different ports: Lumber, Lumber, Shingles, J. RGB." Bi. pilates and shore... Ban 20,308 3,805 > 5 Grand Hayen, oo 4308 RANT Murkegon.., He 12085 White Lake, AT Bi Shp Ludington. 233,750 Lincoln an 8.br3 Muniateo, . 2705 Frankfort. Leland, ote ‘'Kraverso Buy, ot Cheboyann.... Alponn, i 800, 4,270 m0 ahd 8,016 1180 4,800 Qreon Bay rt 850 477 Sturgeon, Red ily 10,704 10,000 SWSRT Kowaunco and shoro,,.. 1252 10 WaT Lake Suporior.,.....66++ 10,716 D055 2,880 CUMIN veeseeee 87 ToL vee Tho course of tho luinber market has been’ 8 great surpriso to the trade, The season has eon one of the best the Iumbermen have had for yeurs. All have made money, though the opening of the season was very had, and hgh freights have absorbed a portion of tho fail profits. Lumber’ struck the lowest prico nown since 1681, and tha highest since 1873, OVERPRONUCTION was feared carly, The winter had beenan excellentone for logging, and the spring stoclt of plne logs promised to he the largest ever collected in boom, ‘The local trade in tho first threo months of the year was also rather disappointing, the low price of farm products Hoviting consumption, and the stock wasmuch henyiur than deaters hetetofare carried at that time, Added to this, thers were about 200,000,000 ft of dry lumber at Inke ports to he forwarded on tho opening of navigation, this stock being part of thesurplus of the exten- sive logging in tho previous summer, Stocks at other poluts were also jiheral, These facts scemed to Indlente excessive supplie many calculating that fully 1,000,000,000_f| Inore stulé (han usual had been provided for tho markets of the West. Lumber was con- sequently very weak fn the spring, and prieea foll suddenty on the openlag of tho lake ports, the decline averaging about 25 per cent woroJuly, Durlig dint month the market turned. Agninat. the largest stock of {oes ever dellvered by tho rivers fn the Lake Mich- ignn and Saginaw districts came. the nows that the supply of the Miasisstppl suction had heen vastly overestimated, and that not more than two-thirds the cut of logs could be se- cured, tho streanis having dried up, owing to io absence of.rain, ‘Chis nows, together with the fact of meagra recelpts here, con pistely changed the aspect of affairs, If the Tue state of things on the -Mississippt River hadbeen known earlier, doubtless several uillilons of dollurg woud havo been saved ta the Jnmbermen. The hnportance of havin; rellable Information at the earliest momen was Inimodiately recognized by the trade, an association was nt Cres orpauled, ans of the first objects of which shall bu to ob- taln accurate statistics for the trade in. fut= ure. Tho probap| production was about 4,200,000,000 fect of lumber, distributed as fol-. lows: ‘Tributary to Chiongo, 1,470,000,000; to Mlsulsslppi Iver. points, 1,000,000,000; to Bagtnaw, 000,000; "to other Lake Huron re a 000,000; to rallrand potnta fi Mich- an, $00,000,000; fo all other polnts, 600,000, . PRICKS WERE 50 LOW in April, May, and June that conel ore lost 2101 on alm cargo, BY 8001 ‘duced slipuents aud went very largely re into piling: and dy, stuf at tho mills, ‘The quantity of lumber handled at the curgo- market was 324,108 in ‘ft, Seninet $291,159 m ft in 1878 and 204.438 m ft In 1877, Of lath, 17,608 mi dn 1870, ogafust 89,418 an In 1878 and’ 80,003 m ia . Shingles, . 21,973" : $14,878 im In the year proylous, and 233,080 m In é plat of selling’al home has be- lar“ with manufacturers that y think the offerings of green lumber afloat hero will never again reach the magn tude that they have In years past. The focal recelpts were the largest in the trade's history, belhg 25 percent er han in 1878, and ate helleved to have been four times the Guantity ever received at any other pert for sala inn single season, ‘The demand has exceeded that of any une other yerr, not excepling 1872, ‘The fall trade could not have been better, and prices linve nd- vanced since July 4000 per cent, with a fair prospect of a slight rige before another regu. ay xcason. opens. The shortage West ant favorable freights to Missourl River points brought an enormous trade here from all the States in that quarter, and the sales to Til- nols, Indiana, and other adjacent States were very Inrgely Inereased over those of any one of the preceding years since 1873, The con- sumers in Ilinols and surrounding States had really refused to buy freely in 1878, preferring to get o first, but the abundant crops Jnst season filled | thoir kets with inoney, and, finding their estates sadly In need “of repairs snd improvements, thoy rushed to tho markets with tho trie Western vin, and took a big proporuon of the receipts, Prices advanced sharply under such a brisk demand, and there wasno wavering in the course of the market afterwards, except a de- cline In common grates afloat just nt the close of the navigation season. The advance was very rapld, especially In the higher ual ities, which were relatively scarce, with an unexpected Increase in demand. Fencing fully recovered fram the negiect of n fow seasons past, due to the preference of the farmers for the wire fence, and fs now quoted higher than for severa) years buck In the month of January, Lath advanced 80 per cent from the lowest yard price of the year, 8 -] and closes nearly 60 per cent higher than fn December, 1878, YAND Prices, . The following table gives n comparison of yard prices: Apritta Deen July, 1870. 1870, Dimonsion stuff, dry..€ 800 8 bs Poncing Wien fe wsogieen Fenelng, dry. Olin No.2 boards... 7.00 1, 2x12 10-ft. timber. 0.00 eet A inch. 20.00 jooring 1. 21.00 R stock bon 35,00 Third glenrs. 26.00 Firat clears, 3.00 nth, dry. 10 ‘A shingles, 2.00 Standard shingles.,.. 4 . Green plece stuff aflont opened at $7.00 In April, soon declined to $6,121, and ranged from $0,1937@6.0214 til ‘August, rose tn that month to $8.50, weakened in September to $8.00, rallled Inte in October to $0.50, ad- yaneed in November to $10.00, and closed at $9.00, According to the daily quotations the average price of plece stuff afloat was $7.46, ugainst $7.03 In 1878,—n decline of nearly 7 per cent, Common inch opened at $3.50@ 8.75, declined “In June, to $7.25@7,60, and d ES LOOOG TE SO Meditun inch sold at 2,00, and good nt $11.00016.00, Al- though the daily range of prices indicates a Jower average than In 1878, shippers really reallzed more money for their produet that in the former year, fapentally those who for- warded the bulk of It in the latter part of the season, ‘The shingle men appear satisfied with the season, though they had reason to complain early, The stock here was large on the open Sng of navigntion, and tac receipts of the first, four months sold at unprofitably low prices, but the market advanced In Angust, and closed nt 50@55 per cent above the enrly de- cline, Shingles sold in the earller months nt $1.10@1,90 perm, and since August at $1.90 @A0, closing at'$2.20@2.45, THE STOCK OF LUMBER in the 91 local yards Dee, 1, the date of the Inst report, was 431,120,208 ft) agalnst 410,773, 860 ft on Jan, 1a year ago. ‘Thatof shingles wns 164,028,000, azainst 200,750,500 last Janu- ory. Of inth, 45,035,485, and on the first of Inst year 41,272,000. ‘Tha stock jins probably been reduced silghtly since the 1st. of Deceni- her. That of Iumber and Inth fs the heaviest ever carried in winter, but trade now is un- usually good, and the outlook for spring is so bright that the big supplies enuse no tneast- NERS. ‘The average frelxht rate to Muskegon was about S141, against $1.11 in 1878. Saflors’ wages averaged £2.03 per day, and in the pre- vious year §1,71. bag coAL. ‘ THY REASON OF 1870 saw the lowest prices for conl that ever were known, anthracite selling $1,00 per ton below the cheapest rates for 187& To the.producer it was a year of yery small returns, or no returns at all, mining during much of the senson having been carried on at an actual loss, but to the retailers it proved to bo the most profitable year that thay have experienced since 1872, During the summer months the profits com- paratively were small, hard con) selling at $4,25@4.50, Erio nt $4.75@5.00, and Mlinols at £3.00 per fon, delivered. These were tho re- tall prices to smatl consumers, In large blocks anthracite sold us low ns $4.00, Erle nt $1.50, and Iinois at $2.75, Since the middle of August, however, thera was an nd- vance of 50¢@3$1.00 per ton (further along there was an additional advance of S1. 160), ‘Tho clase of duly saw tho Eastern market in a badly denioralized state, Tho “oulput” had been from 50@00 per cent greater ‘than In 1878, and prices at. the mines had long heen at no point far below tha cost of production. With immense stocks on hand and only a restricted demand from the trade or from manufneturerd, the situation wasa gloomy one. With tha gen- eral revival in nianufactering Industries— espeefally that of frou—which set in early in august, tha coal market began ta look up, and the Inst. four months of the year sawn Jnrge increase in the deinand and a steady advance In prices, If tho coal companies do: ‘ink force tho price of their product ton polnt that will give on instant cheek to the tenden- cles now so full of promise, the Improved stato of things now In pi ar BS MAY COs Minne, Any further material advance In the prico of coal will certainty lead to strikes for Hgsher wages among the coal-niners and tho fron-workers, and should those strikes be sucessful similar movements will follaw in all branches of manufactures, which would prove aserious check ta the reelving business of the country, Sales In this market have largely exceeded those for any former yent, the Incrense being the most warked fn anthracite coal, which is avery year coming info more general usacon nace count of its relative cheapness as compared With goft coal, and Dbecanse it Is cleaner to handle, Tho bulk of the hard coal handled hore still. comes by Inke; not that that is the cheaper route,—for cont can now be lald down he: by Tall nt a- Jess coxt than by water,—lut almply beenuse the Fallrouls cai not furnish auficient frelghtroam. Chicago has sokl more cosl to the country than in any previous year, considerable quintiles go- ing to Michigan, dom iy Wisconsin, and even ag far Westas Kansasand Nebraska, From the beginning of the year down to May - PRICES Sed STRADY % At $0,006.50 for anthracite and at £5.50 for Brio oth en thurs was 0 dro} former and to $4.7 In the latter, ‘Those were the market quotations until August, when there was an ailyance of $1.00 per ton, Luter there’ were further ndyvaneces, and tho year closed with anthracite selling at 86,60@7.00, Erle nt $7.00, and Wibnington ny $4.00, For the first tino In the history of the trade all sizes of hard cosl have sold af a uniform price. Nut, which was former}y quoted from S5@7ho per fon cheaper than the Inrger alzca, 1s now in so active demand—owlng to the very general nse of sell-feciling stovea—that ¥ dealers ara barely able to get adequate pplics, and that particular size is now quoted 0c per ton above the other sizes, FREIGNTS FUOM BUFFALO . were much higher thun fur the previous soa 0 owe: a: ithe son, the Jowest rate beln and sth Ighest $1.25, ‘The first chattera wore at 40c, but on’ May.7 the rato declined to Soc, From that date until July t there was a gradual advance, ‘the rate then beln: 50c, It declined ta 400 on Aug, 6, ad- vanced 50c on Aug. 3, unt to %5e to : during September, On Oct. 15 the rate had teached $4.00, and on Nov, 18 $1.25, . The aver age for the geason was about Uc, -, ‘The lowest rate for the sonaon of 1878 was 25¢ aud the highest50c, with 850 about nn average, ‘THE TOTAL, PRODUCTION 3 of ‘conl in the United States for 1878 has been eatimated at 40,180,687 tona, of which wujonnt ‘Pennsylvania produced 81,105,203 tons, or a :Hitle more than 63 per cent of the entire amount, © The production of antliracits coal | ‘waa 17,605,203 tung, ‘The total for 1870 Js es-' timated at fully 95,000,000 tons, ee ‘The receipts and shipments at Chicago for the three years named woro as follows? | t Recolpts. B41 vats unto Bhipmonis. "Head me ekTT 271,116 QIL8, PAINTS, AND GLASS. . IN THI BRANCH OF TRADE | the past year has-been’ a falrly prosperous | one, the volume of: business showing! an in- to $4.50 In the: . drop trade, and there Is 8 there has been an appreciation of at lenst 30 percent, Tha first six months of the year ‘were marked by no more than “the ordinary demand, while prices ruled tower than atany previous pertod within the past twenty years{ ‘but with the beginning of August was seen o gradual revival of trade and a general up- ward movement of prices. From the Ist of September untll the clore of the ycar the de= mand for goods was sharp, and the advance in prices was rapid and continuous, During that perfod the volume of sales was at least 40 percent greator than for the correspond- Ing months of 1878, and the appreciation f yalnes sines July has been froin 40 to 60 cent, Whetherorndét prices have been carried foanunwarrantably high level the near futire will determine. Indeed soine lines already: show signs of a reaction, nnd it would nut be surprising to see a pre! i, mera, if nota very considerable, reduction. The business Js Jit the rame hands a8 a yenr ago, there hav Ing been no failures vor any new firing; but the enpital has been Inerensed to the extent. of 10 per cont,—ehlefly by the addition of uc- ering profits. ‘The total vaine of the goods gold 18 given at $5,000,000, and the capital at $800,000. The yenr has becn the most pros- perous of auy since the panic. TNE HECEIPTS OF PETROLEUS O1t, were 140,000 bris, agninst 115,000 bris for 1878, nnd_ 100,000 bris’ for 1877. ‘The sales of the leading house here reached # tatal of 80,000 bris, Opening prices were 12t¢e for 110 test, Ide for [linols legal test, ise for snow white, 19¢e for Elaine, and 19!¢e for 174 test. Quotations remained unchanged until the middie of March, when there was a decline of Ze. From that time the market steadily | declined until July, when 110 test sold at 3ze, an 150 test nt Ise. These were the lowest prices of the year, ‘There was but little further change until tho latter part o} September, from which date the market steadily crept upward until the ist of De- cember, when 110 test was quoted at 133¢¢ and 150 test atime. The sharp advance since September was mainly attributable ta specu. Intive activity, as neither the export demand nor the home consumption has inereased materially, while the production was larger than for any previous year since petroleum became an artlele of commerce, During the suminer and fall tha production Averett from 60,000 to 65,000 bris per day, This quantity was at least 0 per cent In excess of the consumptive demand, and prices for a Jong period had been below the actunt cost of production. In September speculators step- ped in, aud durlng the past tliree months the market has been entirely under their control. ‘The year closed with 110 test selling at 13¢¢ ancl 150 teat nt 173Zc. THY PRICK OF TURPENTINE ruled very low during most of the year, and nt one time touched 28c.—the lowest price known for many years. ‘Tho opening quota- tion was 38¢e, In February It advanced to de, and in April—nnder an active export de- inand—to 8c. In May it fell_off to Ste, and Inter in the season to 2c. During October and November speculators at the producing points bought wp all the avallable stpply, and stralghtway “cornered” the market. Under their manipulations the price was run up to 58e.° But they were not able to hold it there, ‘Tho lilgh price of the article lind the effect to eal! out every gallon the country could pro- duee, and under the weight of the Increased offerings the market broke, prices dropping off 10¢ per'zallon Ina single week. Later the inarket recovered a lite, and closed af 48e. LINSEED OI, ruled higher than for 1878 Tho opentn; price, Ole, was the lowest of the year, Lt ad- yaneed to 70¢ in February, where it remained until the Intter “pact of April, when it de- clined to Ofc. In June the price again moved upto 70c, but fell back to be In August. From the beginning of October until the first week In November the market mivanced 18, sse being reached, The year closed nt 78¢ for boiled, “The production In Chicago of linseed oll hay been Increased fully one-third, new mills with a eapacity of 50 bris por day hay- ing been erected within the year. ‘The mills now In operation ure capable of turning out 10 brisa day. There was but Ite Muctua- tion in the price of LARD om, during the spring and swpmer months, the market Jingering in the vicinity of 52 for extra, During October and November the market advanced to 66¢, and Jater to Ste, at which figura the yenr elased. Chicago pro- duees annually about 50,000 bris of lard oll. ‘The trade in WIUTH- LEAD was fairly active early’th the year, tho de- mand being stlmulated by the prevalence of low prices; for, despite the existence of a supposedly strong combination among the manufacturers, there “was always one or more corroders who would not abide by the prices ngrecd apon by the Association, and in January. that body determined to put the price down to a point where there would be no inducement for any manufacturer to “cut under,” 6c being the price fixed upon, At that low figure thera spratie, up such an act- ive demand that early In February a meeting of manufacturers was called and the price was advanced gc. Later in that month there wasa further ‘advance of We, further changes took place until the Intter part of ‘ay, whon the market fell back to 63¢e, but in Jmly it advanced to te. During the sum mer the demand was leht, and the market without quotable changé, thongh the steady advance in ple dead gave prices an upwant tendency. In October tho market moved up tose, where It has since remained, The lowest price of 1878 was 7¢e, and the highest Oe. Dry paints have ruled low and without noteworthy change in values. Colors in, oil are very firm, owing to the incrensed cost of oll and tin-plnte. ‘TH: GLASS TRADE : lias been in a very unsatisfactory condition ever sinee the panie, There was such asteady andeontinnous shrhikage in values that many sinail, factories were compelled to discon finuce' operations, it being impossible to manu- facture the article exeen fbn loss. Notuntil Inte In tho season of 1879 did the harket begin to show signs of returning vitality. From the beginning of August tho demand stendily Improved and prices began to move upward, in which course they continued until Decem- ber, when thoy showed an aggregate advance of 85 percent. Pittsburg, Pu., is the great lass centre of the country, more than half the pluss produced in tha United States being ade there, —— PIG-IRON, TUR YEAR JUST CLOSED i will be remembered as the most: active, and by for the most prosperous, that our dealers have over experienced. From 1873 down to tho close of 1878, n period of six yonrs, the tron industry of the country had been marked by extreme depresston,. - Rail- rend building and manufacturing enter- prises Of all kinds were practically at # stand-alill, and tho demand for fron had so dwindled away that.at the boginning of 1879 out of a total of 700 blast-furnaces In the United States, 440 wero out of blast and only a part of the 260 were required to run on full time. In the meanwhile prices had deciined from $54.00 In October, 1878, to $20.50 per ton In October, 1878, and all along the way were senttered wrecks of fortunes, Asit was the first to feel the bilght of panic, so was It tho Hirst to feel tha honetits of returning prosper- ity “From tho Ist of January up to tho Ist of Juno there had been a gradual Improvement In the consumptive demand. During that perlod about: all of the surplus stock In this country (ut the close of 1873 the surplus amounted to 610,000 tons) had gulct- ly heen pieked up, and midsummer supplies reduced fo smaller Hits than had ipreviously been known alnes the American iig-iron trade had nssumed importance. In uly, When consumers begun to renlizo-that. prices must go-higher, and began to contract ahead for supplies, it was found that the fur nuices and. mil is In operation wero insufliciont to mect current requirements. ‘Then the up- ward movement of prices set in, Durr August and September prices advancet 34,0)@5.00 por ton, and they continued to work Upward until the close of tho year, when they “showed an ageregate advance, over the lowest prices of 1873 af $20.50 Bay ton, In ‘no previous period In. the: history nf the iron trade of the United States hag the advance been go rapid aud so great, in such a short space of time, Producers claim that the cost of production {s from 00 per ton more than a year ago, and jtluat onlyan unlooked-for decline. in con- sumption ean force prices ton point that will ‘not leave a falr margin of profit, ‘ot plgziron havo been about 850000 tons of plg-lron have been about ns—nn ‘Increasu over 1878 of Srgio per_cent, Tho ‘year opened at $28.60 for Nog. 1 Lake Supe- oy, and closed wt $45.00,—an_ advance of oyer 100 per gent, Tho general revival of rosperity throughout the coun af justifies expectation of continued activity lu the ry it ratty general ballef that prices will gu sitll higher, ee ' jamb ti desey i i ‘ found ‘1: ‘HARDWARE... - : THE HARDWARE MERCHANTS. _- i, 1880—SIXTE {Increase in tho volume of business over that of 1878 was about 25@30 per cent. Trade was very good during the first six months, though prices showed little Improvement, and many articies depreciated In valuc. But In July business In all departinents suddenly Increased, and from that tine on trade hins been very heavy, the antes in the fall far éx- ceeding those of several previous years In the same tine, and have continued targa to date, Some merchants remark that the ton- nage sold in the instsix months fs larger than that of any former Iike period In their recollection. Nearly all ines of goodsfhave appreciated In value, ‘The advance fs duo largely to the grent risa In the price of fron, which - enters Into the manufacture of the’ bulk of stock belonging un- der this head, Gonds also had been very low,—many of them sciling below cost, orsonenr it that the productiun had been greatly reduced, and ns soon as the market began to show signs of activity these articles atifened In value. The surplus of goods, which many supposed to be cnonuous, wes soon exhausted, and prices rapidly advanced, with merchants finding it diMentt to, get vos fastenough to fill thelr orders. ‘Che ride were unprepared for the sudden change, and mantfacturers are now far be- hind with thelr orders, ‘The total sales of all lines under this head fre placed nt $24,500,000, Capital, $6,200,000. SHELY HARDWARE, ETC. Including shelf hnrdware, cutlery, metals, nulls, and some other Hines, the avgregate sales are belleved ‘to have renched $12,- 000,000, ‘The capital employed is Increased to 83,500,000. ‘The net profit of the season's. work will average nbout 2025 per eent. All kinds of cheap hardware, fike Japanned, bronzed, and ordinary grades of malleable and east goods, advanced inutertally in syns pathy with tron. All the metals augmented nvalue after July 1. ‘Tin-plates, whieh had. heen extremely fow previously, rose nbout 46 per cent In the fall, and the English mar- ket quickly responded, in spite of the Inbor troubles and sharp competition over, there, The direct Imports of tin-plates to Chicago were larger than In any former year. ‘This was done largely through the medivm of the Eastern Importing houses, but at asaving fn freight and other expenses, whieh made it possible to mark the goods close to New York figures, The advance in pig-tin was nearly equal to that of common tron, This article isehiefly controlled by a few parties, and fs often subject to specitiation, but the great advance (is due largely to the in- creased demand from the United States, The consunption in this country in 1870 iss estimated at. 10,000 tons. 40@5) per cent from an extremely low price. “Sheet zinc advaneed about 60 per cent during the year. The manufacture of sheet zinc is controlled by one rich firm, which 1s protected bya duty of 2c per th, and regulates pices, for this country. On this account the linports of late years have been very sninll. An Important advance in lead is also noted, In Januury the price was £3.75 per 100 tbs for Hz-lead, and in March sales were inade at the market weakening under large sup- i The market then turned, and closed at $5.50,—an nivance of 8334 per cent from the lowest price of the year, WIRE ADVANCED about one-half. with a remarkably Increased demand for it for binding grain, and amany tons were Ehipped to the Paelfic Coast, Idaho, and Texas for fencing purposes. Sheet-ron sold at $3.75 rates Aug. 1, and is now $5.00. In the fall It was hard to keep na respectable stock on hand, It advanced 60 per cent from January prices, and 80 from the lowest figure of the year. Nails advanced _100@125 per cent. Of course they were affected directly by the rise intron, but there was also na very brisk call for them, and the orders piled up rapidly an sellers’ hands. Nails sold tast winter at $2.00 rates, and rose slowly in summer, but the big adyance began after July. They sold in the fat] at 28.00, and advanced about ten days ago to $4.50 rates, Ingot copper rose Tox, One of the most striking features of the year as been the revival of the iron indus- Ty, whieh was so Fomplotely flattened out daring the years follow! ng 1873, Iron began to show signs of recovery in the latter part of 1878, but quotations ran along very steady, with the demand gradually improving tii late In July last. Then manufacturers sud- denly found themselves besieged by buyers, witha scarcity of material, and the market advanced in the two following months with almost alarming rapidity, fully {0@00 per cent for common bar, the ‘average rise on fron being about 60 per cent. Furnnces that had Iain idle for years were put in blast as fast as ore could be obtained, and many manifacturers, finding themselves unable to fulfill their contracts, detually pur- chased fron in England to send to thefr cus- tomors, "Thus they falled to practice the pro- fection they had preached for mare than hait acentury. | ‘The English market advanced In sympathy, but the rise here was sufficient to make ff profitable to tmport foreign tron in rather free quantities, which soon checked the upward movement of prices on the sen- board, and some low grades have alice re~ ceded n fow notches froin tho highest point. Considerable English tron was imported di- rect to Chirago. Within the past few days rails, steol, and some kinds of merchandise iron have ad- vanced in Pittsburg in sympathy with pig metal, anda general ndyaice in rates fs ex- pected early In January. ‘The enormons Inerease In the demand railroad supplies Is believed to be the mi powerful case of the great reaction In fron, The older ronds have taken vast quantitics of the metal, and more miles of railroad havo heen constructed in tho United States the past yenr, than in any previous one since 7 The advance in stecl was 15@20 per cent. The sules to the West were larger than in any year following the panic, the merchants estimating the Increase at 50@U0 per cent. Tho number of heavy hardware and iron firms is the same ns Inst years and the agcre- gente Invested capital Is lnereased to $2,250,~ 000, The total sales of merchandise, iron, railroad supplies, and heavy hardware are estimated to have reached $9,000,000, OTHER. HARDWARE, Tho dealora in saddlery, carriage, and cab- Inet hardware report n successful season, an adecided recovery from the depression that has existed for some yenrs back. ‘Tho sad- dlery business Increased In volume about 25 per cant, and prices advanced 15@20 per cent, ‘wo uew houses wero added to the ist, ‘The sales of tho above-named goods aggre. anted nearly $1,100,000 on a caplt of $400,000, for 08 BTOVES, Tho snles of stoves, including furnaces, are placed nt $3,400,000. Tho increase in busl- ness Is about 24 per cent, and fn prices 20 per cont, The advance has not been equal to the rise in material, which many thought would | notbe maintained, hut If present rates for fron are held a proportional risu In stoves is expected early tho present year, Tho sen- son was profitable, because the goods wore manufactured before tho advance tn fron took place, There nre twelve regular atove- houses In the city. : BUILDING MATERIALS, THE DEALERS IN MATERIALS for building generally report ‘an Increase In’ business, and a@ more satisfactory season than tho one preceding, The aggregate sales were about $1,250,000, Manufacturers estimate that:the produc- tion of common building brick was increased about 30 percent. Tho year opened with a smiat! stock of old brick, the yards having been closed several weeks In: 1878 to curtail manufacture, and the bullding business was delayed in the early part of the past yenr in consequence of the scarcity and high price of brick, IncJanuary the price was 86.75 per | 1,000, aud the remnant of the stock loft In April was closed out nt §7,25@7.50, New brick opened in May at $5.50, and! fell to $4.6@4.75 in July under a large out- tum, recoyering In August, and selling’ at $6,25@7.00 In the fall~an advance of about & per cent from the lowest prices, The adyanco in: August was partially offsot by the riso in wages, and itis calculated that tho cost of making brick was about $1.00 por 1,000:nore than in 1878, Thobrickinen recelved more money for thelr product, but they made, large contra _ eres ett future sells ery, hence didinot pro! at po sue dan advance In the Lat iiiey expact. to get ood - prices for the stock left over, which ts Satine ‘at 26,000,000, Vi oe™ 3 In tho frat-ve months, owing to th it In ratfive months, owing to the acarcity of brick, but trade wae good fit tho latter pate of the season,’ Prices avoraged about bo per brl higher, but against. this ride was the in- Bir ee ear Tog ig ate o “bee! f imore profitable Hee the one preceding it In crease of fully 20 per cent, while In values | reports very Drosucrous yeas, ‘The averngo. Juauacy the prico of bulk ino was 059 Der ‘ bri, ‘This figure was not long ‘maintained, and o@5he was the range In May. Inthe {nll the price advanced to 60c per. bri. : The cement denfers report an increase In sales nnd n satisfactory senson, though prices did not bulge. Common cements wero very steady throughout the year at $1.25 per bri. The sales of American Portland cement were nearly doubled, ‘WINES AND LIQUORS. THE VOLUME OF BUSINESS done In the wholesale fobbing trade daring the year 1879 was larger by 70 per cent than during the preceding year, and fully 40 per cent greater than at any thne’ since the panic of 1673. Collections were better than for many years, and, npon the whole, dealers’ enjoyed an active, lucrative season, and a firm feeling pervaded the market. Tha prices on domestic goods ranged about 10@13 per cent higher, while Kentucky grades, one and two years old, were nbout 20 per cent In advance on figures ruling one year ago. The capital employed In the jobbing trade ts estl- inated at $16,500,000, the product (includin; distilleries), & men employed and the number o! The demand for NATIVE WINES 5 a rapidly growing one. Winemaking in the United States fs now an admitted suc cess, and the Consumption during the past year hasbeen only Mmited by the supply. The State of Callfornin is the chicf source of our native wines, and the followin Stems about the Industry there may he o Interests Nutnber of vines, 45,000,000, Erowing on 60,000 neres, owned by 4,000 pro- prictora, and employing 10,000 adult work- met. About 60,000" persons altogether are supported by this industry. The capital in- vested In vineyards, plant, buildings, stock, etes, 1s $20,000,000, ‘The State consnines an- nunlly 2,500,000 gallons, which exceeds the quantity, of Freneh wines Snyported by: the nited States. Los Angeles County pressed and distilled ever 6,000,000 Ibs of grapes last years the native brandies are often superior 10 the imported. TOTAL WHOLESALE SALES, THE QNAND AGGHEGATE, The total whotesale sales noted above foot up a total of $541,025,000, which includes esti- mates Ina few enses where Jt was not possl- ble to closely nppréximate, on account of the diMeuity of separating the different depart- ments. The following figures about repre- sent the aggregate business of the past three years: Sales Of IBD. seccreee Kales of 18 222,000,000 Sates of 1877. 270,000,000 Tho increase of Inst year over 1878 is $59,- 000,000; or 21 per cent. The above figures are the total selling valuo of goods from first hands, and do not include second sales, which would largely swell the negregate. ‘ THE CAPITAL EMPLOYED in the conduct of the wholesale business fs nbout: $2,500,000 greater tlian n yenr neo, This would give a total of $62,000,000, or 211¢ percent of the business done, "This, how- ever, Includes, as above stated, the capital employed in manufacturing in several brauches, as in boots and shoes and clothing. Making suitable allowance for this fact, the capital employed strictly hy handling is about 17 per cent of the total business transacted, MANUFACTURES. The manufacturing interests of tho city exhibit a substantial Incrense, though the ex- tent of that Increnso is much smatier than fs Eenerujly supposed by the world outside. The augment Is only 4.4, senreely 434 per cent, as compared with 1878. The reason is that the great mafority of our local manufactur- ers did not feel the boom till rather Iate in the yenr, and with many of thom there las not been an advance in prices sufficient to componsate fora general shrinkage in the Jatier part of the preceding year.’ The cur- rent of business ling, however, much fin- proved, and a materini advance In prices is. tho recent. order of the day, The Important industry, hog-packing, shows a marked falling off, through the per- versity of the men who remained {dle for a fortnight in what is usually the hight of tho packing season. The fron industries show the greatest reaction, as they had been per- haps tho heaviest sufferers since tho last panic, The. wood departments have ex- perienced n good, healthy trade, but ata rel- atively sight appreciation in prices. Work- ers In stenm-fitting apparatus, galvanized Iron, printing presses, foundries, and wagon manufactures report an active trade from the Far West; while numevons orders from tho extreme South were sentin and filled. Some of our steant-titting firms have com- pleted large contracts In Enstern and South- ern cities. We note a marked improvement in_ tho Inhor market, except In the packing regions, above referred to. A considerablo addition has heon made to the number of workers in nenrly all directions, and wages have been advanced in several departments. The class of men who may be called the “unwillingly Idle" Is now practlenlly abolished, and the greenback movement has faded into Insiz- nifleance in eompan the few fossils who still cling to the id cing unable to find any- thing nore substantial than an echo to follow thom. The activity In rallrand building the pnst year has not been paralleled since 1873, and some of the prpininent people In the trade estimate that 25,000 miles of new road will he constructed in this country inthe next five pears The number of miles of rallrond build ina series of years is here given: Six thousand miles in 1872 to Noy. 1; 3,276 miles in 18783 1,604 miles in 1874; 1,150 miles $n 1875; 1.970 miles In 18765 1,808 ‘niles in 1RT7; 1,840 niles In 1878: nnd 9,733 miles In 1870, Some denlers anticipate that the extent of track ta be laid the present year will exceed that of 1873, ? PACKING, TI® PACKING OF 11008 has been prosecuted: a Nttle less vigorously than during the provious year, which was much tho most active In our provious history. Nearly two-thirds more hogs were eutin this city during 1878 than In 1877, and that big forward stride was very nearly maintained Inst year, It would have boon surpassed had there been n ‘corresponding Increase in tho supply of tho raw matorial, and would have been fully equaled but for the labor troubles at the packing-haouses early in November, and agnin In December, The last named diffor- ence reduced our production above ono-half forthe Inst two weeks, Our packers have yet furthor Increased their facilities, though thelr working capacity was not much more than half cmployed in 1878, except during a few unusually active days. ° The In- erense referred to conslsts more In tho direc- tion of facilities for handling and storing the product than inthe number of, benches for killing, though some addition has been made In that department, A-yoar ago the daily enpacity was stated to be 60,000 head. Now tha ‘slaughter-houses of tho packing regions can handle © ve ‘ 23 FIGNTY THOUSAND PER DAY if the hogs could be obtained and the product disposed of, This would be about 8,000,000 hogs for the 100 working days of tha winter alone, or considerable moro than tho actual work of the entire year. Our packors have scarcely worked up ta one-Ralf of thelr avall- able capnelty thus far, hoy have taken nearly all the recoipta of hogs I the clty, ex: cept when the men were out,” leaving few for shipments, even'in ‘the hottest weather. Last month there was soine disposition to hold back, pricea being considered too high for safoly, and packers were, on thataccount, Jess onsfous to necede fo the demands of the “Union neu, which resulted Ina rathersharp decline in prices and production. But there {a so much of cap! tat Invested In the business Ba to make, ‘puma lon ok the SI k- Yards es, arc |: hose, Tite fact draws the antials all parts of the West, sometiings attracting nen from within a fow pilles of other cities, which used to be called “leading poluts,” but uroso ng longer, The numbor of rus ouugaged in tho business has. been alighuly pecuaaed during the past, year, but only ot the smal ond ‘There are ‘eighteen Nouses cach of Po me ‘of 20,000 hogs per duy, ‘There aro more than 000,000, Is 1,250," ++8341,000.000 sacore of others working ina smaller way, ) most of, whom ‘operate chiefly In dronsed : hogs killed for them by others on commnis- 7,800 men during the four winter months, and nearly two-thirds of it number! during the rest of the year. he winter surplus ia Intgely recrufted from tho ranks of the saliors, with some ald: from the; lumber- shovers and grain-trimmors, The aggregate: weekly wages in cold wenther is ‘about Sao 000, tha pny of workers ranging from 81.75 to 2 per day,—n few receiving as high as” .00, There wasn general increase of 25 per day In the wages of Inbor two months ~ ago, but the pay Is seareely so much above the schedule of last year. Z Some of these hands are employed tn_proo- esses new to the business, the canning of ineats prepared from the head, ete. But there ian vast army of men employed ‘in lard-re- finlng, grease-renilering, etc,, fo say hathiing of those engaged in handilng the animals a the Stock-Yards. If these were added it would swell the total to some 10,000, and the enopers, box-makers, tinners, ete., who make the packages, would {ncreaso {t to over 11,- 000, “Multiplying by four and-n half we have some 60,000 souls, or say one-tenth part of the popuintlon of Chicago, directly dependent tipon the packing business ng n nieans of sub- alstence; and even this does uot inelnde those who find employment on the railrond in moving the products, nor those who sell part of it at retail to consumers in this city. NUMBER OF 10GS PACKED, The following shows the number, weight, and value of the hors cut in this ctty during + tho last two enlendar years: 1870, 1878. January and Februa: 15% 1,448,700 March | to Oct. 1... 2,090,000 2,075,000 November and December. 1,376,000 1,604,000 , Total number yea 4,805,000 5,128,000 Weight, tons. ee ANS,000. 15,200 Value of do... $43,770,000 $44,010,000 | Value of prod ++ 50,00, 50,500,000 The Inst nam Ine Includes alt and . packages, The items of tabor, salt, barrels, , jerces, boxes, and ice during the hot weather, foot up a little more than $7,000,000 of the total, ta which must be added the itemns ef rent, taxes, Insurance, fuel, water and profits, . {o give the wholo value of the productof our, packing-houses for the year, 4 Tt Js thought by some that the crop wil] be more nearly used up this winter than ' in elther of the two previous cold seasons, leaving a less number to ent during the sume wer months, ‘The shortage ins been stl. mated all the way from 400,000 to 1,000,000. head, as compared with 1878, NEKF-PACKING AND PRESERVING. The inarket for beef-; pe and preserve . ing ruled fairly active during the year under review, and prices were generally well sis- talned. Cattle e cheap, and the supply throughout was fully up to the demand, No stispensions are reported, althouch one firm —the Chicago Meat-Preserving Company, on the North Side—closed_ its accounts and went out of business. Quite a nuinber of firnis have largely Increased thelr faellities, andin the early fpeing: one or two of the leading houses will make large additions to thelr present buildings. The foreign trade was active, and a firmer fooling prevailed, Consignments were made during “the year to Austria, Germany. South Ameri. - ca, nad Franee,—especially ts this true of tho first two named countries, There are now seven firms Sheard m the business of packing and preserving beef, with a enpltal of $1,800,000, and an annual product’ of $11,500,000. They give employment to about 2,700 hands, to whom they pay an an- nual wages aggregate of about $1,250,000, Wages have recently been inereased 0.9 foe; and now range from $1.74@4.50 per day, The foliose business of beef an is a summiar; pork paneling: 187. Firins (about). Workers, No, Annual wages, CAPUAD Ls eseneees Value of product, IRON AND STEEL. AT THE DATE OF OUR LAST. Annual Review we noted a decided and marked {mprovement In this department of trade, and, a8 the shrinkage had in a great measure cease, a firmer tone pervaded the market and an appreciation of 4 per cent was established in the aggregnte sules of stecl rails and 6 percenton old rails. The advance thus noted has been fully sustained, and at this writing wo are able to chronicle a still further apprecintion of 6 per cent in’ the aggregate sales of steel ralls for the year just elosed. Both the rolling mills In this qlty | have been tn active operation. throughout the year, and a very satis{nctory amount of work was turned out, The shipments of Bessemer steel rails to Canada, were Iarger than for soveral years past, : Wo are credibly Informed that new locos motive works, for the manufactnro of new locomotives and the repair of old ones, fs in” contemplation In this cily. of $100,000 hns already been subscribed by* Chicngu capitalists aga bonus for the remov= al of an Enstern establishment of the kind to thiscity. <A suitable location, whero fifteon or twenty acres of ground ean be had, Is In demand for this purpose. ‘The works aro in- tended to give employment to 500 workmen, Asan evidence of tho business sitch an estab- lishment would . command , in nddltion: to the building of new , locomotives, it Is stated that over 2,000 locomotives arrive * in and depart from this city every twenty-_ four houre on an averuge, and that every locomotive requires more or Jess repairs ans, nually, besides tho immense number of en- aines used_on other roads north and west of Chicago. There can bo no question but that competent works here would soon build up’ a large business, INON FOUNDRIES, ‘ Tho movement In iron foundries wasn Mb- eral one, and In the aggregate better prices were -reilized, which was about overly bal- anced by the Appreelition in the cost of Inbor, ° Boller, ‘stove, bolt and serew, galvanized, range and furnace, and wire - works were netive during a greater part of the year, and the feeling was one of firmness, In muchinists’ supplica we nots an advance of 50 per cent on prices ruling one year ago, with an Increasing demand from alt quarters, "The aggregate volume of business was about $600,000, In bolt-hinges wo note a stilt further ndvaneo of 25@80 por cent, with a, corresponding Increase in thesmaller nrticies, ‘Tho follow HA is n summary showing the number of establishments devoted to tron, work In its different departments, the nunt- ber of workers engage, and the value of the annual production for 1870: = * SUMMALY: Work- ere. Product, 8 3,000'814,000, foil Ae “eeoo0o| ea eRe oller- wor Carewheol inolooo] tual 4 518,000 Btovo work Bojo0o] 20) * Banoo Volt and scro' 3 3,210,000" gal war As, 000 Fabre 316,000 tot " a5000 1m.o00' $530,000] 04,000 , tee a 200,000 515,000 ea 88,000] 2 ion { i . 61 19,035,000 \g0215,000". POLats 1a] Mal ascnan] 20,017,000 & Totals, 1678] sal “1a 113000): so,ase| 20017, 000 te annual “w: paid was’ lesa ae eat e070 ta Bers id: 1. nay . 31,8005 Sr ast 000 in tor A MODERATELY PROSPEROUS YEA. was enjoyed In this department, and jnanit= facturors hayo causa for congratulation, As ~ to prices thera Ia Hitle'‘or ng change to note. - During the months of August, September, « cand October many dealers: were: realising & * alight advance, but during ‘the remaining ‘Months of the year contracts were goucrully ” hogs, ff Jn the curing processes, or have thelr” ston. Tho packers employ altogethér about’ Oo Tho canitalstoclk 4 8 t '