New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-02
SCARCITY OF MERCHANDISE In DRYGooDs TRADE
EXISTED IN NEARLY ALL LINES FOR YEAR 1906
GENERALLY PROFITABLE BUSINESS


Speaking broadly. the history OF the drygoods
trade for 1906 can be summed up in three words
scarcity OF merchandise. This condition has
not existed in all lines. but 1t has been suffi-
ciently general to. make the year a memorable
one.
FOR producers of textiles. for manufacturers
or garments and for distributors of drygoods
therefore, 1906 has been year of exceptional
di1riculty. For the manufacturers. whether con-
sufhers or cotton. of WOOL OF silk of the finished
FABRICS. the situation has been further compli-
Gated by the high cost of raw material An
other difficulty has been the shortage OF labor
ana the higher wages which the mills have been
compelled TO pay Thus it may safely be stated
that the problems presented to the drygoods
trade In 1905 have been accumulated in every
way throughout 1906.
Nevertheless taking the trade as whole the
year has been a generally profitable one. The
higher prices which manufacturers and import
ers have been compelled to demand have not
Iessened consumption. for throu ghout the coun-
try people have had money to spend and have
peen willing 10 spend 1t. In fact one OF the
most notable features OF the drygoods business
or 1906 has been the progress OF the already
marked tendency toward the purchase of better
grades of merchandise
Another proof of prosneritv In Tho +~.do q.
found In the continued tendency 10 the batter
hent or increase of facilities
as le6arus manufacturing plants the erection
% new HilIs ana new factories has gone along
upon conservative lines The phsnonoepaI d.
hland FOR merchandise has brought little more
IMAM normal expansion in productive capacity
one cause OF this condition doubtless being the
ollncuity experienced in obtaining operatives
% iar as the RETAIL trade is concerned. it is
douDfuI whether the increase OF facilities has
been so great was the case In 1908 Never
theIess a large number OF stores in various CEN
Tres throughout the country has been rebuilt
OF enlarged New York has seen the opening
hy-
store frms and the Citys retailing facilities have
been further increased by the addition of en- en-
tlfeiy new establishment of the first class Phil
adelphla, Boston, Omaha. St. Louis Cincinna ii
anu Louisville are also among the large centres
Where Old stores have been replaced by gigantic
structures OF modern type. In ST Louis several
other improvements of Importance are provided
Tor while portions OF two Of the leading retail
establishments In Chicago are being rebuilt
another striking evidence Of expansion in the
drygoodS trade has been furnished by the IN
usually large number Of merchants and BUYERS
VINO visited the New York market in the spring
and at the time OF the opening of the fall trade
Inc number of such visitors this year broke all
records; and not only were the larger of
town stores represented but a great number of
small centres throughout the country, including
many as distant Texas and the Pacific Coast
AS regards the Central West. the cact may he
cited that the sales OF six leading iObbing
houses in St. Louis for the wear ended July 30
according TO figures submitted to the License
commissioner, showed an increase Of from s10-
OcnV0O TO $4,000, O0O while the increase i'm the
aggregate sales of nine department stores in
the same city was SI7 .0O0 600.
A canvass of the wholesale and retail dry
goods merchants of the entire country early in
September showed most gratifying degree OF
prosperity throughout the Union and since that
date nothing has occurred to lessen the optim-
ism then expressed.