The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-12-31

The last week Of tho year 10 very rarely
favorable TO the dry goods market, but the
present ID an exceptional one. With the
outgoing Of 1859 there are decided symptoms
Of Increasing sales In most descriptions Of
domestic fabrics, and the fact 10 pretty gen
orally conceded that there IL no accumula-
tlou OF goods In frst hands with which to
commence the next year. or some leading
standard makes OF cotton goods the market
Is wholly bare, and the manufacturer
agents refuse 10 receive orders for future dc.
livery based on present current prices. The
few suspensions or failures among the lead
ing dry goods houses, which On inquiry
prove TO have been the result Of spsculations
outside Of their proper sphere, have been
greatly eraggeratsd; and Il 10 asid that they
have had the mischievous effect OF furnish
ing excuses to out-of-towu houses for not
paying up rs promptly as they might have
done. II Is a very remarkable circumstance
that, while the importations OF foreign dry
goods and tho amount thrown upon tho
market exceeds that Of 1858 by nearly ten
millions In gold, the market 10 not so giuttcd
with goods now as II was at the close Of
1858.
A few foreign goods, Of an unsalabie
character, have been within week or two
taken out Of bond aud rcshlpped to Europe,
but the quantity Is small. The retail busi.
hcos VI WV ivy tuttuk tho P&ot shtNo Wbohs
has been uuprecedeutedly large, greatly In
advance OF the customary holiday sales.
We mentioned last week that one OF tho
largest and oldest retail houses In the city,
after A. T. Stewart & Co., had sold more
goods on the Monday Of that week than
they had ever sold before on any ono day;
aud we learn that their subsequent sales
have been larger than even on that day.
There may have been less money made BY
our merchants than In some former years;
but not In consequence Of tho general
prostration Of business" which We read
about, but In consequence OF the shrinkake
In values, owing to tbs decline Of gold and
other causes. |.... ~ a
The transactions In brown shirtings and
shoetings for the week have not boon large,
for the stock Of standard goods 10 fret hands
Is email; but prices are firm, and the late
advance Is we'll maintained. .ru..N .r
Bleachod sheotiugs and shlrtings have
been In good demand, and prices arc firmly
held. New York Mills have advanced full q
cent and half b yard. In other descrip-
tons there Ia no quotablo change.
e. Cotton bags are In active demand, and
prices arc nrmer, but without any decided
advance. "a
Rolled jaconets arc not specially active,
but the best makes for the spring demand
are firmly held at the recent revised rates.
Printed cloths In the gray havo beon &C.
lively dealt 10, and some considerable sales
have been effected on speculation. Prices
advanced about one cont yard. Sales Of
"a standard quality have been made At 81
cents.
Prints are without any decided changes 10
notice. The sales have been light, and no.
thing Of consequence can be done until the
Introduction ofthe new spring styles, which
will be early put upon the market.
IL Woollens are generally dull, and will ro-
main so until the commencement OF the
movement for next spring trade. There Is a
light business In the better qualities OF cloths
and fancy eassimeres, but prices have un-
dergone no change. 90 g..
In foreign goods there Is hardly anything
doing, except In a limited way for o few
articles for the season. importers do not
appear to be at all discouraged by the bust
ness Of the year, and q fair spring trade Is
nptlcIpated, - Ilde Dsudruf