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

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Our Metropolis rhc Grand National Empo-
rinm of Trade-The Wholesale Trade OPEN
ing with Mos, Encouraging PrOspeets-prices
Compared with Last yenr-Inausura-.
tian of the Spring Retail City Trade Under
the Most FavornbIe Auspices.
The seasons which roll on with the varied year
come not more surely and uniformly than the sea-
sons OF trade We are just entering the
spring trade Seeing that winter is not yet over this
might seem msnomer, but IL must be borne in
mpd that we are fast, g0-ahead people. not given
to dilatorness but to taking time by the foreiock
And thus spring trade in the metropolis IL nshered
In with the present month. With some branches OF
trade the spring trade opens on the first OF this
month, with others it does not begin TIL the middle
OF the month, and there few that are not under
assured Roadway before the advent ofpostive spring.
The prospect OF good spring trade Is eminently
encouraginghas not been better, in fact for years.
The new government soon to be inaugurated at
Washington: the hearty cooperation that Congress
has already evinced with the policy Of the Incoming
administration; the prospect Of reform and economy
in the management Of political AFFAIRS the cheer
ing hope Of an OF wiser legislation and less reck
less expenditure OF the national finances and less
corruption and schemes Of spoliation and speedy
admission OF all the Southern States into the Union
from winch the suicidal legislation Of partisan plum
derers and jobbers has so long excluded them-ai
these have infused general confidence everywhere
have given new impetus TO trade, reused our
wholesale merchants TO renewed activity ana en-
larged purchases and In Frightening the future
pathway Of trade or retail merchants coming here to
make their purchases. induce them to 40 SO III the
fullest assurance Of speedy and satisfactory sales
What pleasant picture othe prospects Of spring
trade can be drawn than thsY Is IT to be wondered
at that our city, the great head centre OF trade in
this country, the great commercial emporium OF this
Western Continent, should sDe stirred with I'M
wonted animation; that unusual activity should
show itself Ut our wharves III the unloading Of mon
ster ships, newly arrived RON foreign ports that
The most lively commotion should prevail at the
Custom House and bonded warehouses paving
duties and getting goods nom bond; that our
moth wholesale stores, In unpacking and invoicing
and arranging for sale their mutfarous and rich i'm
ported fabrics should be bursting with preternatura
lvelness and that retail stores should be hurry
ing on at ruinous prices their old stocks Of goods TO
make room for goods newer and brighter. and from
bringing new modes and fashions with them more in
demand and commanding reader sales9 1t is not to
be wondered at; anu now, having thus answered this
question: we will proceed to write specifically or the
leading different branches Of trade and the pleasing
and lively prospect ahead, showing beyond question
that the present spring trade viii be unusually large
In nearly every distinctive brancI
DRY GOODS.
What would the world be without dry goodsP As
well ask what the world would be without air
water. Dry goods have become almost essential
to modern existence. They embrace an extended
catalogue Of our civilized wants, ana increasing
wealth and refinement constantly increase the cata-
logue. most interesting chapter might be written
ON the progress made In the manufacture OF dry
goods; how human ingenuity has been taxed in de-
vsing fabrics for and comfort; how the vast
resources OF nature have been drawn upon to con-
tribute the required material: how the liInit-
able wealth OF art has been made auxiliary TO the
perfectlng OF this material, and how study and
science are still exhaustng themselves in the erort
TO compass the utmost possible variety, beauty ana
perIec.i9n IN ts grand specially OF human wants
poorest as well as the richest. The demand Is uni
yersa. New York Is the great depot for supplying
this demand In this country. In dry goods the
spring trade began on the first OF this month. and
with each passing day the tide OF trade increases
begins about the middle Of June. During
the early winter months Importers were selecting
from england, France and liermany, and each strv-
ing to outrval the other IN tile extent and variety Of
their selections. Goods Of domestic manufacture
lobbing houses were travelling over every State IN
the Union securing purchasers. An the goods have
arrived; the scattered horde Of 'tlrummersr has
returned to the city, and the welcome purchasers
are already beginning 10 make their appearance.
We are now speaking Of the wholesale trade. Mer-
chants are beginning to flock to the hotels The first
arrival OF merchants Is from the south anu West
Later they Will begin to from the inferior and
distant sections of this state and Pennsylvania ana
contiguous states and The Eastern states. The
average prices VIII nos vary mcn rom those OF
comparative scarcity, but II Is thought the supply
will very nearly equal the demand: Altogether. a
much better trade Is anticipated than last spring.
Our wholesale merchants are showing more ieniency
in sales as regards time Of payment The long
but TO well accredited buyers the most NC
commodaring terms will he given. spe-
Increased liberaIity shown TO southern mer.
chants. While Immediately after the war none OF
as o "s a = ona ow
merchants are not aisposed 70 be reckless. The
severe lessons Of the past have taught them caution.
Formerly the spirit OF rivalry exercised itself upon
the special point TO see which could sell the most
goods. Now the chief rivalry is TO safe sales
Purchasers are also more cautious. And thus, with
judici0us caution on each side, and with abundant
goods and sellers and buyers and with every pros
pcct VI lively and gratifying trace opens The spring
trade IN dry goods.
The spring trade IN this class Of goois-a very
large trade, and IA ladies are the principal buyers.
regarded m their eyes important II Is ndIspen
month. France as Is wei known, furnishes most OF
the goods in TINS line, though some very nne silks
course, are chiefly in demand, though for fancy
plaids ana stripes there u growing taste. Lat
s increasing nave eu Se o WIDER wn
colors. Some new ana very elegant patterns viii be
introduced this spring Il y gratifying to be able to
state the fact and one that will be as pleasing TO
lady buyers as TO the men, who mainly have TO pay
the bills, that prices Will he somewhat lower this
spring than last season. Az with dry goods, the
first purchasers come from the West and Southwest
AMI the later ones from states more contiguous to
New York.
FANCY GOODS AND YANKEE NOTIONS.
Each year shows an increase In these classes II
fabrics. The disposition to indulge fancy goods
evinces nnfaillng growth, and Yankee ingenuity
never sleeps. unendlng a. IL the list Of goods spec
ned as Yankee notions, That Is. unending a. II was
nul taat nj fnG lxafar anr,sic
back TO the earliest days OF wooden nutmegs when
Yankee ingenuity first showed itself, there always
come out each spring curious aud undreamed OF
additions 10 the gfandly nterminabe inventory.
The spring trade IN this branch NJ trafic-and IN
cred0ly immense Is the rafc--does not fairly open
until the middle Of this month. very brisk trade
IN expected IN this line. with prices nrm--that IL,
varying very little from those of last year.
LACES AND EMBROJDERIES.