, 1874-01-04

| ported that the panic Was almost entirely over :
tha. business was quiet, rs it always il in holiday
caused by the holidays, business was perhaps
~ per cent less than last year, that country COL
lectlons had been improving steadily eipce
inc panic; that tho mills At Joliet
snd the blast-fn1naces on the South
Side would probably bo in operation again By the
| middle OF January, OF the beginning ct Febru-
| az, and tLat the outlook for the coming year
was bright.
James P. Dalton l. Co., dealers in hardware
| and housekeeping goods, considered the panic
over. business WAS always dull this time Of
| year, but they were doing as much as at this
time last year. Their collections wcre very fair
they having no reason to complain Imported
goods were higher than some months ago. End
the tax on manufactures, if again imposed
would raise tho prica OF goods manufactured at
home, but on tho whole the outlook vas quite
cheerfu! and assuring.
It Was to be expected that in the domain Of
articles wholly or in part OF au Ornamental
would be indicated bat this, it sec1as, is not
the case, as Will be seen by the following state
meHts OF the senior partner of the firm Of Giles,
Bro. d Co.:
j" Business is looking better, and We expect
m increase. Tho holiday trade was as good as
that Of auy preceding year, though it began
rather later than usual. There has been
gradual slackenipg up for 4 year OF more, owing
to an economical feeling on the part Of con-
sumezs and the stocks OF country dealers are
now email. Tley viii now have to furnish up,
and present prospects arc good. I have esti-
mated that the aggregate jewclry trade ic CHI
caso for 1878 WAS about 500, 900 less than for
1872. Country dealers are paying up pretty
wel-as we'll as usual"
Mr- Norton, Of N. Matsoa l. Co., gave an ac-
count almost identical with the above. Trade
was about tho same for the year tho holiday
trade was az large as usual, and collections had
been good during the past month, though they
were slow in October aud November.
THE DooE TRADE.
An unusually prosperous condition OF things
is reported with reference to tho wholesale anu
retail book trade, which has reached mammoth
proportions ;s IN Chicago e few =, mnntes, fhat
son, AlcClurg & Co., booksellers. The reporter
inquired:
How has your trade been affected by the pan-
ic?
Gen ucC1urg-Our trade is now very large
and prosperous. OF course it Was temporarily
reduced by the panic, but the aggregate for the
year shows a handsome progress.
R.-uow has it been during the past two
months
Gen. McC.-BriBk and stoady-rnuch better
than last year, for we had not then fully 1ecoV-
cred from the effects of tho d:e.
R.-Do you anticipate an increase or falling
off from this time forward?
Gen. McC.-We have no reason to expect any
falling of. On the contrary, the stocks OF coun-
try dealers we're never 80 small as now, and they
will all hare to stock up. Judging By tic large
echool-book orders we are receiving since the
holiday trade ceaeed, should say that wa might
reasonably look for d large January business.
R.-How has it been with your collections
Have you been troubled on account OF tardiness
Gen. McC.-Not to any considerable extent !:
at least not since tho first Of October. For the
first two or three weeks after the pauic, when ell
the money wcs tied up in tho banks, we received
little, like everybody else, but Eiuce then our
customers have been more prompt than we
could haye expected in meeting their bills when
duo. Particular districts, such as the mining
and lumber regions, are e1oT- Our lest GUS
toners are tho country dealers, who seem to
h1yo been much less affected by the panic than
were the city dealers. The latter ara cautious,
mako small purchases, and report greater Diff
Guilty in collections.
R-What is the line Of books chiefly in de-
maud?
Gen. NcC.-School- in our wholesale de-
partmeut. Ee are filling largo orders Of them
in largo demand
R-.How does Chicago compare with other
cities il its book trade?
Gen. aIcC.-I1is city is NOW in the very front
rank; second onlyto Ne" York, Philadelphia.
and Boston, aud there is no reasna why. with
proper pluck and enterprise, it mny not within q
very few years become tho great btok-distribut-
ing centre Of America. Already Eastern pub
fishers are beginning to look for their largest I'd
vance orders for new books Ircm Chicago, and
NO know OF soma cases whcro these orders are
taken as q criterion OF the success of tue book.
E.-Ho1 was the holiday trade this year?
Gen. McC.-Although it commenced late, it
was far better than ever beforehand it eeems
TINT in the midst Of depression, and what are
called hard times, we sold IN our retail DEPART
ment over 50 per cent moro books than eTer be-
fore in the ten days before Christmas.
NEWSPAPERS, PERIODICALS, ETC.
Wishing to ascertain whether the people had
to any extent stopped reading on account Of tho
panic our reporter dropped in upon Mr. j. r.
Walsh, the General Manager Of the Western
News Company, through whose agency the whole
Northwest is supplied with newspapers, periodi-
Gals, etc.
Reporter-1s the panic over, SO far as your
business is concerned? !?
Mr. Walsh-The panic never .intarfere1 at Ill
with the demand for newspapers, magazines,
etc During the. months Of October and No
yember our business in stationery showed . fall
ing off, but for December it has been as good as
usual. We do not look for any material increase
In the stationery trade fog at leaat six months.
Is the uniform tendency among buyers is to
make small aud careful purchases.
R.-How has the panic affected you IN the
matter Of collections? a.,
Mr, W.-Wo hare had no trouble at all with
country customers, but the city collections we're
poor for 3 time.
boots AND SHOES.
At the wholesale boot and shoe house Of II.
Selz l. Co. the following conversation occurred,
tho replies being about equally divided between
Mr.. Selz and Mr. Jacob Bum, who is member
Of tho firm:
Reporter-I called to ask you few questions
concerning the state Of the boot @nd ehoo trade
Do you find that the financial stringency still al
fec.s your business?
s. & Co. (ycry emphstically) Mot at al; There
never Was any panic, 80 far as our trade WAS
concerned. ..
R.-WhAt is the present etate OF business, as
compared with the same month last yea-, and,
generally, with the preceding two or three years?
S. & Co.-We are dong, perhaps, 25 per cent
less than last year at this time, but business is
in far healthier and more satisfactory state.
The country is not overlooked with goods;
merchants hare Less stock on hand, and, conse-
oueutlT. lees indebtedness. They pay more
prompily. business il more satisfactory than
ever before, because dealers are only buying
what they can pay for.
R-Do you expect reasonably immediate in
crease Of trade?
sd Cove do for the coming ye.r, especial
" in the agricultural districts. The farmers are
il excellent shape. All that they have to soll
finds ready market at higher prices than they
have obtained for some time. But We do not
look for any immediate increase IN the lumber
ior and nnnn featuring districts. which have SUI