Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-08-23
The Jewe1ry Trade of Chicago

The unexampled progress of this city
from an insignificant border town to first
class rank among the cities of the world !;
its unequaled prosperity within the past few
wears: the vast strides it has made in ma
terial growth and andizemen-furnish
ample themes for establishment and self
graduation. Chicago to-day rejoices in be-
ing the greatest railroad centre, the heaviest
packer and exporter of pork and beef on the
continent, and the largest grain entrgpot in
the world. Our leading merchants no
longer depend on Eastern jobbing houses
for their supplies. They import goods d.
rect from the manufactures Of the old
world, thus making Chicago the great dis
tributing centre of merchandise without in
termediate transfer or handling, to all points
in the Northwest. In commerce., in m anu
/ factures in trade, in everything that con-
| duces to the permanent wealth and stability
Of metropolis whose star Of empire
has not yet begun to approximate the zenith
of its glory-Chicago is without parallel
in the history Of powerful and" influential
cities af
With this remarkable and steady influx
of prosperity and wealth, have come also
! the refinements, the Injuries and tastes of
elegant and enlightened society. We have
an Opera House which for architectural
beauty, and interior convenience of ar
rangement and appropriate ornamentation
excels anything elsewhere of the kind in
America. We have an excellent gallery of
art, and afford every facility for its en-
couragement in our midst. Our operate,
musical and theatrical entertainments are of
the best that well directed enterprise can
procure or first class talent supply. In
none Of these essential concomitants of civ
ilization and progress, are we one whit be-
| mind older and wealthier cities.
But nothing perhaps furnishes more con-
vincing evidence of aesthetic culture, and
that love of the beautiful (which is innate
in every human heart, and takes root and
thrives in plethora of worldly prosperity
than the rapidly increasing demand for ar
ticles of personal adornment and use.
Though fashions are capricious, our ladies
are always fully up to the times in their
| style Of dress, and so too, are our gentlemen
| in the cut and make up Of their apparel.
In matters of ornament and luxury, our
tastes are no less expensive and exactlng.
From cursory examination of the books
or the Assessor Of Internal Revenue, we
find that the aggregate sales for the year
past, of nine Of our principal houses en-
gagged in the jewelry trade, reached total
of $1,351, 12150 This is an Increase of
800, 600 on the returns made the year pre-
vious We include sales only of houses en-
gagged in legitimate business and not auc-
ton and other sales of jewelry which
would doubtless swell this statement to a
much larger figure.
OF this revenue, by far the largest pro-
portion was taken by Matson & Hoes, No.
III Lakes rect, the Oldest firm, and heaviest
capitalists and importers of this class of
goods i'll the West. Their sales amounted /
to $685., $500. Deduct this from the gross
sales, and divide the remainder among the
other eight houses, and the average sales of
each would be within a fraction Of $685.
800. Some of them sold more, while others
sold good deal less than this amount.
The ready and logical inference of these
figures is the fact, that there is growing
taste for personal ornament and luxury in
the West, which keeps pace with its advance
in all the more substantial elements of pros
perity and wealth and furthermore that
Messrs. Matson & Hoes with their great
facilities and business connections with the
best manufactures in this and the old world, /
are well able to maintain the lead in all
branches of the wholesale and retail jewel
ry trade which they have held in This city
for sc. many years past. f Hl5o
Their preparations for the ensuing season
have been commensurate with the increased
demand for all such articles as their heavy
capital and unlimited credit can supply
Their establishment has been replenished
with an immense stock of the most costly
fabrics that the mineral world and the best
mechanical skill can produce. Consign-
ments Of the latest novelties Of solid or
plated silverware, gold and silver watches,
diamonds and other precious stones,
bronzes, paintings, miscellaneous jewelry,
Sc, are daily received and sold by this
firm. While curious visitors to this estab-sI
lishment from city or country are shown
every attention and courtesy and are always
welcome, the buyer will find everything he
purchases will prove just as represented. We
would urge our readers who require any
article of jewelry, and who can appreciate
the advantage of purchasing from an I'M
limited stock of the choicest description and
variety of goods-to call on Matson & Hoes,
No III Lake street, for they offer the most
liberal inducements and aOarront everything
they sell. They never fail, in short, to give
custom ers the satisfaction of knowing and
feeling that their money has been probably
and judiciously spent Western Railroad