Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-13
THE TREND OF TRADE.
Rare Activity in DrygOOds, and Bed
Rock Prices Reached.
RETAILERS BUYING VERY FREELY
The Advance in Steel Rails Bonanza to
BraddOck Works.
LIVE STOCK AT THE LIBERTY YARDS
BUYING VERY FREELY
LIVE STOCK AT THE LIBERTY YARDS
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH,
THURSDAY, September u, l6S9.


THURSDAY, September L, loS9.
A member of one of our principal whole
sale drygoods firms thus puts the situation
and outlook of this important industry:
''We have had but one quiet month IN our
trade this wear, namely, June. From Janu-
ary TO the last of Nav our business was lO
TO 90 per cent larger than the corresponding
period of last year. Through june trade
slowed up, but the first half of the year
made record greater by 10 TO 10 per cent
than the first half of 1888. Orders Tor 1all
trade begin with July. and this year 1t De-
gan with vim. June's quietness was very
opickIv made ND in July, and from that
time until the present our goods have been
going out more freely than ever before Tor the
same period. We are nowin the very height OF
the fail trade and there are no signs of falling
of IN sight.
why Retailers Buy.
Goods are low. margins close and buyers re-
alize that prices cannot go lower, and hence
are disposed to lay in heavy stocks in the assur-
ance that any change must be an advance.
'Woolen goods are as low as last year, while
the cost of raw materials is to SC per pound
higher. There is no prospect for a reduction
in raw materials and woolen mills are down to
bedrock prices The retailer cannot go astray
in laying in good supply at present prices and
the wise ones seem to appreciate TINS 1act'
judging from the great activity of trade Ger
man and English cashmere goods vary llttle IN
price from last year. French cashmeres are
shade higher. Linen goods also commano
slightly better prices.
'The outlook for the jobping drygoods trade
in Pittsburg never better, so lar as ouI M @
is concerned, and 1 have no doubt that our
volume of business for 1889 will show an IN
crease OF Is to 20 per cent over 1905.
Steel Rail Profits.
The advance in steel rails of s. per ton re-
ported in a recent issue of The DISPATCH,
will add not less than 1000 daily to the profits
of the Edgar Thomson works at Braddock. At
the advance the present price is SIS per ton.
In 1882 when the tariff on steel rails was IN the
neigbborhood of $40 per ton. the price realized
by the Edgar Thomson was above $50 per ton.
For the past few months the price of steel
rails in England has been about SIS per ton-
There has been recent advance there as here.
Those who ought to know say that with the ad-
vantage of improved machinery and natural
gas steel rails can be produced at Braddock
cheaper than anywhere in the world
If this be the case, and English manufact-
urers have profit the Edgar Thomson Steel
Works must be reaping rich harvest. The
daily output of the Braddock works is not less
than 1000 tons. When the two new furnaces
now under headway are completed the output
will be increased at least 25 per cent.
An operator in steel expresses the opinion
that the native cost of producing steel rail at
the Edgar Thomson is not much if any, above
SIS per ton.
Liberty Live Stock.
The general situation of live stock trade
shows no improvement on last week, but the
reverse. Receipts of cattle were unusually
light, but trade was slow on all but medium
and light butcher stock. There were some
prime cattle on the market above l600 pounds,
but there were no buyers at the price fixed by
the shipper, which was above 414c.
Sheep and lambs were in light supply and
active vt a shade better prices. Hogs were in
good supply and slow at lower rates.
The quality of cattle the market was
above the average for the past few weeks.
Sheep, lambs and hogs were scarcely up to
average in quality.
Following is the report of the weeks work at
the East Liberty Stockyards:
RECEIPTS.