Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-04-14
CHICAGO CORRESPONDENCE.


Cool Weatber-Business- Maaufac-
ture-WhoIesaIe Boot and shoe Trade
DOggett, Bassett 81 Hills - The Look
Ahead-Fruit Prospects The Fifteenth
Amendment.
CHICAGO, April l, 1S71.-The pleasant but
cool weather has dried up the mud without
Fastening vegetation.
BUSINESS
is beginning to be quite brisk in dry goods,
millinery, boots and shoes, groceries, hard
ware, drugs and chemicals. The prospects of
a busy season are promising.
LEATHER MANUFACTURE.
Prominent among the industries which
have built up Chicago is the manufacture of
leather. So noted is Chicago leather for its
excellence, that the best boots in New Eng
land are made of it. Its distinguishing
quality is, that it remains soft and pllable,
and therefore durable, and consequently has
the best reputation in the market. All
kinds of leather-sole, upper, calf and har-
ness-are made here, but the chief produc-
ton is upper leather. As might be expected,
in a city noted for its leather manufa ctures,
THE Wholesale BOOT AND SHOE TRADE
! has attained large proportions, and has be-
come the great source of supply for the vast
region of country, including, and west Of,
the Mississippi valley. For the last few
| years, the business has been prosperous, and
| VIC number OF anu I6lldDIS uIllS SSlI-
| ing this class of goods has done much to at
| tract Western trade to Chicago. The amount
| of annual sales have been variously stated
| at from ten to sixteen millions, but the low
est sum is probably fair estimate. 1t is
also famous for its manufacture of boots and
shoes. The Chicago custom boot has a great
reputation all over the country, and the St.
Louis jobbers are obliged to buy them to sell
their own goods, SO popular is the demand
for them.
As a class, the wholesale boot and shoe
dealers are among the most responsible and
reliable business men of the city, and rep
resent large amount of business capital.
And at the head of this class is the firm of
DOGGETT, BAssETT q HILLS,
80 and 81 Lake street, the pioneer wholesale
boot and shoe house, and the oldest one now
in business in Chicago Beginning business
| as a wholesale and retail house in june
1916, when there were no wholesale houses
here of any kind, and the population was
but 10000, their sales the first year were but
81 900. In 1849 they sold exclusively at
wholesale, and from that time to this they
have maintained their prominence as the
leading house in their line in the North
west, and there are not more than three
houses in New York city that equal them in
business. They are also large manu-
tacturers of boots and shoes, were
the first to introduce this branch of
business here, made 5000 cases
last year, and will largely increase the num-
Der this year. Their goods always command
the highest price in the market. They keep
everything in their line to be found in any
market, and have a more complete assort-
ment than any Eastern house. By always
using the best materials, making and keep
ing the best goods-representing them to be
just what they are-and practising the
golden rule in their business relations, they
have increased their annual sales from
ST. 900 to over 81 200 900, and have earned a
reputation for integrity and fair dealing, and
for the superior quality of their goods, which
is guaranty for still greater achievements.
1t is one of the solid institutions which gives
character to Chicago.
Spring fashions begin to make their APP
pearance, and the ladies are manifesting
their usual interest in the latest novelties.
THE LOOK AHEAD
is more encouraging than last year, and
trade, thus far, has been much better than
last year at this time, and the prices for
agricultural products are also much better.
The probable funding of a considerable por-
ton of the public debt, at a lower rate of in
terest, will have favorable effect upon the
business interests of the country, and tend
to give confidence to both capitalists and
business men.
THE FRUIT PROSPECT
for Southern Illinois was never better, and
unless we have a killing frost, we shall have
abundance of good things in their season.
FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT
paraded the streets in gala procession, and
made a most creditable appearance, on
Thursday, in celebration of the ratification
of the amendment to the Constitution en-
franchising the colored population. In the
afternoon they had speeches at Farwell, and
in the evening a similar rejoicing at Zouave
Hall r.