Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-06
PROSPECTS ARE GOOD
For a Year of Business Prosperity
All Along Trade Lines.
MARGIN OF PROFIT VERY NARROW
And Future Changes Are Sure to Be
Toward Higher Levels.
DRYGOODS AND HARDWARE OUTLOOK
OFFICE OF THE DISPATCH, !
PTTTsBURG. TUESDAY, January ).


This is the time for stock taking and
posting of books, and business in most
lines is quiet, as it always is at this season.
Business men are, however, hopeful and
confident of good year ahead. There is
little of speculative spirit, and, as prices
are for the most part down to bed rock,
future changes in markets will in all proba-
bilitv be toward higher levels. Trades
people are disposed to economy and eau
tious buying, and, unless all signs fail, the
year 1892 Will be one of greater profit and
fewer failures than the year that is gone.
The Drysoods Trade.
Interviews with a number of our drv-
goods iobbers developed the following facts
as to the situation and outlook in this de-
partment of trade: Volume of business for
the year past showed an increase on that of
the previous wear. The holiday trade was
unusually large, and fully compensated for
the auietness which prevailed during some
of the early months of the year In some
lines, notably heavy weight goods trade
proved somewhat disappointing, owing to
the mild weather which prevailed through
the month of December Heavy fanneIs,
blankets, furs, cloaks and ladies' wraps
did not move according TO general
expectations of iobbers, and larger amount
of stock in this line than usual will of ne
ceSslty be carried over until next season by
reason of the unreasonable December
weather. But, in spite Of this adverse
feature, iobbers are unanimous in reporting
larger volume of trade than for the corre
spoEding period of the previous year.
Prices are not essentially different from
what they have been for year or two past.
In Hardware Lines.
What is true OF drygoods is mainly true
as TO the hardware trade. Margins of profit
are very close, closer than at any time in
the history of the trade. Builders hard
ware has been the weak factor of trade all
the past year This weakness is explained
by the conflict between iourneymen car
penters and contractors, which paralvzed
the building trade during large part of
1891. In this city the amount of building
was more than % per cent less in 1891 than it
was in 1890. Nails have never been so low
in price as they have been the past few
months. With steel nails selling at the
Wheeling factories at 81 60 per keg and
wire nails shade below 50 per keg, it is
difficult to discover where the profit comes
in 10 the manufacturer In the opinion of
leading dealer, The margin to the manu-
facturer at these prices is on the losing
side.
The Footwear Outlook.
The Boston correspondent of Hide and
Leather, new trade paper of Chicago, has
this to say of the boot and shoe situation at
the Hub:
Shoe manufacturers are nearly unanimous
in saying that the year 1891 has been one of
small profits, extreme competition, small
prOportionate trade snd memorable on ac-
count OF a number of failures of the largest
houses, which took the trade completely by
surprise. 1t WAS the mighty who fell. There
is naturallya a curiosity to know how prices
thave been maintained For the same goods
prices to-day are lower than those of a year
!agO. rule. In the better era dos it would
be difficult to state the measure OF this de-
probation, but in tie cheap lines .he prices
to-day range all tie way from 21%c to lOc
lower. Mems heavy grain shoes are abort
lOc off: kip, 5G1l0c. Boots are nearly the
same as year ago but somewhat lower:
cilf goods, about sc: buff nearly the same as
- ear ago; split, from 56 l0c lower: women's
-,.n, cheap lines about e15c: kid goods
lly slight decline is noted. many houses
c.aEToing that they are getting about the
same as at this time last year. On misses
aud children's the cheap lines are about 21dc
lower
1t has been remarked that the smaller
houses lave, as a rule, been the losers in the
amoInt OF orders received. The larccr
firms have been able to cut corners little
closer, and to-day they are getting more
trade, proportionately, than their lesser
competitors. The total business of 1891 has
been about per cent less tnan that OF the
previous year. Prices are a little lower, hut
about the same before the appreciation
of 1890. The traffic, in general sense is on
q firmer basis since the surplus is much
reduced. Buyers are conservative The
financial conditions are better, and crops
have been excellent. On the other hand
the dating ahead canker has not been
remedied to much extent. Margins are too
small, and the facilities for making shoes too
much extended But taking ali things into
consideration, there doubtless will be good
business in 1892 as regards the number of
shoes made. What the profits will be is
doubtful question.