The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-07
THE INDIANAPOLIS JOURNAL MONDAY NOVEMBER T. 1892
THE PRICES ON DRY GOODS
Mr.. D. P. Erwin Bears Testimony that
They Are Lower Now than Ever Before.
American Calicoes Sold in Englani-Good
Effects OF the Mckinley Bill Made Mani
fest on the Necessities OF Life.

Ono of the largest wholesale y-goods
houses in the West is that of ID. p. Erwin *
Co., and the testimony of the proprietor of
this establishment in regard TO the business
situation ought to be unquestioned. Tho
house is divided into ten departments, with
q buyer for each. Upon being told that it
was desired to secure some information in
regard to prices, and more especially to
make q comparison of prices between
the present time and two years
ago, Mr.. Erwin said: The field
is so covered with low prices
which are the direct result of the policy OF
protection, that scarcely know how to
particularize. A striking example may be
had in printed calicoes. Originally all of
these were imported. and the price was
rarely under 25 cents. Now they are sell
ing over the counter at and cents. At
times the market enables Us to ship to
England, and it is not unusual in Man
chester to see the sign, American-p printed
calicoes for SALE They are the best that
are made in the world and are cheaper
than they were ever before sold In this
country"
"Can you give further information in re-
gard to cotton goods'"
''In the lower grades of printed stuffs we
have driven oil competition out of the
United States and we have now started in
to print the finer grades of goods. For in
stance. a few years ago We imported all
our satines from France and they retailed
at 65 cents yard. To-day good values
of American make are selling at from l2ts
to 25 cents, and other classes. not so good,
at from s to 10 cents. Formerly We i'm
ported our ginghams from Scot
land and they retailed ut from
81 to so cents. Now we have
four or five large millsihere making inst as
good a quality, which Tetails at from fifteen
cents to twenty cents. One of the largest
Scotch manufacturers, since the passage of
the Mckinley bill, has transferred his foe
tory to this country, and Is now making all
per cent. of the cost few years ago. 1t
was thought at one time that we could not
mako tho finer grades of white goods, but
now We have no reason to import any of
these goods. In fact. many mills which
started In to make cheap grades have ex-
changed their machinery until now they
make the highest grades of textile fabrics"
Has there been a similar Improvement
In the manufacture of wOolensp
Fully as great or greater. | can make
the abatement that there is not merchant
tailoring Establishment in the country that
Is not selling American-made cassmeres
tor mems wear under foreign tickets. The
qualities have been so much improved as
to make 1t difficult to distingui sh
them from the foreign made of the
same class, and they are sold at
much less price. In ladies' wear of
wooden goods. since the enactment of
the Mckinley law, many of our large
wooden manufacturers, who were employ
ing their mills In making coarse goods.
such as f1annels, blankets. satinets, etc., are
now converting them into the manufacture
of the better class of dress goods. In con-
sequence, most of the staple articles. like
henriettas, are made in such abundance
and at such low prices that nOtwithstand-
ing Is per cent. was added to the duty OH