The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-02-07

points OF importation beIng France, England, Be-
GUM and Austria me prices 2. eoaI nse aepead
the spring trade, which began on the nfst OF liis
month. the prices did not dner materially rom those
thought by the dealers that there viii be an nnusus
ally good trade. For the finer grades OF x0ous, ~
seyrss china paria1 marble ~ aa snch a.
only the rich afford 10 buy, there N constantly
increasing demand--an assured token OF INCREASING
wealth and refinement, not TO say LUXURIOUS extra
yagance, SO rapidly dilsing itself IN this country
Many special sets are being ordered, with Initials IN
monogram and coats or arnlsa further token OF the
ambitious striving Of wealth IN this country for ans
tocratlc distinction. multitude OF new styles
snow themselves IN the freshly arrived goods
the very perfection OF the highest ART The Southern
trade begins lrst and then the Western trade. which
opens about the lst Of March, the neaT ~ tr"ie Is
This Is heavy, but very important and yer! use
ful branch OF trade. The bulk OF the spring trade
owing 70 the cumbr0us SIZE ana weight Of the goods,
~ packed In crates for safe importation, q as the
come from StafIordshire, ENGLAND, but domestic
fabrics are constantly increasing In quantity Rs Wen
sale dealers thai they ~, Mi have an unusually large
trade, az the trade last year particularly auli.
Prices alike for the manufactures importer and job
Der, promise to be much better Quite q share or
TINS class oil trade, owing to the necessity or rather
general practice Of waiting for the opening OF spring
navigation, as stated above. IL accomplished by
orders.
BOOTS AND SHOES
this city IL almost faonlonsy large, amounting yearly
TO millions OF dollars. Most OF the heavy work. as
pegged boots IS made in Natick, Mass. The lighter
work, as LADIES' line & alters and other shoes, is,
since the Introduction OF sewing machines IN connec
ton with the manufacture OF boots aud shoes, made
principally in this city. Experience has shown that
the same duality OF this class Of work can ba made
here as at the East. Lynn Is the principal manu-
factory Of ladies' CATERS The spring trade has al
month. First comes the Southern trade ana then
the Western trade. II Is a singular fact, but worthy
o stating here as based on the statements III whole
snle dealers In this class OF goods, that Southern
buyers paid better last year than Western buyers.
Besides sending an almost unending quantity Of
eases OF boots and shoes South and West heavy ship
mems are also made to California, the West India
Islands and South America.
FURNISHING GOODS.
The Southern trade has already commenced in this
line OF merchantable products. Tne Western trade
near trade two weeks later. Prices are a little in
advance Of what they were last year.
uROCERIES.
good many goods embraced In this speciality OF
trade are now being sold, but principally ON orders
Owing 60 the same reason given above In reference
70 the crockery trade the business does not become
brisk except tn seaport cities until the opening Of
the rivers and canals. More less goods are snip
ped 70 Chicago and contiguous cities through there
being competitive railroads to these points; but on
the Hudson River Railroad under the regime OF Mr..
Vanderbilt. the freights are placed SO high as to
render ruinons TO transport heavy goods over this
rone. The result IL that not until the latter part OF
March or the lst OF April can the spring trade be said
year. Very little trade is done with the South in
groceries. IL il noticeable fact, however that
received here during the past year than during many
years previous, and IL IL further noticeable that the
qnaiity OF these articles Of southern production Is
mich better than heretofore-a fact attributed
to the Introduction OF Northern capitalists and keener
Yankee capacity and shrewdness NJ their MANU-
facture.
INDIA RUBBER GOODS.
For the multfafous products manufactured from
yuicanized rubber there Is Q constantly increasing
Qfr a Ia 1V con nlu fan
with marked vigor and animation. The opening
trade is principally WESTERN There is but little
trade East and most Of the Southern trade ~ during
the summer months. Present prices do not vary
materially from those OF last year
THE HAT TRADE.
The major part OF hats Designed for the wholesale
trade manufactured at Danbury, Conn. 4 large
quantity is also made here, but more especially for
trade. which opened the first Of this month. and
after that the Western trade, which not fairly In
augurated till the 1irst OF next month. Present
prospects give abundant promise Of unusually
brisk spring trade, with average prices, ruling about
the same o. last spring.
BOOKS.
That old apothegni, whatever yOu choose to call
It, about there being no end 10 the making Of books.
books waiting venture In the spring market. The
ccoet,es scrioe7sdt still prevails In viruent FORM
which may be set down as higiy complimentary 70
the masses OF people and as indicating the grow
trade however, does not Begin an the r or sp nex
month. Everything indicates unusual activity in
the book market. II Is iamenrahlc FACT. thoagh,
that hthert0-and 1t will doubtless be tine same this
year-the principal trade has been North and West,
that of the South being exceedingly limited and
fined mostly to the principal Southern cites. Last
springs prices Will NOS dilIer essentially frun those
of this spring.
WATCHES, JEwEI.RY AND SILVER WARE.
In these branches ot trade, generally combined In
one, there n very large wholesale business done In
tins city, The spring trade has already opened under
very little from what they nave been--a little lower
In the average II ANYTHING. Watches vi American
manufacture are rapidly growing INTO more popular
works OF watches and putting them IN cases here
su prevails, however, 10 very large extent and ~
these imported works are of first class workmanship
the imports VIII continue IS long as labor IN
Switzerland and elsewhere where watches are
IL Is The cSeaper Class OF iewery that generaily
enters INTO the wholesale trade. Taste for
display Of icweiry Is a. widespread
comparatively trl1ing expense, inexpensvely gaudy
jewery Ii bound TO md abundant purchasers The
ambition for glitterIng display u gratified, and
very largely with total absence OF the golden reality
II If, therefore, not gong beyond the mark to say
that OF tins class o. cheap Jeweiry millions OF dollars
one OF course must go to first class establishments
and pay rst class prices u is the same with silver
ware. But 1t Is unnecessary TO dwell on this point.
In the genuine articles OF watches jewelry and
silver ware and those not genuine there ayery
large spring trade, and the trade " areaa, going on
swimlninViy.
We might multiply trades, or rather other branches
opening OF tue spring trade q revival Of most
encouraging activity IN all OF these. We might
alude to the druggists and show that their goods
are not the drugs they have been In the market but
are being taken by buyers from all sections OF the
country with aviditT. OF the trade In wines and
liquors we might SHOW an upward tendency In
prices, and that the spring trade IN this
line Notwithstanding the assault of Bohe-
mians and pratings OF fusil oil, has rarely been
more SPIRITED An unusually large spring trade is
also being done In furniture and upholstery In hard
and all the varieties Of iron goods; in carpets,
efa
tionery goods; In caps and straw goods; IN tobacco
pipes and cigars; In sewing machines toys and fine
works, In cloaks and mantLlas, agricultural irn-
PIGMENTS and so on to the end OF the chapter. A
general thing there IL not much change IN prices |
from those Of u year ago. Trade Is buosant and |
everybody is hopeful and encouraged
THE RETAIL. TRADE.
In what we have written we have confined our |
selves almost exclusively to the wholesale trade.
Hut the spring retail trade In city s most Im
portant item--an item embracing the semi-annual \
expenditure OF many millions OF dollars. TN every /