Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 31, 1881, Page 14

r c $5,005.95, which wag tho lowest of the year. During Septembor the market tose wp to $6,0000,10, and In October to 86. a, Later it dropped off to $6,00@6.25, and closed at those fignres, ‘Che hnportance of | to fresh-water fisheries will be wnderstood Ciugcet, emplossiy SHI iets apparatus si engaged, employing with U 5 accessories a enpital of SiaH0.0N0, nnd that the catch. ainounts to 03,750,000 Ibs of fish of a value o! 000, "Tho agere- ata cate ts ostiumted af mbout (4,000 fris, of whieh nearly on third ts whitefish, Tn this connection it 1s proper to state thit all lake fish handled in this market are now subject to CITY INSPECTION, Mayor's appointes to the office of Inspector Niavltue ttularly entered upon. tie Aselfarae of his dutles Dee. 1. We say titularly because in real- ity he does ‘not porsonally inspect n single package, lo deputizing employes of the deal- ers to perform that responsible and onerous duty, and oly reserving to himself tho ‘burdensome task of drawing, his snlary. ‘Tho fish trade of the elty Js tn yesponsibiennd reputable hands; antag overy package of Inke fish sent out Is carefully ine rpected by somo imeniber or ploys of the firm, and the buyer given an opporturity to exminine the goods before paying for thent, It Js uot ensy to see. the necessity of further preeaution, espectatly as. the additional cost must witlmately come outof the pockot of the consumer, Whose Interest, it Is claimed, the oflice was created to protect. ‘The trade belleve the office to be simply and purely Binecure, and, moreover, without warrant of Inw, and as such they prose to contest in the courts the valldlty of the appuintinent, Contrary to the zeneral bellef, THY MACKENEL CATCH falls somewhat. short of that for 1880, The New England fisherles, 1t 1s truce, were itt- tended by more thin the usual sticcess, the ch having exceetled that of the previous r by more thay 100,000 brig; but there Wasa shortaze in tho British Proyinees moro than offsetting tho Inerense in New England, cateh belng the Tightest for a ‘ears, The quality of the fish, vever, wus exceptionally good, and prices very satisfactory, ‘They were comparatively low In the spring and varly simmer, but tn duly they began’ to work Upwards, and the atlvance since then has been S4.60@5,00 per bri at the fisheries. Notwithstanding the Nigh prices, the demand hns been wmusually large, and the stock in first hands la said to be lighter {hun for ten years past. Karly in the fall Chieago dealers were awake to the prospect of an advance, and stocked Up ®t the then relatively Jow prices; conse- quently that popular fish is now selling in this market at lower prices thi are quoted at the Enst, independent of freight. ‘Tho year clased nt 30,5000) .75 for No. 1 shore, and “nt $5.00@5.35 for large family, which is about 25 per nt above the prices ago. Of coilish thore was a vary the, Fish = oft Tull cateh, but In sympathy with other fis! ant nents prices have rufed higher, the difference as compared with 1880 being falls 1h pe t. ‘The present prica for Geory .25, and for bank $5.00@52. Lhe split aud round herring tisherles were alinost failures, tks rognyded as singulur that the senson’s catch should prove a failure both on the American and Lubrador coasts, but such was tho cnse, and prices lave therefora ruled much higher than in former years, OF Norwegian herring the tmportations have reatly Increased, the demand for them hiuv- hye been larger than -ever before, owlng to the increased foreign Immigration, California salmon have been comparatively searee and leat, Tho fact that the Eastorn salmon ‘e been exceptionally high has not only kept them out of this murket, but amuch Iarger-proportion than usual of the California catch went Enst, making the sup. ply here very Ight, At tho present thie this fish Is selling nt $8.G0@8.75 per bri. ‘The California catels was fully 25 per cent Jurger than for nny former yent, FRESIL FISH, This branch of trade has been fafrly nct- ive, but the aggregate business of the year was not as heavy as that of tho previous yenr, although prices have ruled somewhat Higher, ‘The eleven prominent firms en- gaged report receipts of butyween 5,000,000 and 6,500,000 Ibs of both salt and fresh fish, tho sale of which ut an average of Te per tb, ie ‘ageregute cush yalue of over Complain’ is mado against the solning operations by which the smaller fish are de- atroyed indiscriminately, und tha source of mpi lessoned every year, Atay propose: tions fooking to the ‘remedying of this evil hitve been snade, but thus far nothing practl- eal has been done, ‘Ti OYSTER TRADE of 1881, or rtther dtiring the months of that year with the “R” In thom, was, as Mr ‘Venus would say, “wartotts’? During last, winter the husiness was ‘prosectted withconsitorable profit, which is much more than can bo sald of it since Sept, 1. When tho oyster-eating season oponed In Septom- her fast trains were run for the necommoda- tion of wholesale dealers, by which supplies ‘wero brought fran Baltimore nt the rate of 61.12 per ewt. Those tralns were discuntine ned the latter part of October, and thereafter, ip tothe present tine the rate per ews hias peen $2.00, this figure belng charged not pily for the oysters carried, but for the ica In qwhich they were packed. Much complaint is made by leading deal- ers of tho custom which hus now become al- most. general (olny insisted upon by retall soalats) of solling oysters in bulk, ‘This complaint is quite natural, though at the game thno it will excite Iittle syinpathy in the breast of the average oyster consumer, Oysters in bulk speak for thatselves, ‘Chis Is the case, at least, under most circum stances, A person buying them cin tell tho proportion of water, and, ronsequently, the Ddiyalvie proportion. Shere is one stead fatitaity howevor, in th! mode of selling, and — that isthe snnitary character ot the fish when purchased In’ bulk ennnot always be de- erinined 18 readily: as when put up in cans, ‘Tho latter mode of packing has we nidvan- tuge of belng Its own detuctor In cass the ponte becomes a Httle the worso for age, Aut oysters, however, many bloat conslder- ably withont the fact belng discovereil by tho pitrchoser, | ‘Trade in September last opened very falr- Jy, and so conthiued during tho month, Oc- tober showed a great falling off, this de- pressed condition continuing up te. tho wilddlo of November, the result of warn and enerally unseason- sblo weather, ‘The Thanksgiving suason wis unequiled during Ita brief existence for the general manner fu which tha people jwok to tho luscious bivalve. Prices have hited about the saie as Inst season, though the cost of the stock Inid down in Chicazo has been 10 to 15 per cent higher than they were In 1880, ‘Lhero ure sixteen oyster Jobbing houses in thiselty, though the bull of the trade is done by about one-line that number, ‘The araregate sates of these sixteon houses dure ie the pust yoar amounted to about $1,560,- OYSTER CULTURE. Licut, Franes Wiuslow, in the No- vember nuuiber ot the Popular Selence Monthly, asserts that the — Northern oyster-beds are deteriorating, while | Uic Southern beds are diinjnisiing In jolts which latter fact he attributes to ovorfishing and fallure of protection, ‘The commant: accepted belloft renardlig, the growth ani culture of oysters does not bear out Llett, Winslow In the position he has\taken, It hits generally been supposed that vigorous fishing in the proper months of the yeur ly the most certaln method of increasing tho yluld of oyster-beds, and iw writer 1 the Sea Wortd, publishad in New York, Inn recent paper on the subject gives the media operand by whieh the young oyster is nado to shoot with uel promptnesd und vigor the beds along the Connecticut shore, DRY Goons, {HE BALIN OF THE YHAT slow an incrawe of about 8 per cent, being esthinated mt $62,500,000, ngalist $38,000,000 in 1580, and u Dttle more than $51,000,000 In 1870, ‘Nhe capital employed Is ubout the suing as in Isw—yiz: $9,500,0u0, thera having been no mmaterial change tn this: respects but the total will be swelled to fully $10,000,000 by the opening out of Ww new ttm with the beginning of the voming year, No failures have ovcurred in the trade in this cffy, and the nuuiber of fallures iu the West was fess than usual, Hence ‘tore have been but few bad debts to dlinine ish the profits of the yea . Prices were remarkably steady throughout, Yo fluctuntions were sinall, allke In umber andinvenge, Even tho axeltement of cot. toh speculition Ip the attunin, and Qio sub> sequent weakness, unde Hitle dlfereuce, quotitions of tha leqd yg: staples Debi price Ueally unehiunged, anytiine, they have ruled stlehtly higher thai ii 1880, ini ayia pathy with labor rather ian material, ‘The cost of - transucting business iso shade greater, owing to. the fact that wages are a tte hizherin sume instances, ‘She trade hax been almost continuously gavd. ‘Tho chief exceptions were during a THE CIICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 short period In the spring when the West was blockaded by the snow, and abouts fortnight in the fall when wet weather malo the roads sv bai ns to bo nearly impassable, But even tlils wag nade amends for by sub- sequent netivity, the tdehtys not belie long enough to tonder the pitrehasing of saason- able goods unnecessary. ‘Trude has been rather dull reeantly, because of tha open- ness of the winter thus far, and collections have been more difficult, owing to tho aay in marketing prodico by bad weather, With tls exception, collections were unifornil Rood, ns inoy wore tho provious your; aud, with fewer losses, tho trade of tho'senson hins Deen perhaps tha most satisfactory of any tn {ie histary of tha city, Lt was cantly so fn the country. The retail merchants liave bonght zootla ng they wanted them, and only that. ‘The year way eharacterized by an Wie usual AUSENCE OF SPECULATION, alike among merchianty in the wholesale and retail departments of the business. ‘i The oxtenslon of tha Atchison, ‘Topeka & Santa £6 Railroad hns opened up a consider- able volume of new business In the South- west. Our dry-goods houses lave also sent parent deal more to the Manitoba and Wine nips country than formerly; while thore was a moderate uxtension of trade fn con- nection with the nining developments in Colorado and Arizona. ‘Che lmportations of cotton, silk, and gloves. have increased during the year, while there tsa falling off tn tho foreign Imports of woolen fabries, which ts most narked hn tho cnse of efotls, slinwis, and worsted gootls, Linens are also less numerously tinported now than a peat no. ‘The trade of the West, even more than that which centres oi the seaboard, isstondll, y decreasing the percentage of forelan fabricstn favor of those of domes- fie manufacture, ‘Thera ts rension_ to bolivve that the difference would hive been more wmurked dtring the past year had the pro- ducing capacity of Mastern inills been larger, ‘Shey have iiiied about all the orders they could, leaving the remainder to be'supplle: from abroad. There Is roum for a consid nblo expansion of our manufacturing factll- thes, and no piace offers a finer fleld for the devulupment of this Industry than does Clil- cago. It ts probablo that the manufacturing boom whieh hag struck us on the southward will ere tong take In the manufacture of cot- ton cloth us one of the most promising of tio multitude of industries clustorlng around Chicago. WOOLEN aoons have been very active, the quantity of goods sold belng fully 15 percent greater than in 7880; but prices range about 10 per cent lower, making a volume of business measured ny 37,800,000, uzninst $7,500,000 In 1880, and $6,000,000 in 1870, ‘Tho eheapentng is mostly inthe Hneot heavy, dark, ehinchitlia beavers; and they have been especially weak during he, pustalxty days, owlng to the miki weather ty ruling and prospect of an Spi winter.- With tho exception of these goods the stocks in jobbers’ hands are untsnally ght at the present time; butit is probable that countr, merelimts are earrylng more thin the ordi- nary quantity, the intl! weatker having less- chest their sales even more than those In the city, : Dealers report a steady and rathor rapid decline in the volume of fnported goods. The returns of the custom-house av New York show a decrease of nearly 15 per cont the [ae year us compared with 1880. In fact, {he Importations are now nearly restricted to the finest classes of goods, as Trench and English worsted dingonals. Tho old-tine prejudice against domestic cloths ts rapidly disappearing, as ft Is found that they aro equally as good as the best. Indeed, 1¢ $3 nn open secret In the trada that most of tho goods now, sold ons foreign are really made tn this country, Why stch a subterfuge should be deemed necessary ts one of these myateries whieh “no fellah can. find out,” nnless if be that some people are yet foolish enou, gli to minister to the cupidity of dealers who finposs higher prices than they woytld dare to ask for fubriesof home minuufacture. CARPETINGS, ‘Tho sales of earpetings have increased about 15 per cent, being esthnated at $3,800,- ), ngaltist $3,800,000 In 1880, and about the sue in 1878, that bel an. nnusuatly active year. ‘The augment in the ngere- gute of sales was all the more marked ns opriees live —nveraged = not far from 7 per cent lower, the droop belng most pronounced In the case of the more costly goods, body Brussels declining sharply. One or to new firms have embaried tn the busi- ness alneo 1850, and tha aggegate capital cu- ployed 1s now ubout $500,000, Dealors report a marked improvement In the character of the demand, The cheap stuffs which wore so mich preferred during tho dull thues preceding 187%, and wvon up to less than two years ago. aro now com- paratively uegleeted. ‘Tha better ctuss of gools fs the one “now wanted, the demand beiug muterially atlmutated hy the eheapening “In prices ‘above noted, ‘Trae was oot all through the year, but cs peelaily active In the spring and fall, In- deed, Jobbers oxperlenced sume difliculty in getting goods fast onough; and would prob- ably have dong more business in the Iatrer mrt of spring Dut for this fact. Stocks in the hands of nusufacturers aud jobbers are now smatior than usual; and prices are expected to advance some 5 per cont early in the com- year, Our {mportations of foreign carpotings were fully one-third less tho past year than dn 1880, “They are decronsing raplilly each year, with an Increase In the supply and 2 utendy Improvement in the quality of our domestle manufuctures MILDLINERY. THE WHOLESALE MILTINERY trade has been moderately profitable and ren- sounbly netive, scelng that the hard weather of winter aud tho miserable spring told with espectal severity on this branch of business, Ladies could not got out ‘to buy goods, or fo display them If already owned. ‘I'he dullness of the first four months was, however, more than compensated by subsequent activity, trade being oxeeptionnity good during the aututnn, with more fine goods selling than ever before, us people were more able to buy. Priees have not been muterially diferent from those of 1880, perhaps 8 trifle higher, and have ruled much steadier, giving 1 some what better marzin of profitthan herototore. Jn addition to this thore have been fewer bad debts, and collections were generally made 1s promptly ns could be expected, if not ale ways as desired, ‘The VOLUME OF BALES ig estimated at $0,500,000, being un increase of B10 pur cant, “Cho capital employed Is nbout 31,200,000, or substantially tho sume a8 dn 1880, No now firms hays engaged in the busluvss during the past year, und there was ‘Dat ong failure, Which was only a small one, Parties In the trade say that ‘last year was much the best of the three which have fol- lowell our long perlod of connnercial dull- ‘Tho most notable feature of the millinory business is the continued decrease in tie quantity of goods Imported, Animated trade was to bo expected In prosperous tines; but slnco our last panic: this hus not meant anl- mation in ordering gouds from abroad, as it ld previously, A few years no ol} our ribbons and artiflelal fowors wore importa ; mew the great bulk of sales are the product £ domestle manufacture, No ribbons avo Imported nt presont, the home outs = being . Tull equal ta the foreign, and much ehvapor, ‘Cho artiiiclal flowers, shapes, and some of the fabrics are mostly minnutuctured In this elty, and the In- dustry gives omployment to hundreds at workers, mostly fenales, | ‘These conditions turm the basis of a healthy trade, and are upparently substantial reasons for anticlpat- dug a healthy growth In tha future, CLOYIING. A GREAT IMPROVEME: is reported fi this departinent. ‘he sates of the year foot Up In rotund Agures $20,000,000, which ds 41 pur eont grenter than tho 310,- 600,000 reported fay 1880, ‘he sulus of that yer were, however, somowhat larger than our estimates, Tho Increaso ls weaver Lo 15 per cent. Wo'gave tho anles for 1870.ay $14,000,- 0, ‘The evpllal employed ta about $7,000,- 000, ngulnst $0,300,000 in 1880, ‘The Increasa dn this direction is eliluily dite to the opening out of ve now Jlrs Within the past twelve months; but there was iyo some nidditton in the shape at ae cumuluting, protits by houses proviausly in the trate, “Chere have been no faltures. About the whole ol the above-noted wus ment hn sites ly a ensure at the quuntily of goods hundted over and aboye thy record of the previows year, Vilees have ruled sub- stantially the, sime, perhaps averaged shade lower bas were much astendler than in 1880, the whole range of the twelve months nob exceeding & par cent, — ‘The vost of Uransucting business ty a shade highor, ehleily owlng to advances in rent anid wayes, ie coxtot munterial living remained about the sane, ‘The business has been fairly profitable, though disappoluting in Noveni- rf owing to the inbld weather, whieh des Juyed, parelinses of winter xoods by retall- ers. ‘The trade is regarded uy being In a sounder, healthier condition than at any pre vious time In our history, CHICAGO NOW RANKS FIneT among all the cittes of tho Unlon, exeept New York, dav the wholesute clothing trate, Nearly all the eluthing sold ts tide here, and it fe claimed thet the clothing manus factured in Chicngzo fs mueh better than that turned ont at tho East. indeed, tho charne- ter of tho trade demands this, In former years tho West uniformly took the poorest woods of Enstorn make, Now that rule ts rovorsed, aud the great bulk of tho articles offered in this section have to ve nearly or quite egal tocustom make or thoy would not find buyers, ‘The grent public of tho West has really been ednented up to tho polut of being so exacting in this respect that most of attr manifacturers now hayo the gools mate up In establishments of thelr own, Instead of aiving the work out, ns was the tule up to a recent date, Every part of the work is now per- formed | under oxpert supervision, attd is thorefore uniformly well done, | ‘The in- creasing demands of the trade have also sthnulated the production of «much greater variety than formerly, and goods are now made up In dozens of different styles, In- stead of following one or, two models, ns used to be the vase here and ‘ty now hivgoly the case on the seaboard. . Owing to this and tha fact that the bualness is large enough to permit proiuction at the filutinum of cost to the Individual garinent, our clothing Is now wenorally preferred, all over the West, to that made at any other point, It 1s pleasant to note that even the shap-workers of 2 few years ago havo lind to change front, and now turn out goods which ure worth buying as well ns worth selling, ‘Tho demand this winter Is fora higher class of goods than ever before, 18 prosperotts thmes Inerease the desire of the great mijority to dress well, IIATS, CAPS, AND FURS, TEN PER CENT INCREASE is reported by promlnont firmus in tha whote- sile branch of this trade. ‘hore are fourteen houses engaged in Jobbing these goods, whose argrogate sales during tho year 18S! aro given tut $6,600,000, on a capital of $1,500,000, Busl- ness throughoutthe year has been active, three now tirms haying started within that potiod, Prices have ruled steady, and, while Jnbor hns been a trifle higher, the increase of tion, together with new appliances fn y of mnelinery, huve toned to the re turn of profits in about the same proportion us those of TSs0, x Goods of this description ianufactured ere have widely-extended market, soma of then golng to California, tha intermediate ‘Territories being mostly supplied by Chicago deters, Many uous are disposed of in ‘Texas und throughout the South, Olio also being a Itberal enstomer. ‘The past year has also: marked a considerable {nerense of this. particuinr trade with the British Provinces. ‘The fur trade hits, on the whole, been rath- er Wihter than usual, and. the warin, carly winter bas tended ton continuance of this inactivity, While the fur crop of tho winter of 1880-81 was ¥ lizht, owing to the ex- treme cold weather, which toa great oxtont prevented trapping operations, yet tho spring mouths proved very productive, und the av- erage yearly quantity whssecured. ‘The furs. iited for siile Inst winter averaged much er than usual, as the same continuous low temperature which brought enforce idleness to the {rapper proved most fityor- able to the work of the nianufacturer, ‘Tho retutl hat, cap, and fur establishinents, small and Jarge, did a business aggregating nbont $3,500,000 during the Inst twelve months onan estimated capital of about si These Intter have increased fn $500,000, sumer elie tle yeur, and genorally report: inir profits. BOOTS AND SITOES. THE VAMOUS KINDS OF FOOT GHAR handled by the trade have been In larger de- mand than ever, though our figures are no larger than those given last year, the magni- tude of the business for 1880 having been overstated by some parties, Thera are taventy-four houses in the trade, the sales of four of them renching $2,000,000 apiece, and seven othors doing each 1 business of $1,000,- 000 or over. Tho sales of all azgresated about $18,000,000 for 1881, against. $10,250,000 in 1880. ‘The Incrense of nearly 1 per cent igtuch Jess than claimed for some firms; thoy report an extension of 20@25 per cent, but sume oulorg have not. much more than “held thairown.” ‘The capital, which includes that ainployed In imannfacturing, ly fn the neighborhood of $5,000,000, und Is. but slight. Jy larger than 2 year ngo, ‘The business of the past twolve months was generally satisfactory, though close computl- thon between leading firms fins cut protity down to wsinall percentage on the volume of gonts handled, But it hug also given them the trade of the West, as houses on the seaboard are unable to compete on equal terms with goods maile. hore, Priees have remained nearly the sone as in 1880, belnga shade stronger on the average, "Tho cost of pro- duction hus not increased go muchas in xonio other lines, Wages have advanced, andyents are higher in some cises; but this is been nearly compensated by a more general uso of machinery, "There has beon some extension of trade towards the South, but the principal growth Js in the North- west. ‘Tho filling up of po pulation in Dakota and along the line o! 1 Northern Paciile Kailroud fins drawn largely upon the re- serves of our merchants and jobbers, and in the most active part of the year it was DIFFICULT TO SUPPLY GooDs as rapidly as they were wanted, ‘Chere havo beon few bad debts, and collections were gen- orally mada without trouble, Our leading houses are all engnged In manufacturing on aif extensive sculo, und with the best modern appiinnees for suying: Inbor and turning out good goods, ‘They argon spar with Eastern factories in thls respect, ind have w great ulvantage over than in regard to Joentlon right nmong the inntertal of which boots and shoes ure mide, ‘Tho hides, the burk, and the taunertes are all here to sulcet from ‘and use without cost of transportation to the seabourd, and the re- turn carriage on the uintufactured article, Hence the geads can be supnlled more chonply for cqual qualities, and this fact on- ables our manufacturers to pay special at- tention to quality. For this reason our sates of heavy goats are-vory largely of Chileno mmnkos and within tha past few yeurs the munutucture of Indies’ wear ting” attained lurge proportions, soveral hundred pales of hands being employed In, that de- purtnient aon. AS on instance of the magnitude of tho business wo may note tint during the coming month one of our leading firms will remove to the largest warehouse ovcupled by any boot and shoo firm in the. United States, Pe trade shows a tenduney now to concentrate in the nelghborhvod of Monroe, Adams, and Frank lin streats, followlug the exninple of somo other Hnes in elustoring towards one point ns weentre. The sules of : meng Goons show o Jnrgo dnereuse. ‘These nrticies aro now comlng Into general un, becausy they are mitdy moh better and less clumsy than formerly, ‘Che sites of all kinds of rubver goods fn the United States ave now about $18,000,000 por annum, one-third of which Is Tn tho shape of boots aud shoes and one-ninth part ty. bolting. Chicago ctealers sold a large part of $1,000,000 worth of rubber wear for feetand legs during (8st, Prices avornged higher than tho previous yerr, owing to a shortage hy the supply. ‘Shore wis consid ably diticutty in filling orders inthe autunan, the wniversally wet v her sig a big suiginent in the demand, We note that erudy rubbor is unprotected, Not boing praducud in dus country, no one Is interested: In ask. ing for the hnposition of a tax; and the com- petition o£ manufacturers 1s close chough to put prices of the thilshed goods down ton low polit, Some elasses of rubber goods sell at nob more than one-fourth the price of u few years ago, — DRUGS AND CHEMICALS, THE WHOLESALE DRUG TRADE was @ very successful ony, showlng an [ne crease over thut of the previous year of fully 1 per cont, ‘The number of prominent flrms engaged hn this trade ls seven, whose aggre: gate sulos during the twelve months amount wd to $0,000,000, Misvollaneous drugs ruled steady through- out tho entire year, Opium, morphing, aud quinine declined sharply In the apring, and rolud low as compared with other yours up to bout the 20th of thls mouth when qul- nine advanced from $3.15 to 52.55, and chi ohonidta from Te ta Oe, Oplum sult one aude ago At S72 per Lb, and ls now selling at 54.05 per Jv. Morphine Ins cnled much lower during tho lust twelve tmontha than darhuy the yeur preeeding, Karly in st Uke whole- sale price wis 34.75665.00, the present price of this somuolent article fy $3,600.75 per ounee, ‘he wholesale drug rade 3 raphy Jacreasiny, the territory from wiiteh orders cone widening: pereatibly all tho thane, Dealers wil concur in the report that stocks SET MEYUE Jarger or in better shape than at present, ‘The following table gives the highest aud 1881—TWENTY-FOUR PAGES lowest prices for the loading drugs during the year: Laureat, Highest, Morptino, per o7 Riss $1.7 bie, per OA, Oplum, per tl “ Manning gt ‘alls Tilt but the market dn leading staples has ruled in favor of tho buyer, the atfect of which 1s not to ine crenye ngareante profits of the yeur’s busi- 11684, Chanues In valitcs are promptly met here. In this respeet the Chicayo teug mare kot has ussumed a strictly metropolitan char eter, prices belug determined mether by stp. ply ane demand than by any athor consider. atlon, This, with tho absence of fictltlous values eased by local speculation, sakes Chicago nmost geairable «istributlm polut. for drugs, 0 fact whieh the leading faterests of tho world tn this Ino of business have not been slow to recognize, ¢ CONFECTIONERY, THE INCREASE IN THIS HRANCIT of trade Is reported at fully 25 per cent ovor that of 1881. ‘The bulk of the goods sold was nbout 20 per cent larger than that of the year previous, tho balance, 5 per cent, being chargeable to the extra cost of production. Tho year, however, 8. acknowledged by dealers to have been a very, profitable one, 1n keeping with the good times, the candy- eating public have insisted upon a superior quality of goods, this feature being notlea nbs throughout the trade, The eash value of this trade in this elty during the year just eloserl fs eathiinted at about $3,700,000, There have been few now hans at the eandy-pulling huoks during the past year, the old establishinents haying tho full benollt of the Increased demand for sweets, CROCKERY AND GLASSWARE’ ‘THE TRAD IN CllockERY, alnssware, lamps, etc, shows falr progress, ‘The volume of sates was abut $2,800,000, igainst $2,600,000 In 1880, being un increase of nbouts per cent. ‘The augment as dupii- ented on the trade of 1870 was much greater, 8 1880 was very active year, ‘There ling been but small aceession of enpital, tho uraregate betng estimated at $525,000, against $500,000 the previotls year, One new firm has entbarked in the business. hero are few othor finportant changes to note. ‘Tho cost of .transnetlug business is perhaps a little greater thon twelve months ugo—i slight ndvance In wages being offset by lower frelght rates, Prices have ranged uenrly the same, and are now a shinde lower than nt the close of 1880, especially on ginss- ware, ‘The demnud has reeently run more: to Iigh-priced gous, na decorated wares but that fact has made Ittle difference to the yoltme of trade in imported articles, At times the trade iy < COULD NOT OBTALN GOODS fast enough to supply the demunds of cus- tumors; parlly beentise mmantifaeturers were behind with thelr orders, and partly becuse of tardiness in the freight movenent, ‘The trade Is far fram being overstocked! nt pres- ont, and there is sonie reason to fear that the supply will be short the coming season, espe- cially for the early trade, owime to the strike in the English potteries, A result of that may niso bean advance In prices, The mun- wlucturors Yesisted the demand of higher wages, as they have found tliat low prices are necessary to competition with Ainerlean goods. ‘Lhe manufacture of pottery in thig country jy at present making rapid strides towards perfection and that popularity whieh always awalts a really good article, MUSIC. TI BETTER TIMES haye done wonders in deyelopmg the tune- ful faculty. ‘The trade fn -musical instru- ments hag grown enormously during tho past yeur, some dealers reporting all the way from 20 to 60 por cent Increase, ‘The volume of sales fs estiinated at $4,000,000, against a little more than $3,000,000 in 1880, About $500,000 Is invested In tho business, which ig transacted moro nearly of 2 cash basis than over before. There has boon very Nttlo chango In prices during the past year, but net profits have been slightly reduced by incrersed cost of transicting business. Prices wera xenorally amarked up by inauufacturers during the boom of 1880 to. fully, as high w polut ag they would bear, and figures were subsequently redueud on -some classes of goods. ‘Trade has ruled uniformly brisk, Indeed, with tho exception of a: ittle lull in November, the competition has been rather between buyers than sellers, with an increasing pref erence for standard’ wares. Some of our dealers have found it impossible for months togethor to obtain Instruments from the manufacturers ag fasts wanted. “Ths has not much increased the home manufacture of planos, but it has greatly stimulated the MANUFACTURE OF NEED ONGANS in this elty. ‘They aro now turned out here atthe rate of nearly 1,000 por month, fading ready sale all over the West, as they compare favorably in quality as well as price with those of Eastern minke. ‘The trade In pintios hus grown enormously, A great many have bean sold to go to Colorao, and evon to ‘Voxas, Arkausis, and Moutuna, white the intermediate territory, ay well as the elty, Is puy urgoly, ‘Tw upright plano Is still tho favorit for home use, butn goud many sctutre ones find customers, ‘ho semt-grand. iy, however, taking the Jead tor the parlor, ag many -having been sold during 1881 ug Jn four or ilye years previously, The trade fn book and sheet music shows a large Inerense, und the mluor ojass of musical instruments have met with extensive sale, except that bund music has ruled rather stow, 2 Dealers note more disposition now than formerly gn Hie part of country buyers to come direct to Chicago, ‘The home trade is still cursed by the commission system, under which teachers, clergymen, ote, make wt p contaxe, which of cotirse fy paid by the buy: ex, It would bo well If the trade would unite asono man tu extinguish the nulsauce fore ever, e JEWELRY, ‘THIS LINE OF BUSINESS reports n very satisfactory trade, though It lig not grown so much as some other branches, In the Intter part of the yonr busi- ness wns fully 25 por cont greater than twelve months proviously, but lt was rela- tively slow In the early part of tho year, ‘Tho salas altoguthor increased about LL per cent, aggregating nearly $7,250,000, agalnst $6,500, 000 for 2880, ‘Tho eapltal ongaxed In tho busl- uss Is esthnintadl at about$2,000,000, which ts probably n little large. 2 ‘There hay beon but Itte change tn the character of the demand for Jowelry proper, nud silverware, The new styles Introduced were generally recotvod: with favor, and all classes of goods mot with ready sale, mostly however, for the butter gritos. With thd pieces the case was somewiat diferent, There was a good demand for the best classes of watches, but for the more conimon grades the demand wits simply enormous, ‘Pha ne crease In the quantity oF money vtthe com mandof mechantes and farm workers lind swopt baro the stooks of ordinary movements: in moderate prleod eases; und some manne fucturers have orders for alleof thls kind of goals that they can turn out within the hex threo or four years, Listiieos ato te lated by the trade, where manufacturers ive recently refused to take caste down for goods to be supplica within what would ordinatity bo 9 reasonable tine, ‘There {3 10 necessity wow for sunding these outs across the water to compete with those of European make, ‘Thoy ure all wanted home, ‘Lhe Jobbing trade enjoyed tho benefit of tho business boom much more fully than did the retail trade In thts clty, Sdme of the siiutler houses in the lator tae lave seuree- Wdone ag much business tho past your us in LEATHER AND' VINDINGS, THE PAST YEAR wns, In some respects, more satisfactory to Jobbors of Jeathor aud:tindings thin was the provions ono, though 1840 was generally ace counted mare than ardinirity profitable, the tendency of prices hhaylng been quite sharp- Jy upward, ‘Uhroughout the past year trade. was stoudlly good, hore wny be sald to have been no pertads gf dullness, and from first to last tho murket iunintained a fir nnd healthy tone. “Pha prpduetion was ‘much larger thin vyor before, but there was 4 core reapondiig tierease fn the consumption, and ad ately Aceummiuluty to the axe shes We Wuafvorably affected, An Increase fn the volume of Qobbtig) sles of fully 33 per cept is reported, the total slightly oxceeding $2,000,000, uzulnst $1,800,- OW for’ 1Ns0 and 81,600,000 for 18%, Prices were remarkably ENEMPT PROM FLUCTUATIONS, aud if protits huve uot been as large as in gf some formor years the loss beon loss, tho faflures in having heen —oxceptionally fow, and the collections excentionally good. tn this elty thers have bean no failures in the Jot- Dag trade. One snot tanner aid one or tw comission houses with iepatelty of capital went to the wall, but these failures are sity: posed to hava resulted from operations ont- sido Jogitimate merchandising, With the singlo oxception ofthe best atatlty of vory heavy sole, of whieh tho supply at tines was alittle seant, stocks wero at all times ample, Ones ar twice durtug the year the sole-leathor men—euconraged by the modurate propor tlons of tho supply—tried to sturt a boon? In prices but the attompts were dismal fall- ures, Tho year closes, on fiir stocks and steady prices, | LUMBER, THY THUND INTEREST in Cliengo’s great commercial trinity, the luniber trado, bag made wonderful progress. during tha yoar just closed, Truo to its reputation of former years, it has continued to spread intl very few portions of the coun- try west of tho Alleghentes where railroad coimmtniention Is had with Chicago can ba found where the products of the Mreliigan forests nra not in greater or less mensure utilized for the manifold purposes to which hunber fs applied. ‘The old trade barrier which hag in the shapo of an tmaglnary lino diylded the working field of the Chicago lumber merchants from that claimed by tho Jumbermen of tho Mississtppl Vatley has Deon swept nwoy during the active season of 18831, and thousands of enr-londs of. pine also havo tha West Minber billed by Chicago merchants hate invaded tha Upper Mssissippt country, ‘Thls strong trade wind has made Itself felt strongest, perhaps, In tho South and Southwest. AN through tho sea- son builders and railroad contractors 1n Mis- gourd, Kansis, Toxas, Now Mexleo, and even Mexico have checked their extn baggace throuh to Chicazo when they have started out for Jumber, coming through St, Louls a3 if unconscious that that burg was the head- quarters of the Upper Mississippi lumber- trade, and on fanding here finding what they wanted without tho feast trouble, seen ono ot the greatest feats of votfinerclal enterprise, as shown by Chicago's resurrection from tho ashes, Aut rong home completely gatistied, Chicago lumber during the year Justelosed Uns traversed tho entire breadth of the eoun- try from Malne to Oregon, several consign ments hiving been nine ty the former region, where tho vino supply Is becoming exhinst- edand the spruce ly not avallable for tho needed purposes, and to the latter where, although the coarser pines abound, thore is Httle of tho finer sort and no faellltlus at present for utilizing tho nutlve growth, THE LUMDERMAN’S EXCHANGE which in years before had been shaply a stall underground room hired by tie Linn. berman’s Association, where it-attended meetings were held occasionally, and where the accounts of tho association were kept by the sunplest sort of single entry, became Inst year a guido ny well as wsonrce of power to the lumber merchant, aud he tins now come to believe in the yatue of statistical complete- ness as exemplified by tho work of the pres- ont Sceretary, Mr, George W. Hotehklss, who hag so systamutized the Inbors of his ofilce ns to grasp und record even the minutest itum of Interest to the colossal, trade, which in 1850-7 was represented only by a stand. ing committes of the Banrd of Trade, and which now bonsts of $60,000,000 capital. As compared with the recelpts of 1830, the yeur 1881 shows an excess in round numbers of 210,000,000 ft of Inmber and 1:8,000,000 shingles, together with proportionate in- ercase iu lath, posts, and other cunrser forest produets, ‘The luinber Interest of Chicago, which ten yenre ago it was thouat had reached tts fullest proportions, hus niade an advance, so farng the bulk ot trading is concerned, bo- youd any previous yeur of Its history, Com- mening on Jun. 1 Jast with a stock ‘on and of 497,810,673 feat of Iuimber and 183,720, shingles, recelpts chime in at an average of over 16,000,000. feet of Inmber per day for tha 300 working days of the year. During this entire tine the receipts, cnermous ag they were, HARDLY KEPT PACH WITH THE DEMAND, of which but 2 small proportion was for elly Fuse. During tho entire season of navigation tho average number of ears required daily for the filling ..of outside orders on the Inmber market was over 60, ‘and much delay and cibarragsinent was caused. the greater part of the thie during the stm- meron account of the inabillty of the rail- ronds “o meet the denunds of this great ine torest. OF tho 1,853,040,000 feat received during tho yet bout $63,000,000 feat wore absorbed by uuilddnge operations In Chiengo and Its sub- urbs, ‘The extent and gross valuo of forest prod. ucts haudied duriuz the year may be stated as follows: Bulk. Value. Lumbor, 000,000 $40,810,600 Shingtes, N 0/000 1,000,000 NOs see "208,000 Cedar posts, No... 1,000,000 4s3,000 Tattrond-tles, No. 5,0), 2,500,000 Cord-wood, CUs,...+5 40, PROUD Shubs, cds, +0 25,000, 100,000 ‘Han-birk, cds,,.. 0,000, $00,000 Tetograpb-poles, Nose. 09,000 200,000 ‘Total... The following table shows tho promingnt olnts In Michigan from which lumber has Boon shipped by Inke to tho Chicago market the past year, with the quantity from cach: EAST SHON, Plate. narntity.| Place, Quantity. Bluck Crook.. 11,112,000! Bacto Plor. “8 AG0,00 i Silver Late, 7000 Mouth Havers. QUO WOUISL. JUsopH sce thE 000 Jaucdingtan.... 107,235,000] Whitty Laka... 8d,244,000 Dhuulstow,,.. «LAT 215,00 WEST SHOnE, Bont'n Harbor 4,048,000|shobuygan.... 2,085,000 Manitowou.... 180,000) Whitetish Bay —'150,000 Dilwnukco.... G2 fi ORYEEN TAY, Ray doNoque. 2,000,000] Punsnukee.... 4,865,000 Cedar itlvor... 19,000,000] Poshitigo: (52 ,2010,000 Eecanaba 680,000] Sturgeun Ly. 10;7d3,000 Ovont Fel, QOU] Suited... 4. 9,500,000 NOWTHERN VORTS. Ashland..,.+« 20,015,000) Muck inawCity 9,054,000 Alpen 1,400,000 Baghinw ttiver Bu,2us, Cheboy; HD.) eawas Clty. 4,470,000 Charlevol. 87,00) ‘Craverse, 488 Murquotte, 4,110,000) ‘The tot: the sen receipts by nko dure son of mivigution wore 1,623,783,000 ft lumber andl 718,038,000 shingles, Tho lumber output in the Upper Missie- sipnl region Cor tha year 18st was, tn row numbers, 1,400,000,000 ft, whilu Liat of Micht- gin wag 4,500,600,U00 ft, ‘The year uow eloslitg probably gave larger prolits for the dealers than nny year since the grentilre, Duruy the boom in duly and August, when ordinary plesestult was sell tug at S217 .00, the farge Jumber firms wersstraluing every nerve to nieet the une precedented demand for shipment, and, as fis before been sald, failed ta keep ip with tho urgenteall, or to fill promptly orders that citing even from the territory naturally be longing to the Upper Mississippl region, THY INCOMING NUSIT. Durlng the latter vart of the summer and almost ap to the close of navigation much trouble was experlenced from lnck ot dock- roon, or rather from the Inability of yard. ownors,to pllu ani classify thelr stock as fast agitarrived, ‘This cuusy of ttsulf had i dte- pressing Influence on the cargo inarket for he ting being, and tended to. delay ship- wents by rail to som tent + Savoral of the Inrgest dumber firms with inflls at Menomluee, Grand Haven, and elae- whore mado preparations by the building of docks aurly in tha seagon ta pile largely ab the nllls dvlng the summer, wud thus save overcrowding at the yards In ditscity, and at the samo {lie have i good assartinont of Junber to draw from during the winter, ‘This plan hag hardly been carrled out,Cor the reas son thet tho dentand for lumber throughout the season of navigation was so heavy aud comthitons iat it eoull not be spared from the market. | Several lurge firms ownlug wills across the Inke hud to buy largely othors near the close ot navigation In ordor to Heep up ® well-nssorted stock in thelr yards hore, F, ‘One featuro of tho trndo for sever yonrs ast, the occuslonal, shipments In deals, or Hreetnoh cleir plank, for the English mare ket, hus been intssing the past season. “This Was aeconnted for vy the oxtreine prices reallzed dura the siiminer which avould haye rendered such shipmonts unprofitable, as timber of Uiut deseription eomutanded better prices iu thls wwarket than was pald for Itan Canada, + . THE .CANGO TRADE commenced abuut May 10, although strag- stig cargoes arclyed a fortulght before: that date, ‘These early meotnta were composed, largely ot che lower grades, the greater por Hon botug mit culls, Ue the arrlvals daring tho fatter part of April 4 cargoes, comprls- hig timber, shingles, and lath, stopped ut the Frankdin street market. The month of Muy was’ an actlya one on the cargo market, sales belug mude rapidly, though tho arrivals wore small in number as compared with previous years. ‘The praetica of purchasing at the milia on the opposit shore was followad more gonerally than has Twen the custom in previous season, and this of ftaelf tended to lessen tha iminuber of vessels at the regular market, During the two middle weoks of this month prices dropped alittle, but after the Sth offerings were rondlly agenpted ata allie nuilyaneo, Juno saw nsharp advanes in all deserip- tons of lumber, Lourelen Ur piece stull wis Sn active request, and, although- prices In tho general list gained $1,00@1.¥5, tha de- mand for this elngs was so arent that ntteh higher figures wore pald, a During the month af duly tho domand for all elnsses of lumber continued act Ive, and a furthor advances of Te per 4,000 feut was made. Arrivals on tho market during this month were not targe, aust of the cargoes Kolng to the yards of tho owners who hat purchase inaulvance. ‘Tho demand for long-longth pieco-stufl continued. throughout the month, the supply being ine alequate. + ‘Lhe month of August ppenel briskly, nt the Franklin streot markat, prices for tho firat ton days holding thelrown, Atter tut dato the descriptions of piece-stuit whitch hat been In active demand became more plenty, asaresultof ineroased manufacture to se- eure the high figures offered, and og 9 conse- attence prices’ dropped 50@75e per in. Cho unprecedented heat of this inonth serlously retarded work nt the yards, causing stocks to neetunulate, and this fact had tts wotght In bringing nbout lower prices, Dyring Septomber there was some falling off I the demand Cor cargoes, and at tts clogs anothor decline of 60c per 1,000 had been rec- orded. ‘Tho buoyant feullng that ind charac- torized the imarkot was gone. ‘Toward tho latter part of the month, however, after tho shock cauyed by the death of the President had passed, nm more active fons was noted, but the Inck of — transportu- tlon = factlities still hampered trade to a great extent. This was: markedly trussofaras the Ulinoly River trade was concerned, Which was completely blocked by tho grain plathora that occurred about this the, inprisoning the entire canal-bont tet as it did with thelr cargoes of corn, for which thore was no room in the cloyatots, The enrgo -trade for October was rather more slack than for any previous wonth dur- ing the navigation sensen. Quotattons for plece-stull dropped early in tha month to 10,25 for ordinury lengtis, and there were beloved to tinve been sates considerably be- low this figure, ‘This deelino was attributed partly to large supplies and to continued fenrs that the winter demand might be rrent- Jy lessened In the consuming districts owing: to the supposed Inrze shortage In tha crops, In tho last few days of the month, canal-bonts being mors plenty, considerable lumber was taken tor the [linoly River trade, and prices stiffened up materinily. ‘Thy recelpts daring November embraced 102,017,000 feet lumber and 75,019,000 shiigics, besides the tnlseefinneous and coarser forest products, ‘Phe shipments during this month were 211,656,000 feet lumber and $4,087,000 siiluglos, Care prices nilvaneed sharply tos ward the middle of Novambor, and reached the highest figures of the season toward the close of the month, ordingry plece-stull com manding $12.59, ‘The December trade was little, if any, loss than that of the precoding mouth, and prices woro held firm for all descriptions of lumber, CARGO PRICES, 'The following tale shows tho cargo prices of prominent descriptions of lumber nt tho vorlods numeds May, July Nov, 30, ru prisget 9.50@10.00 $11,75@12.00, #12,00312.50 3.00127 LOOT KOLO UI TEU O.0U be 1s@ 8.00 1.001.311 Shing Wo ht KS Bids Bes Shingles, stundurd 2400 20 Boks a Zuks Se) THE YARD TRADE through the winter was good, and long be- ture the oponing of navigation many classes of luinber were oxtnusted, denlers botng obliged to resort to reciprocal exchanges In order to met tho wants of thelr dustotners, AC the full opening of navigation, May 6, the stock on hind In the yards was 238,550,664 feot of lumber and tlmbor, and 7,008,575 shingles, against 2384838T4 feet of lumber and Umber and 115,110,000 shlugles nt the sume date the year previous, Or the former quantities, 21,260,000 fect of Iunber and 26,- 200,000 shingles had been brought in by ves- sels that had mannged to avady the heavy f which hugged the south shoraof Luke Mich- igan up to nearly tho Ist of Any. ‘Lralo from this point on was remarkably gon, At a -mvcting of -the trade” called at tho instigation of . the ‘beurs”” May 21 for the purposo of reducing rates on some portions of the yurd list, thd movers were defeated, nnd ata subsequent meeting on the ith ot ‘May the price-Hstadopted carly in the month was reafiirmed. ‘Che month closed with a firmer fealing on all claysus of stock, ‘Thedune yard trado was very heavy, bring. Ing the total shipment and disposition of lhunbor for the first six months of the yerr to 718,221,000 feet, Hemlock arrived In consid. erndlo quantities this month, sollius generals i 6 $8.09 pat, wm. by tho cargo, ‘The price- st adopted May 27 was continued up to the regular meeting of thls month, whon a new list making 1 general ndvancear $1.00 perm. was atlopted as the ofliclai schedule for July, During the month of Juty business at the yards was unpreeedented, and the regular price-list of June 27 was supplemented on 37 the 12th of July ata niet of the trade, and on tho 10th an nnoftictal list was Issued by many eating dealers whieh was gener- my adopted, ‘The shivmants and sales or duly reached 189,010,173 feet of hunber, as compared with 125,821,889 fect In July, 1880, August ‘showed up largely In the yard trade, and, until the 2th of the month, Indl- ented littts less demand than was shown for the month previons, ‘Toward the end of this month long-continned droulths bn the reglon looking to Chicago for its sipphes had an adverse Influence, ant the month closed with alittly less buoyant feeling. ‘The reported shimnents duriig this month ombraced 235,- eyo foot of Itimber and 123,040,000 shine gles. Durlng the month of September the re- eelpts by lake and rall were 251,833,000 fvot of Tumber und 113,055,000. shingles—nn fnerease of 20,711,000 fect of Number and 37,874,00 shingles over the corresponding month of the bey fous your, ‘Cho slilpments wore 183,811,- feot of lumber and 182,735,000 shingte ‘The falling off in the shipments this month was due largely to the livk of transportation facilities; nid fears that the short crops in the West would not warrant 9 continuuice of the heavy consumption of lunber also jd their weight in curtailing tha demand. Prices remained us fixed In the lst on Oge 27, nlthough several yards, desirous of andi ing Ub new avenues of custom, Were known to have cut the mites 23@e por 1,000 fast, As ageneralthing, however, the oficial list was adhered to, 2 x No changes occurred during October in the ist prices of tha yards ny established Sept, but ft was no secret that these prices were freely shaded by a wijorlty of the trade, That, this arose trom no hick of confidence In values a3 represented by tho Tat was eyl- donced by the unantinous tenfiirinlug of tho October Mat nt tho macting of Oct, 27 purpose of establishtag a tlst for Navemher, At this ineeting a resolution was passed withdrawing all traveling mon from tho road during November, provided 8 por cent of the trade agreed to the meastire, which wis fully ruta at an adjourned tecting eld ave 3 ‘The yard trado during November was act- jyo and strong, the official lst baling con- {inned with the excoptlon of nurrow common boards, which wera advanced 50c per 1,000, nnd 20¢ por 1,000 was atded to shingles, and {Ue to lath, "Tho old diticulty of lack of cars sudly humpored the trade during this month, the Fronds belng fram 600 to 1,000 curs behind tho orders all the time, YAuD PICKS, y Following were tho olliclal yard prices at the dates nanied: Jun, 34 Pi Te Vor, 28, 1S iia situnus iin aBaltn Herrera recent meer La i), ct is STOCKS TO DYW FIOM, ‘Tho fllowung Ngures bear on the condl- eT ton of the stouks ut the closing of the year: Lumber. shingles, Btook In yards Neo, 1..,.€078h223° | ROGUE Exeoss Of sbipmenta . during month,.... 20,599,000 41,010,000 Eatlmated stool Jan, 1. .f:25,008,223 20,1013, 174 Block duu ieladioeesascasioua — astnstuas HARDWOOD LUMBER, ‘The bulk of this lwinber ty receloyed trom the forests of Michizan, Wiseonstn, and Tne diana, but de tiner qualities, such as black walnut, come trom North Caroling, ‘Teines- sve, and Kentueky, while the Southorn pine is largely obtalned from Alabama, or from Jefferson County tn that State, Altogether the receipts of hardwood lumber have been over 250,000,000 feet, 60,000,000 feet of which has come from the South, ‘Lhe value of the Southora lumber recelved hers footed up in tho vicinity of $3,000,000, whilo that from the moro northern forests reprosented filly a5. 1000, ‘Those latter reculpts wero inate up of mianlo, ash, basswood, oak, te, used fur furniture and building purposes, PUpONESS MADE. No data Is known to axist by whitch a com. let history of the receipts and shipments of MMbor AL Chtcago enn be traced ton dnte Onrlior than 1843, although tt is stated b those ongaged In the business that the trade had in 1843 acquired a voluine not exceedin 13,000,000 feat, which wag steadily Increnseq. vwntil 1847, boginning with which year wo yy trace {lg ‘allo’ Inerense to tho presont time, ng Wwe Inher. Shingles, vee BT, Lie > LOOT mo one nn SUZ AIM et 1 eee LOTR 008,085 O52, 1 BIT505, HI0,RY paral sy 1, bi, 602, a Ox), seve 8534 ‘The usual flight of speculations regardln, 1G forest outcome of next year b sappenred moro especially in jowrnats devoted to tha lumber Interest, As to thd reliability of hese niunerons predictions little can be sald, The prospects, however, for next year may be summed up in the remarks of a promlneng lumburinan of this elty, who asserts that the mills will probably Ineronso tholr enpacity, and will find material enough to keep them Jn operation throughout tho working season, TUK PINE BUPPLY, Au exchange, spenking of the destruction of our plie forests, says? i It {a assorted that during tho season Just. closed More thin six billions (6,279,950,000) of fect ut lumber have Deon felled tn Aietilan, Wiscon- alt, and Minnesota, The loyging this summer will swoll thia arcuunt to seven and 1 hall bille Jons (7,420,050,000) of fovt. As tho eonsus acente roport that the whole quantity of pino timber standing in those threo States is but eighty-one and a halt biltlons (41,050,000,000) of teet, o aiimple sum indlylsion will show that tho supply will only last twoive yonrs if tho ‘present rato of de struction Is kept up, and thore fs no way of sup. plying tho toss, alnco once tho pine is cut off 9 #rowth of hard wood follows, which {s not only slow of wrowth aud of te suru vurloty, buy ricticntly uscless tor building purposes, Mino plnuries are also compiratively oxhauste ed, lumbering operations now boing confined to BPruce, Michigan lumber has even beon shipped to Bangor, indicating that the homo supply thore Is giving out. According to the Journal of the Axricult. ° ural Society of France, tho acreage of forest in Burope, north and south, §s 100,000,000 to 150,000,000, ‘Those, however, espuclally ont gide of Gerniany, are rapidly thinning out, In Germany prent pains ara taken to foster the growth of forest trees, and the Inbors of that Government have thus far been well re. warded, COAL, NOTING MORE UNERRINGTY BOWS tho growth of the ety in population and in nutnufactures than does the rapid expansion of the coal trade, ‘Tliat the quantity of coal handled during tho past twelve months should ba more than double the quantlty required to meet the demands no farther back thun 1875 would scarcely bo cred: {tel were not the fact demonstrable by oflicial ilgures. For that year the totat recelpts of all kinds ot coal wore rev turned at 1,012,003 tons, while the receipts for 1881 reach a grand aggregate of 3,414,000 tons, which fs an incrense during the space of six yenrs of 1,882,000 tons. Of the past year’s receipts only 650,000 tons were re- shipped, thus leaving 2,788,000 tons ns the quantity required to supply local consumers. ‘Tho shipments to the Interlor were 34,000 tons farger than for 1880, ‘The tucreasa would hiye deen still moro marked but for, the fact that at cortaln periods of the year It wags Impossible to obtain the reaulred frelzht necommodation, During March und April, for instanee, shipments were alinost entirely suspended In consequence of tho snow-blockade, ‘hon in May for n perlod of two weeks the awitchmen’s strike placed an SuNbRTES on shipments, ‘There were nlso periods during =~ October and November when cortalu sections of the West which look to Chicago for thelr stip- plies were victhns of a genuine cont, famine, slinply because the railway companies could not furntyh the cars. in many foeniitles eonsimers Wore obliged tu resurt to tho corns erib for a substitute for coal, while in sume enses ta such desperate straits wore the peo- ple driven that ratlroad thes were torn up to supply the needed fret Since the middle of November supptles have been golng forward frovly und the sulfurings Ineldent to the coal fuuing of lust winter und the past autumn are Hot fyared, ‘The country dymand ts chivily (or BITUMINOUB COATS of the cheapor kinds, Witnington selling more largely that any other, There ts, howe ever, an unusually Incrensing demand for nnthraclte, and within a few years it is not iniprobabla that the proportions inay be re- versed, unless the diiference in cost shall be- come greater than wt present, The largely- Moruasihiy use of hard coal tor domestic pikpoues isciua to the Introduction of the ise-burner stoves more than to anything else, though Sts smaller bulk and greater cleanliness commend If to consumers. the various kinds of coal handled in this mare ket Wilnlogton tikes the lead as to quantity, the‘proportion hetny as three to one of any othar brand, In quality it ty inferlor to the product of “many ‘qf tho astern qilnes, Of the Inttor the Erie and the Yougn- logheny ure unquestlonubly the best, with dhe Hocking Valley and the Pittsburg rank. ‘ing only a little lower, Of the tirst-mentioned cunpuratively littic now comes to this mare ket, Youghfogheny, which Is satd to be a better coal (containing, ns It does, about 0 per gent of ‘carbon to 55 per cent for Erie), und which is Gs ek, ton cheaper, is being hirazcly substituted. The extension to ‘Lo-s ludo of the Ohip Central Railroad makes It possible to place this brand of coal on the market at n conskderably lower rate than formerly, and In greater quantity, Both for wuthracite and bituminous cos PHICKS AVERAGED HIGHER tinn for 1889, The yoar opened nt $8.00 for the fonucr, but in January thore was an ade vines to $8.50, and further along to $8.73@ 0,00, Owing’to tho severity of the weuthe tho unusually netive demund, and ‘the great! dileulty exporisnect in getting coal fore ward from the mines those extreme prices wero cusily austalned wnul the opening of Inko navigation, The second week in May saw a decline to §7.25@750, Thore was no further chango in yalues until July, when or- ders wore freely filled at $7,027.25, and some engh sales for linmediate dellyery were made 3, Aug, 13 thomarket advanced aglow us $0.75, to $7.0@i, in Septomber to $8.00, aud about the mlddle or November to $8.50, ‘The supply of hurd cont has been a Mts short all the year, owing to. the une vorsally increased requiromonts of tha fron Interest, although the production has been some 4,350,000 tons greater than for 1880, ‘Tho season has been a mora than or- dinnrity profitable one to dealers, the soft. eonl men especially having had a Nighly prosperous year, COAT, FREIGHTS havo avoraget higher than for many years. ‘Tho igh rates wero caused by the scarcity of vessels and the low grain frelghts, Most of the regular conl-earrying craft ware en: engaged In the tron ‘and “hunber trades, and in thy transportation of ties and telexraph poles—a consequonce of tha great activity in railrond bullding,| ‘Tho proportion of coal recalved by luke Was therefore smaller than avar bofare, 7thg tallowwlng Tabto ahows the tonnage of rn soft coal received ut Chicago during Whvole enul, ‘West 1831; Sndlana * January. FBobruary. BMarob., 860,807 BOUL 12588 In aldition to the above there wore 17,000 tons for rolling-mill consumption, OILS, PAINTS, AND COLORS. “A FAMILY PROFITABLE and generally satisfactory year Is reported by dyaters in this Hue of goods, The busi ness exhibits a respectable growth, the sales for 1881 amaunting to $6,000,000, which Is a increase over the pravions year’s sales of 10 percent, Collectluus were reported quite a3 good as for the provions year, which, It will bo remembered, was exceptionally satlafuc- tory in that respect. Among the local trade thore havo been no failures, and the nuwber