Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-12
SIGNS OF A REVIVAL.
A Decided Awakening IN the Local
Harness Leather Trade and
ALSO IN JOBBING GROCERY LINES.
Facts Of Interest About the Wool Pulling
Establishment.
WOOL MUCH LOWER THAN LAST YEAR
OFFICE OF PTTTsBURG DISPATCH, /
TUESDAY, February IL, 1880 J

OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DIsPATCH,O I
TUESDAY, February IL, 1890
Within few days past some signs of re-
vival to a number Of our industries which
have of late been very slow have put in an
appearance. These mercy drops are evil
IDENTIFY the beginnings of shower of good
things for the year before Us. First, there
has been a decided improvement in the
wholesale grocery trade within day or two.
Last week this trade had evidently touched
bottom, and merchants in general were rather
blue over the situation. The darkest hour is
just before the dawn. according to the old
adage. and wholesale grocers Of Pittsburg have
recently been having a striking illustration of
its truth. A representative of one of our
leading establishments. who last week
could see nothing in the situation
seen to-day, and in a short interview gave ex-
preston to the faith and hope that q better
day for trade had dawned. Said he: 'Orders
are now coming in freely, and it is evident
from present outlook that we are going to
make up very soon for the time lost in the past
week or two. Ours is q trade which furnishes
the prime necessities of life. and sooner or
must have our goods With PittsburE special
industries prosperous as they are at this time,
and our population growing all the time, there
is little doubt that the year before us Will break
all previous records in the volume of business
which will be done by the wholesale grocers of
this CITY,"
As to Harness Leather.
Another department Of our industries which
has gwen signs of revival within the past week
is the harness leather trade, fact noted in this
column of Mondays DISPATCH For a month
past st sck had been accumulating to an uncom-
Portable extent and January's volume of bust
ness was not more than two-thirds the amount
of the previous January. No doubT the weather
and wretched condition of country roads
through Pittsburg's bailiwick had much to do
in delaying orders for spring trade. Since the
beginning of February decided improvement
is reported by our harness leather tanners, and
all accumulations of stock have already melted
away.
The output of the Allegheny harness leather
tannerles is now in demand, and prospects are
good for an advance in prices before many days.
II is TO be remembered, too, that the capacity
of these tanneries has been increased SO per cent
in the past two or three years.
As harness leather had suffered most from
the late depression, it is likely TO reap the best
fruits from the recent revival of trade. But all
along leather lines Of our industries an i'm
proved tone to trade Is apparent within the past
few days.
Wool Pulling In Allegheny.
In an interview to-day with Charles A stim-
pie, one Of the leading sheep-skin tanners of
Allegheny City who has been connected with
this department Of the tanning trade for so
years. it was sscertained that there are six
firms in that city exclusively engaged in this
line of leather production These six firms
handle between 5000 and 1000 sheep pelts every
week Two of the films work up more than
one-half this amount themselves Mr.. Simple.
whose father was one of the pioneer tanners
Of Pittsburg, having started in this industry at
Pride and Stevenson streets, about so years
ago, ana whose sons are following up the same
line said: "0ur trade was dull last year and
its prosperity for the year to come will depend
very much on what Congress does as
20 duties on wool Picked stock is about the
same in price as it was year ago but wool is
fully &c per pound lower than at this time a
year ago A year ago wool was SOC to Bic per
pound. Now it is very slow sale at &c per
pound The pelts are largely used in the East
Tor saddle padding, imitation kid gloves base
ball covers, and covers for perfumery bottles
In former years we had large trade with the
West, but of late years our principal customers
are in the East cannot say tnat the outlook
is particularly bright but trade is fairly up to
what it was year ago, and our only fear for
the year before US is unwise legislation as to
the wool industry"