Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-16
FEATURES OF TRADE.
PittSburg'S JObbing Millinery Trade
in Splendid Shape.
ANICE INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR.
Domestic Silks and Ribbons Are Supplant-
ing the Foreign.
NEW AVENUES OPENING TO TIE LADIES
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH,
TUESDAY, October Is. 1889.

OFFICE OF PTTTSBURG DISPATCH.
TUESDAY, October Is. 1889.
Interviews with our leading jobbers of
millinery goods develop the fact that trade
in this line was never better at this season of
the wear. The demand for piece goods and
ribbons has gone beyond expectations, and
while our jobbers laid in larger supplies
than usual in these lines for fall trade, their
faith in the size of the trade was none too
large. The situation of the wholesale mil
linerv trade cannot be better put than in the
language Of a member of one of our leading
firms. Said he:
'Bv reference to our hooks find that our
business yesterday was 75 per cent larger
than the corresponding day last year.
Though this increase was exceptional for
that day, the months of September and Oc-
tober will show a decided advance on the
same months for 1883. The exposition has
been decided help in bringing to us Gus
TONERS from points entirely new.
Lower Prices Rule.
Nearly everything in our line is lower in
price than last year. the reduction ranging
from 10 to 20 per cent The reduction in some
instances was brought about by lowering quail
for manufacturing goods, and then competi-
zion has become SO sharp in our business that
we are content with smaller profits, and try to
sell more goods than in the days of big mar
gins. The bulk of the goods we handle are do
mestic, whereas 10 or Il years ago we handled
goods. Staple domestic goods are as good
every way as foreign. OF these, 80 per cent are
now made in this country.
Zone of our main sources of supply in the
of sill iS Patterson Il
which has developed phenomenal trade in
this line the past few years. 1t Is within bounds
to say that one million dollars goes to Patterson
annually from Pittsburg millinery and dry
goods jobbers for silks and ribbons. One-third
of this amount comes TO jobbers of millinery.
One firm sent over 100000 to Patterson last
year, and our bills there will be larger this year
than last. The growth Ofthe silk industry in the
United States of late years has opened up new
avenues for young women, many of whom are
Making n Nice Income
in getting up designs for silk patterns. Pre-
miums of $50 to 500 are offered by Patterson
firms for designs, which has called forth the
taste and ambition of graduates of the
schools of New York, and know of one young
lady who in this way is making from 500 to $50
per month.
Though Patterson has the lead in manu-
featuring goods in our line, and probably man.
ufactures two-thirds of the whole United
States product, Allentown, of this State, Hart
ford, Conn.,, and other points are developing
this industry. and every year we are growing
more independent of the Old World.
There has been a wonderful development in
the coloring art as well as in designs in this
country in the past few years. We are still
behind in velvets and satins ana some ex-
tremely high novelties. The imported staple
goods we use will not now be above 10 per cent
of the total ano, as to values, the domestic
goods handled here in millinery lines, is more
than so per cent of the total.
In the line of feathers, the fashion this
season runs more to ostrich feathers than last.
We have handled about as many ostrich as
fancy this season, while last year our trade was
mostly confined to fancy feathers"
A member OF another johbing millinery firm
was seen who talked in much the same strain
In addition to the gentleman quoted above the
second jobber interviewed reported that while
there has been decline in most of millinery
goods, such staples as hosiery and gloves are
stiffening, and that while September trade was
slack, October is booming. and has already
more than made up for lost time