Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-20
FEATURES OF TRADE.
Harness Leather Produced Beyond
the Demand of Trade.
MARGINS NARROWED TO NOTHING.
All Grades of Leather Cheaper Because of
Cheap Hides.
THE WHEAT ASD FLOUR SITUATION
OFFICE OF PITTSBURG DISPATCH,
TUESDAY, March l9, 1889.


A leading harness maker Of the city who
has been familiar with the trade for half
centurv furnishes some facts pertaining to
this important industry which it is believed
will be of interest to the reader of THE DIS
PATCH His view of the situation is substan-
TALLY as follows:
s Harness leather tanners of Allegheny have
been increasing their capacity for the past year
or two until they are now able TO turn out an
amount of stock fully double their capacity
five years ago. 1t appears that they have gone
somewhat beyond the demands of trade and
find themselves overstocked this spring. We
are now passing through what might be called
an lnterregnum, in other words the surplus
stock must be worked of before trade comes
to a satisfactory basis.
The harness leather trade has been develop
ing year by year, until this city has become one
of the recognized centers in this line through
out the world of commerce. Manufacturers,
having now reached out a little too far, must
wait until trade catches up, which 1t is tast
doing. February was a very quiet month with
our harness makers. Since the beginning OF
March there has been decided Improvement
and all signs now point to good spring trade
Certain it is that Pittsburg will feel the benedt
of a revival in harness as soon as any other
point, as her goods IN this line are at pre-
MUM everywhere. The products of the Allie
gheny harness leather tanneries have an ad-
vantage of fully lc per pound in the World S
markets, and Will, as a maUter OF COURSE De lu0
first to enjoy the benefit of trade revival
Lower Prices Expected.
For cheaper grades of harness prospects are
that this seasons prices will be below anything
for a score of years. Hides have not been so
low since before the war as they have been in
recent weeks. Price of hides now is not above
one-half what it was a decade ago. The depre-
citation has affected most low grade harness
leather. The manufacturer who furnishes
these facts deals mainly in the high grade ar
ticle, his customers IN the main demanding the
best in this line. In this line of harness prices
will touch lower level this season than for
many wears past. Tanners complain that not
withstanding the low price of hides competl-
ton is now SO sharp that margins are well nigh
wiped out A representative of one of the
leading tanneries of Allegheny whose trade is
in special lines says: Our margin of profit
is almost gone. How our competitors in New
England can keep their business going at pres
ent prices is mystery to me. In the amount
of leather we are turning out we have an ad-
vantage of $4,000 a year over those New En-
gland tanneries in the matter of bark alone
And still we have all we can do at present
prices to come out even.'
: This statement was referred to an old-time
heather manufacturer, who said that tanners in
the East have an advantage in the lower price
of labor which offsets the higher price Of bark.
Wheat and Flour.
The current number of the Minneapolis
Miller finds it difficult to decide between the
arguments of bulls and bears in the wheat and
-four situation. Bulls say there is no move
ment of wheat because there is none to move.
Bears say that fine seeding prospects and
breaking up of country roads are good reasons
for the light movement. Very little wheat has
been coming in from farmers bins this month.
The MtLter'S estimate OF the amount OF visible
supply of wheat east of the Rocky Mountains
is 50000 600 bushels less than at this time last
year.
Notwithstanding this shortage, demand con-
tinues very light and unfavorable news comes
from every quarter of the globe as to -four
prospects.
At Minneapolis there was a decline of 20c
per barrel last week and 40c in the past month.
PittsburG jobbers report that markets have
been cut here for a week or two past. The
drift of -four has been toward lower level of
prices the world oyer the past month or two.
The unfortunates who stocked up at old rates
have in vain tried to stem the downward drift,
and even lower prices are notimprobable.