Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-22
The New York Dry Goods Trade.

Ane New York Dry GOOuS trade.
From the New York Bulletin, Nov. 10.
The week under review was productive
Of largely increased business in the job
bing branches, but there was little, if any,
| improvement in the aggregate distribution
from first hands. The action of Messrs.
Ii. B. Clafin 81 Co., and a few other large
houses in reducing their prices to excep-
tionally low figures in order to effect a
clearance, had the immediate result of at
tracing such an immense influx of cash
| and ''short time" buyers to this market as
has never before been witnessed. The
quantity of merchandise thus disposed of
by the ''closing OUT jobbers was very large
in the aggregate, and when it is considered
that great proportion of the sales were
made for prompt cash, it becomes apparent
that there is much latent vitality in the
dry goods trade, and, further, that there is
no lack of cash when sufficient inducements
are held forth for its investment. The f.
| nancial condition of the trade continued to
improve; the jObbers are receiving their re-
mittances with increased regularity, and
are in turnable to liquidate their indebted
ness to manufacturers and their agents
with due prOmptitude. There has been a
decided improvement in the sale ofmercan-
tile paper, although names of dry goods
houses are still subjected to a rigid scrutiny.
The market for cotton goods was very
much excited and feverish. The commits
sion houses thought it unnecessary to in
terfere with current prices, unless in a few
exceptional cases, where reductions were
made, but the agents have resolved to take
some concerted action in relation to the re-
establishment of values on a new basis, a
proceeding which can now be effected with
comparative ease, owing to the very small
stocks held by the jobbers and the greatly
clTtailed production. Jobbing quotations
have been entirely nominal, and dictated
by the exigencies of the occasion and the
caprice of holders, or regulated by the
quantity of goods held. In regard to the
future of prices, it would at present be pre-
sumptuous to offer an opinion, as so much
depends upon the course of the market for
the staple, which has within the last few
days developed hardening tendency.
That in the recent forced sales many goods
have been placed at less than valnes, based
upon the cost of production, is beyond per-
adventure; but it is equally certain that
not a few makes of staple goods can now be
produced GrOm cheap cotton, combined
with cheap labor) for considerably less than
the prices which have been artifcially
maintained of late, and yet leave fair mar
gin of profit to the manufacturers.
The market for wooden goods displayed
some little improvement, but was lacking
in all the elements of real activity, and val
ues have become much demoraliZed, with
the almost solitary exception of fine makes
of cassimeres, which, owing to their search
ty, have not been much affected by these
panicly times. The most encouraging fea-
ture of this branch was the appearance in
the market of the advance guard Of the
country clothing manufacturers, who evinc-
ed some disposition to sOperate in spring
weights of caSsimeres and suitings, al
though actual transactions were limited in
number and amount, and the city clothing
trade were too eXacting in their require
ments to be accommodated by holders of
spring goods, and hence held aloof for the
present. Flannels were sold in large blocks
by the ''clOsing-out'' jobbers, outside makes
having been offered for lower prices than
have been prevalent for many years, yet
favorite STYLES were held with comparative
fiTmness.
BROWN AND BLEACHED COTTONs.-
From first hands the demand was entirely
restricted to package lots actually required
for the renewal of aSsOItmentS, and prices
were nOminally steady, although extra dis
counts, &c, could readily have been OBJ
tanned on numerous brands. Jobbing rates
fuctuated so widely that quotations were
nominal. All makes were literally distrib-
uted by the ''cloSing out" jobbers at a con-
siderable reduction from agents prices, and
their stocks are now very low, and standard
sheetings ranged from IL aa12c, according to
the caprice of the iObberS-the latter price
being considered fair one.
PRINTS.-The aggregate distribution of
the week at job prices was simply immense.
Clalin'S quoted extremely low figures for
some makes, and effected enormous sales.
Garner & Co. threw their stock upon the
market, and sold it for immediate cash."
quoting at the following low figures: Gar
ner's fancies at re; Amoskeag at &c, and
Wamsutta at &c, with correrpondingly low
rates for the other colors. Ancona fancies
were reduced to SIC; Gloucester MORNINGS
to tic, and at the close of the week Ameri-
can fancies were put down to SIC by the
package, or &c by the piece.
FOREIGN DRY GOODS.-The dry goods
imports at this port for the week exhibit
slight increase as compared with the same
time last year, but are less than in 1871, as
shown by the following table.
1871 1872 1873.
Ent at the port 81, eO5,733 81 ,21SOS9 81 319 443
Thin upon mark't 1,5OS,779 1,17S,3O7 1,O22,O14
Enid for COnstn 1,OS9,528 1921 523,134
A large shrinkage of values has become
noticeable in almost every department, the
most staple fabrics alone being held at the
opening prices Of the season. A careful
canvass of the market reveals the fact that
despite the extreme dullness which has
ruled for the last two months, the supply of
imported goods in first hands has become
reduced to very small aggregate amount.
British fabrics are unusually scarce, and
but one Or two importers (who would not
not submit to the current auction rates)
have any material stock of Continental
productions, apart from piece silks, velvet
ribbons, and even of these goods there is
no great surplusage of really desirable
makes and styles.
RANKING