, 1879-01-01
HfIILINERY.

THH wnoLxs%LR M1LLtNxHr TRADE
has been more active than erer, allnoat all
though the year, many mors goods haytng been
distributed from this city than In any preceding
twelve months. Tue weather wastarorable, ~ \
rule Inviting to the display OF personal adorument
Unmarked contrast tot the wet season Of autumn
and early winter Ia 1871. Both tho spring and
the autumn seasons were long, and the weather
fine. The spring wss the more active of the
two, though ths Exposition IN the fall Invited
aud stimulated larRe country trade,
In our last annual review VIC stated that prices
were not more than ha,f Of what they wefu two
yeass pfer!aus}t, aud 1t then seemed Is II the
trade must bc down to hartf.pau. Hut there Inns
been stu further shrtnkags to tue extent Of
that prieeA were neper 30 low as uow-nos 1yen
tu tha years before tho War Of tho llct,sl}iua.
Notwithstanding this fact the ~holcsale sn!es
exhibit ~ increase IN dollars and cents. The
aggregate of list year IL estimated At fully
S5,01O0. aQ sinst i.oN,0G0 10 III. and 81, ,G0,-
0U0 in la71. This ts an !acreaae ct per cont 10
currency, Or nearly 81 per cent when the eales
ot 1878 aud 1877 are both rcduced 10 sDects
baats.
The capital employed 10 the business 10 not
far from onH afth Of tue aales, being Ia tue uelgh
bor!soot. ol $l,0eN,CtD This IL somewhat less
irus have saecumbsl 10 The Inevitable, being
prcsaed down by The deprestat0n otatock Wills
in hand. Tho cost OF dolng business rvtnxins
about tue same, Tiers beiaK few items vi ex-
peuse III whict.nportRnt changes hxvs occurred.
Tie business ia now conducted ou relatively
small prolt, competition having caused = uls-
teFlal reduction w1thln the paxk two or three
years,
Tu7 FACT o. LOW PRICES
| has caused the ArluaRtl 10 run TO u much better
class VI goois thpn formerly, aud thu clcspeat
| artFclcs arc now but little sought after. THE
country nillsnrs v!es with Tho one III th1 city In
looking out tho newest aeslgus,. and maklng
the must attractive dlspia, possible. It 10 no
t!eeaole, lowsycr, that very much Vt this Mate-
ElnE II now l1aio here. Tue yotlltue Ut imported
goods dEnluishes annually. aud little besilcs
novelties aEs now lnlpurtel. though our |eaulus
fouses have resident buyers III Europe always
| Tt4l. The fact IL that Chicago now lnanufac-
tures her Own flowers, and smploys III OWN srt.
ists to invent and model new shapes aud fash.
| tunS. which Afe wrought by thu defe Gngets OF
nearls wv wuskcEs ipto foFms that the lnnss
cultivated Pattstan isstc might cnyS. The Ar,l.
tict2l duwrrs OF France aud Chicago arr now Of
fcEed side by side In our leading establishments,
and tbs latter are not tntrequeut1y preferred on
lhc &eoFe VI beauty at.i tABteful 2daptAtton, IT.
| Respective Of tic difference IN prices. A. r..
sut af sh!a htua talent aud industry, the vls-
ttor To Chicago no" tAds tilkn1ay rivAling the
choicest collections Of tue Old World tn quality,
and Offered Ut prices which defy eo1npet!ttou
even ~tts c'sies oi ths East.
Our leading houses Han truly boast that they
furnish MYEa attractive aud yareu display than
any house N New York ctty, which Is thu same
thing ~ saytuK that they bsat ths world. Ttfs
little Vt tue ttais Ut the West uox goes ~ tho
seabosrd-the quick, good sense OF our lad,
taught theln tbat they cAn do better here
dealers Report that 1.liectionA have b@su quite
~ satisfactory during 1678 xs At zuy time during
the three preceding years.