New-York tribune., 1902-12-31

7 ing the enormous strides made by American
| manufacturers in the production Of other lines
| With Importers of drygoods 1902 has been an
| equally prosperous year. Perhaps the lace and
embroidery field has led In the race, for fashion
| exceptional degree Here, too American enter
| prise has made itself felt. and not only have
new factories been installed in this country but
| Older establishments have increased their out
put very materially.
Kid gloves have met with unusually graft
| flying consumption, and here likewise importing
houses have scored. while our domestic manu-
facturers have largely increased their already
extensive business.
within recent years in this country is the manu-
facture of neckwear for women. All sorts of
novel conceits In neck dressing have been in
Iroduced, many of these being of most elaborate
and costly character At a time of such
eXampled prosperity the present these articles
OF luxury find ready sale. and their production
has proved extremely remunerative.
Among distributors of drygoods evidences Of
prosperity are very apparent. Failures have
been unusually few, and such as have occurred
have been due TO special conditions, which in
some cases dated back number OF years. On
the other hand, the year has witnessed a mar
YeIlous development of the facilities for doing
business A Chicago wholesale house has just
moved into newly erected premises covering al
most the entire area OF two city blocks, and
having a floor space equivalent to sixteen acres.
y great retail house in the same city has en-
larged its quarters until the area employed for
the selling and handling of merchandise is close
10 four acres In Philadelphia large exten-
slons have been effected by drygoods firms. one
with The Chicago retail house just referred to.
In our own city We have old estab-
hShed retail firm remove 10 a newly built store
which, II is believed. holds the record for size in
this country Another retailer is to build
modern department store on the site of the store
vacated And, meanwhile. entirely re-
tail establishment Of considerable proportions
has been added New YOrk's already long list
Of drygoods eSta hlishments. All over the coun-
try the story is the same. Scarcely a city from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific, from the northern
border to the Gulf. but can boast its new store
buildings and enlargements of existing plants.
Inc outlook for the coming year is very IA
Norable for manufacturers and distributors of
textiles The advance sales OF cotton fabrics
Tor spring consumption have exceeded all preyi-
Gus records Manufacturers of wool and
WorSted dress materials have disposed of the
bulk of their production Of spring merchandise
and are now preparing samples Of autumn fab
r1cS for the inspection of the buyers for whole
sale houses and the larger retail stores who
WILL early in February. visit the market with a
view TO placing orders.
In view of the higher prices on wool. more
especially the high grade Australian variety,
which Is essential TO the production of fine
WorSted IA bricS, II is foregone conclusion that
these collections Of styles will he opened
at an advance over the spring lines. Indeed to
such an extent are manufacturers in the dark as
tc how far the increase in values will go that
the opening of these collecti ions will no deferred
10 the latest possible date.
Manufacturers of silk will continue for some
time to turn out spring lines. The prospect for
this branch Of the industry is such should
encourage every American mill manager. as well
as every importer. 4 large demand for silks
during 1903 is assured, for many will be the
uses Of such fabrics. In addition the call for
silks for making up garments. large quantities |
of taffetas Will he required for Innings The |
tendency in wool dress materials for spring sets
strongly toward the Of diaphanous weaVes. |
which must he made drop skirt of silk. |
In addition cotton fabrics of a sheer. gauzy |
character. which Will he literally employed dur |
ing the heated term. must of necessity be made |
over a silk foundation. affording another X |
tenslVe outlet for the queen of fabrics
This state of affairs is far from conducive To |
the interests OF the mills producing cotton lin
lnSS There is always A certain demand for the |
heavier grades of such fabrics. for this is A |
country Of vast extent, numbering many
uonalites among its people. Very fine qualities
OF percallnes are also in perennial demand. !
Nevertheless, silk has largely replaced cotton |
Tor lining purposes. and will continue TO do so.
In the commission and jobbing houses Of New
forks wholesale drygoodS district expansion IS
the watchwOrd for 1903 A very few old estah-
hshed firms Will withdraw from business but
the active members OF their personnel will Join
other concerns. contributing thereto added
strength and vitality.
All over the country prepara tons are being
made for a year Of increased and profitable bust
ness. Few employees Of drygoods houses whole |
sale and retail, but can find places-a sure proof
of satisfactory conditions within the trade
With a continuance of the remarkable pros |
oerity Of the last few years. the textile indus |
Try cannot but duplicate in the coming twelve |
month the hishs- -Satisfa ctOry record of 1902
SAMUEL H DITCHETT.
Managing Editor Of The Dry Goods Econo-
mist"