New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-23
THE DEFY GOODS TRADE

GOOD PROSPECTS FOR 1S72-ADvAYcHs IN WOOL
AND COTTON AND THEIR MANCFACTUREs-
EFFECT OF TIE FRAECO-GERMAN WAR ~
IMPORTED GOODS.
Dming the past year there has been a de-
cled Improvement the dry goods business this city,
and AT the close OF 1871 most merchants found themselves
IN better condition than FOR years past For tho
first time since the downward tendency Of prices
was checked and merchants enabled to sell goods
at profit without being compelled 70 close ont the last
OF almost every invoice at cost loss. The Fan bust
ness OF the was larger and profitable than for
many years before AMI goods old rapidly an advanc-
lng market The only great drawback 10 the general
business OF the year the destruction Of the business
portion OF CHICAGO which culled heavy loss on nearly
AN tho great cities THIS loss, however was so spread
ont different classes and communea that the ory
goods merchants % N,w-York suffered much less than
at first anticipated. Notwithstanding th fact the
loss enough to sweep of the profits for the
year many leading firms Those houses that for
tunate enough 70 sustain little loss in Chicago,
found the years business profitable.
The leading feature OF the dry goods trade 1871
the advance, during the last hall the year. the price
OF wool which entered largely into the fabrics suit
able for FAN and Winter that considerable adj
vance was established In the prices Of manufactured
articles Merchants compelled TO give their orders
aud make their purchases much earlier In the season
than usual IN order e get goods at old prices great
trade were ordered Of manufacturers ne early April
May the usual time Of making such purchases being July
or August. A very tight money market during the
busiest Fall months somewhat embarrassed the opera
lions OF merchants and manufacturers, but did not
seriously impair credit or lead 70 any considerable
failures.
The prospects Of business FOR the coming year even
brighter for merchants than last year. though. from
present Indications manufacturers likely 70 have
hard year. The advance in wool, which began year
ago. has steadily continued until wool is CHER
gold than n was during the The advance has been
90 great as to seriously derancc the plans OF most
dealers and manufacturers. Notwithstanding the high
prices asked and paid for WOOL manufacturers desiring
particular grades have difficulty in supplying their
wants owing the great scarcity " the article IN cues
ton IN fact stated that almost an absolute lack OF
some grades Of wool prevails. The wooden monuflc-
turers OF the country have the whole since the
war an Improbable business, the constantly declining
prices OF their commodities rendering II dIlrnt 70
realize gain But now the old stock Of manufactured
goods has lutte generally been absorbed WOO pro
ducers, as We a. manutact ures nave iouhd thtl u'
ness unprohtaulc, and the result has De3n tHat
slaughter Of .a6ep has taken place throughout
the woo-produc'2g sections, 80 That now TheA
the old stock OF manufactured goods has been
consumed aud manufacturers have prepared Tor Iarsef
operations great scarcity Of the staple article ex
hesitate pay double the price for wool that they have
recT4S paid and IN many case. rather thah 90 40 tS
pay manufaoturers such advance as would eon'pen-
siderable advance in al kinds OF r 9en nH % RS
that To the greatly increased cost Of manufacturing VIII
ifpoIn the No uctarco NJ tho manufacturers IN
take the risk OF purchasing wool at present prices IL
must be evident therefore, that those who hod Wo'eu
Goods arc liktlv TO realize profit them when the
season FOR their consumption Is reached me aHyace
Ia he merely temporary, and most nlanutac-
turCrs bought sparlnsly, eNpectinS 10 MAKE ~
nurrhases al lower figures. Their stock Of Wool
tougbt at old prices has In consequence been nearly all
used up. and the product OF their mills sold several
months before lobbers make their purchases manu-
acturers are compelled 10 produce their goods IN order
that when the arrives they may have stock OH
nand adequate to the demand ThuS during me spring
and SUMMER months the goods for FAN and winter wear
are produced. 1t improbable that any decline IN
the price Of wool will take place DeIore the Spg cup i
received and there appears little probability mat any
extensive decline will take place then lhe STOCK nI
wool produced IN TINS country Is 80 stll tnt Iue
Great dealers In this article, as wen as specuaOI are
already buying the wool on the Sleeps backs WIN the
idca of trolling the price, and obtaining even hgher
nrices after the clip than az present In December 1870
the price OF Xxx Ohio wool In ms market was -
In February, ISL TINS price Ltu GGN aec 10 oo 10 70
cents sales OF the grade have been recently made
60 cents In February ISL sPTms emp i,re
wool was quoted at n 10 - cehts tue SAINT sIaue
now 40 cents better grade OF California wool was so
year ago IS cents the latest sales Of the same quail
IN having been al IS 10 65 cents.
Persons have recently been offering farmers IN Ohio
farmers Ieefs RS' Michigan 55 cents for thor clip large
has taken place in Europe also IN all classes 81
ing been established IN England at the beginning OF the
Merhants and manufacturers compelled to look ahead
TO their of next Fall and make arrangements for
their supply are also confronted by large aHyanGe IA
cotton which, OF course enters more largely than wool
into the texture OF the goods suitable Tor the now
about opening In February, 1870 middling cotton was
sold in NeW-YOrk at about IS cents per pound. 1hls
price declined year later 20 l5Q centsand on this
price for cotton fine price Of goods made thcrerrom has
been based during the past year But now lnluuLhg
cotton advanced about 80 cent being nj present
quoted at % cents per pound. An advance mas
taken place In cotton manufactured good but not to the
extent as yet that the advance in raw material would
| justify. ,-- .,R =,
All foreign goods OF cotton wooden fabric are stif In
price and advancing. Added TO the causes noted above
a. at the foundation of the advance III domestic goods
another element conduoes the result with foreign
goods The FrancO-German war deranEed industry ana
The manufacturing interests OF Europe 10 fully as great
nm extent as our war did in this country As result
the cost of labor has advanced greatly IN all the manu-
actnrinR Districts and imported goods would necessa-
riy cost more even had advance taken place Ill the
two great staples.