Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-09
BAD YEARFOR RUBBER GOODS.
Warm Weather and Umbrellas Have
Knocked the Business-What the DenI-
era HnHn In SnH.

You hear 1t generally remarked by people
that "this has been great season for the sale
of rubber clothing" and most people assent, as
matter of course, but interviews with dealers
show that what nearly every one says is not
only not true, but directly the reverse of it. 1t
is apparent, of course. to most observers that
the winter, so far, has not been stimulaTive of
the sale of heavy winter clothing Most people
are still wearing fall overcoats, and those who,
during the squaw winter in November, put on
heavy apparel, have either discarded it since
or are sweltering and objurgating the "demni-
tion, moist and warm unpleasantness" that has
since made life burden. Shoe dealers have
not had the temerity to expose arctics, and
their sales of light ruDbers have been disap-
pointingly small. A. number OF dealers were
spoken to on Saturday regarding the matter,
and from reports it would seem that Pittsburg
is copying from the Chinese and using um-
brellas instead OF rubber coats and cloaks.
Some one says that Fiji full dress consists
of an umbrella and pair of earrings. Pitts
burg hasn't got to that style yet. but it is light
ly dressed nevertheless. While some dealers in
rubber goods said this seasons sales were
larger than those Of ten years ago, they were
not up to those of late years.
The gentleman in charge of the cloak depart
ment of Joseph Horne & Go. stated that sales
of rubber goods had been very light this season.
He attributed it to the prevalent practice of
carrying umbrellas; which he said seemed to
have grown into fad, as nearly the whole
tributed it largely to the cheapness of um-
brellas.
At Rosenbaum's it was stated that one reason
why sales of rubber garments had fallen off was
that but little of the cheap, trashy kinds of
goods formerly manufactured were now made,
and higher priced articles were necessarily re-
strcted IN sale. 1t was also stated that sales of
umbrellas had increased 500 per cent during the
past three wears.
KnaDle & Shuster stated that ladies now gen.
orally bought cloaks of other material that
were waterproof and more satisfactory than
rubber, and the sale of gossamer cloaks had
fallen off inIconsequence. They reported the
sale of rubber goods unusually light
Horne & Ward stated that the general use of
umbrellas had so nearly knocked rubber goods
out that they found 1t no longer profitable to
carry an extensive stock of them, but had them
made to order when desired.
Fleishman & Go. reported good seasons
sale of medium quality of rubber goodF. but not
of either low or high priced.
At William NJ. Laird's shoe house the sale of
rubber shoes was said to be about the average
of other years. but generally speaking shoe
dealers reported light movement and scarcely
any in arctics.
It is evident from the general tenor of the re-
effect to frighten people generally into burden
ing themselves with heavy clothing. AS to the |
increase in the use of umbrellas, it would ap-
pear that the opinion expressed that it is some
thing of fad is correct were it not that dur |
ing the last IA months the umbrella has been |
about the handiest thing you could have about |
you. This winter there have been but few days |
when heavy clothing was needed. No matter |
what Signal Service predictions might have |
been. it was certain thar it wasn't often safe to
anchor far from an umbrella, and the almost |
constant necessity for their use has made peo- |
pie as mindful of them as OF any other article |
of furniture, and they no more forget to go out |
of strange place without them than they |
would without a hat. Western people, years
ago, were wont to remark that people of the |
East seemed to be always carrying umbrellas. |
and the habit was attributed to the general |
wearing of silk hats there, especially in Phila-
delphia, but there has been no increase notice. |
able in the wearing of silk hats in this city in |
fact, they do not appear to be worn as much as
formerly.