The evening times., 1898-12-21
Every Indication That a Big
Boom Is Here.
ACTIVITY In ALL SECTIONS
Wholesalers and Commission Mer-
chants Taxed TO Supply Demand.
Manufacturers Decline TO Quote Future
Prices and Have Sold Products for
Months Ahead.

New York, Dec. 21.-These are cheerful
days for the dry goods trade, because
the transactions in wooden and cotton
goods this month have been greater than
during any preceding December since the
great boom Of 1892 when all records were
broken
Not only are the New York Who,esB Al RS
and commission merchants taxed to meet
the demand of the trade but the manu-
facturers have made known their ina
bility to promise any more goods. The
output OF many mills for the next four
months already has been disposed Of and
in several instances manufactures have
declined 10 quote prices for future pro-
ducts
There have been more than enough
wolien and cotton goods in the market
until now To supply all demands II was
because OF this fact that prices on these
products went 20 such low point With
the Increased demand there has been an
advance in prices. so that cotton goods
now cost from 10 l5 per cent more tnan
they did three weeks ago.
Miles N. OBrien, OF the II. b. C.afin
Company, said yesterday that the inn
provement in the dry goods trade Was
UnmisIakable
The outlook, he said lis very bright
indeed. The Improvement is due : mp.y
10 the operation OF supply and demand.
During the last few weeks there has b en-
q greatly increased demand. particularly
for woolen and cotton goods. and IT is
not limited 10 any particular part Of the
country. II comes from North, South,
East and West IN addition 10 this there
now is a splendid export trade. notably
TO China and TO cuba and other islands
of the West Indies. There j. no ques ion
that the outlook is brighter now than it
has been at any time since 1892"
Former Mayor William l.. Strong. head
Of The wholesale firm OF William L Strong
tG Co. said:
There is q feeling among business men
thai the signing Of the peace protocol
put an end to business uncertainty. Dur
Ing December. for the first Tine in many
months. business became settled once
more. and houses all over the country,
which up 10 that time had been timid. be-
gan buying again This activity and res
Jorauon of confidence Is not limited 10 any
one Eue of trade. but Is. / understand,
general. This revival Is similar 10 the
one that sci in during December a year
ago We did a good business then. and
during January and February. But with
quent events all tending 10 show that war
was inevitable, this activity in trade was
checked absolutely.
Now the trade OF the country is ready
70 go forward in keeping with normal
times, and ] look for better trade condi-
tions than have prevailed al any time
since the active conditions of lsS2-iS93.
The advance IN the price Of cotton goods
is only a natural one. manufacturers haV-
ing been making nothing on their pro-
ducts recently owing 10 the depressed con-
dition Of the markets.
Mr.. Copeland. Of the wholesale commits
sion house Of Converse. Stanton & Co,
took similar view of the situation. Tie
said:
The outlook for the spring trade GER
tainly j. very good and the activity eX-
tends 10 all parts Of the country. Man.
ufactures. ! believe. do not care 10 quote
high prices for their goods and ii Is fol
that reason. in my judgment, that some o
them decline TO quote prices now. The!
have sold their output as far ahead a:
March. and evidently prefer TO wait be
fore disposing Of any more goods.
Mr. Copeland added, as illustrating tn
low urices at which cotton goods had beer
selling. that the buyer of large Westerl
house. after going TO England 10 buy cot
ton goods had returned TO New Hori
and placed mis- order here. as ne could d'
better in this country than he coul'
abroad.