Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-18
FEATURES OF TRADE.
The Mid-Winter Weeks Volume of
Business Rather Light.
SIGNS OF A REVIVAL APPEARING.
Some Improvement Along the Lines Of
Choice Dairy Products.
INTERESTING NOTES on FOOTWEAR
INTERESTING NOTES on FOOTWEAR
OFFICE OF THE DISPATCH,
PIrrsBURG, SATURDAY. January 16.

PIrTsBURG, SATURDAY. January 16S
The weeks trade in produce, grocery
and cereal lines has been characterized by
excessive dullness The weather during q
greater part of the week has been adverse
to a business revival. Mid-winter trade is
seldom brisk and quietness is looked fol
| throughth the month of January. This MONTH
however, has proved quieter than usual
The darkest hour is just before the dawn
and in spite of the dullness which has pre-
vailed since the holidays, the faith is strong
and general with our tradespeople that
better day will soon dawn. and that we are
to have prosperous year. Prices cannot
well so lower, rs in most lines of business
they are now, and have been for weeks
past, down to bed rock. As compared with
this time last year, fruits and vegetables are
less than one-half the cost In produce lines
We note an improved tone and stronger
markets for fancy dairy products since last
Saturday. There is q scarcity of fancy
creamery, not only here, but at all trade
centers. At Elgin prices were advanced 1c
per pound at the Monday sales, and pros
poets are for another advance at the next
Monday sales. Low grades of creamery and
country butter of all kinds are still dull and
slow. with no signs of a revival. New York
and Ohio cheese is firm. and has been for a
week past. During the week past eggs have
declined about &c per dozen, owing to lib
eral supplies. Ordinarily, midwinter eggs
sell at oOc per QOZen ana upward, DuG Top
price for job lots now is 24c per dozen. We
note q better inquiry for potatoes since
the beginning Of the week, but no advance
SO far in prices.
Groceries and Provisions.
The movement of groceries is still slow.
The feature of the week was the unexpected
drop in sugar While to the ordinary OBJ
server of trade indications markets gave
signs of great firmness, there came without
any warning a decline in prices. On the
other hand, high grade New Orleans
molasses shows an upward tendency. Ad-
vices from New Orleans indicate a very
short yield of open kettle molasses for this
time of the year, and that prices must go
higher.
Canned tomatoes and corn have sharply
advanced since the begin ming of the week.
All canned goods have been very dull and
slow since last seasons bountiful crops were
gathered, and now that trade in this line be-
gins to pick up, it is hoped and expected
movement of hog products is reported fairly
good for The time of the year. The price of
hogs is about 81 % per cwt above the lowest
point reached in the latter part OF Novem-
Der.
In Shoe and Leather Lines.
What Baltimore and Philadelphia are
doing in the manufacture and sale of goods
pertaining to footwear is given in the iol-
lowing interesting statistics:
''Mr. j. Ross Diggs, Secretary of the Shoe
and Leather Board of Trade, Baltimore, Md,
furnishes the following comparisons of the
business of the year compared with 1890:
Aggregate sales by iobberS in 1891 S., ,5S5 600,
against s.. l75,000 in 1890: aggregate product of
manufactures, a, ,7s5 900, against 81, $50, 900 in
1890: hides. leather, shoe findings, ETC., man.
ufsctured and sold, So 500 900, against 50 ,56j,-
600 in 1870: retail shoe trade 81 $50 000 against
81 0J0 900 in 1890 The whole amount of trade
Tor the city in this line was $26, l20 0O0 against
$26. .090 000 in 1890.
The following figures are taken from the
Philadelphia Record: "With an investment
of close to $1,000 600 and an annual product
approaching $40, 0C0 600 Philadelphia stands
well to the front in the line of leather indus
tries OF the country. 1t is estimated that
fully ,0G0 persons find employment in the
various branches of tanning, shoe manufac-
ture. trunk and bag making, saddlery and
harness production and the selling of the
wares. The various industries are
divided among leather manufac-
turers, Is; leather dealers, %: kid
leather manufacturers. l6: morocco
manufacturers, II: tanners and curriers', .
leather and shoe findings 81: boot and shoe
manufacturers, 90; wholesale dealers in boots
and shoes. IS: ladies' and children's shoe
manufacturers. IL boot and shoe dealers,
S4S boot ami shoe filters, %: boot and shoe
m. kers, 1902: boot and shoe pattern makers
81 boot and shoe upper manufacturers, Z;
leather betting. 25; trunk makers, 26; saddle
and harness makers, 100.