The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-10-08

coming in briskly, and generally first-class
goods only are in demand. The Southern
trade is now treble that of any year since the
war. Payments from the West for last sea-
sons purchases are generally about month
behindhand, while the Southern purchasers
are liquidating with cOmmendable promptness.
Large amounts of money are now required,
however, to move the crops; when this is ac-
complished settlements with Western purchas-
ers, it is expected, will be promptly made. The
prospect for q good spring trade, especially
with the South, is extremely flattering. So
far as the Western trade is concerned, how
ever. the competition which has grown up in
the Western cities has rendered the hold OF
our New York merchants upon livery insecure;
and If steps are not taken to give the occiden-
tai dealers extra inducements for laying in
their supplies here, the probability is that very
few of them will be found hereafter in the New
York market
HATS AND CAPS.
Until quite lately this trade has been re-
markably dull; but within few weeks past lt
has taken favorable turn, and promises 10
continue fair until the close OF the season. For
months mast many of the large hat factories
have been closed, and dealers who had heavy
stocks on hand found it difficult to induce
purchases. In fact, when the present season
opened it looked as If this branch OF trade
would be left in the lurch, while large orders
were continually coming In for other goods.
Probably the same reason which affects tne
trade with the West in respect to clothing may
be assigned as reason for the decadence of the
hat business in that direction Western houses
have begunS to manufacture on their
own account, and to supply the home de-
mand in their various localities, whereas nearly
all these orders were formerly filled in New
York. A very fair business is now being done,
however, in telts-both wool and fur-and the
orders for silks are increasing. The great i'm
petus given TO the business, lately, was from
the California dealers, who, rather unex-
pectedly, threw heavy orders on the market,
and caused q revival in the manufacture of
felts, which had been almost entirely sus-
pended. The Southern demand is much
greater than last year, and is mostly for felts;
orders for silks being mainly confined to the
large cities of the South, while wool and fur
hats are generally worn in lesser town and in
the agricultural districts.
HARDWARE.
AS appears to be generally the case with
other branches of trade, the Southern demand
Is greater in this line than 1t has been during
any season since the close of the war. The
trade with the West, on the contrary, Is not
equal to that of last year. Prices range ABOUT
the same as in 1868. The low charges for
freightage have brought in from the West nu-
merOus orders that would not otherwise have
been received. The home demand is very
good, and in itself s sufficient to keep dealers
busy This remark is applicable especially to
builders hardware. A good share of these
goods go also to the West, but the Southern de-
mand is limited. AS respects agricultural i'm
plements, however, the case Is exactly re-
versed. Shipments are made to the South in
large Numbers, and the best improved manufac-
lures are beginning to find ready market in the
Southern States At the same time a fair
demand for agricultural implements is kept
up from the West, but, prOportionably, 1t Is
not so great as that which comes from the
South. Heretofore it was thought that the
commonest and most old-fashl0ned goods were
good enough for the negroes to use, but under
the new system of labor which obtains there.
the negroes have taken to buying their own
tools, and invariably require to be provided
with frst-class goods. Prices bid fair to con.
tinue through the season without any material
change. The trade in mechanics tools and
in table cutlery is very brisk, and the South
gets q very large proportion OF these snip
ments.
On the whole, 1t may be said, not only that
business is brisk, but the prospects are de-
cidedy cheering. Another good cotton crop
or two will place the whole country in as pros
porous condition as 1t was In the busy years
before the war.