The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-22
PRICES NOT YET RAISED.
HOLIDAY TRADE UNAFFECTED BY
THE NEW TARIFF SCHEDULE.
Business Houses Lay in Stocks Before
the Advance-Next Year Prices
VIII BE Higher, But Then Home
Industries VIII He Vigorous.

Inquiry OF several OF the larger mer-
camille houses OF the city has developed
the fac, thar the holiday trade this year
Is far exceeding the business done at this
season for several years past. No better
indication could be found Of the returned
prosperity Of the people OF this country,
and more particularly Of this city. The
effects Of the new tariff schedule are al
ready felt In an eniivensi commerce and
a renewal OF activity In manufactures and
trade. The higher prices which will nat
urally be demanded for imported manu-
features have not yet affected the mar
ket, and. according TO large dealers. Will
not until next year. Then there will
undoubtedly DO an added few cents 10
articles in the manufacture Of which I'M
ported stock IL incorporated
The proprietor OF one Of the largest toy
houses said that the import duty on his
stock had been raised from Is to IS per
cent, but that II made little or no differ
ence in the price OF toys. THE man
who laid away $40 with which to buy
toys" ne said. xviii get just as much
for his money as he got for the same
amount last year. In the first place, We
had the greater part OF our stock pur-
chased before the new law went into eff
feet. and saved the higher duty in that
way, but even I! we had not done so We
should be able to give the purchaser the
same value that he received last year.
There are always toys at fixed prices,
from the penny whistle TO the 500 doll.
There are just as many 10. 25, 50 and aa-
cent toys this year as there were in pre-
vious years, and the only place where the
advance is seen is in the high-priced toys.
There IL makes little difference, because
the people who buy them usually know
nothing about the price until they receive
the bill. The manufacturers, on the other
49, rtasr Adn 40 mn
sold above a certain price. and in cases
where a 25-cent article could not be repro
duced at the proper figure 1t was changed
or cheap opened in some way. On the whole.
the higher duty will have no bad effect
on the toy business.
A large dealer IN children's outfits said
that the advance In importation charges
had been anticipated to such an extent
that prices had not been advanced, ana
that articles purchased last year at this
time could, with few exceptions. be dupli-
Gated at the same prices. Imported un-
derwear Is higher by 10 or II per cent,
but domestic wool underwear has not ad-
vanced materially.
In the carpet line there has been some
change. and purchasers OF rugs will have
to pay 10 cents foot more now than they
did last year, and an advance of about 10
cents on Wilton carpets. Domestic VIII
tons. however, are sold by most dealers
at the prices which ruled last year.
Our goods are little lower this year
than they were before the new tariff went
into force said a large silver goods
dealer They are better than they ever
were, and the stock is larger. But the
reason for the decline Is we manufacture
in this country and have improved ma
chinery and cheap silver"
The head of the silk department OF a
large retail dry goods store said that u
would buy the same silk now that II did
last year Provided" he added. that
the purchase is made where the goods nave
been bought ahead. The real effect OF the
new increased import duties will not be
felt by the purchasers until next year.
and by that time our idle mills will be
in operation, our people will be making
more money. and they Will never know
that they are paying few cents yaro
more for goods"
In the china and glass line there has
been a slight advance In the rate OF I'M
port duty, and certain grades OF goods
are a trifie higher than they were last
year. Some Of the imported articles Will
cost the purchaser about ID per cent. more.
but which serves as a. partial onset, the
lire OF domestic goods has been enlarged
and improved.
Many people thought that the prices OF
mems clothing would go up as soon as
inquiry at some of the leading concerns
shows that the changes are few and I'M
important One large dealer said that no
change would be experienced by the con-
sumner until next year. IAN overcoat or
a suit OF clothes of any kind" he said,
may be bought today for the same
amount az was paid last season. There
Is absolutely no change in prices from
last year In low-grade goods, and in the
higher grades OF clothes. which require
imported stock IN the manufacture, we
have made no advance, because we own
the material at the old figures. You Will
find just as many suits from s. to SIS as
last year in the establishments where such
goods are handled, and you will find also
that there Is no change in the quality.
In other places, where business suits were
made for So last year. the same price
will be asked today. What the prices
will be next year no one can tell. but as
advance stocks Will probably be exhausted
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