New-York tribune., 1910-01-02
TRADE REVIEW.

In its annual review of trade conditions
Dun's Review says of drygoods and wool
lens:
THE first half of the year was slow from
a merchandising point of view and the
merchants in closest touch with the situa
tien attributed it largely to uncertainty at
tending the consideration of tariff laws.
Actual consumption however. made dis
tinct progress and at no time was there
anything approaching the keen depression
Of the preceding year. In the last third of
the year the one complication noted by dis
tribCters was the unbalanced relation of
purchasing power and higher costs. but this
was in a measure forgotten in consequence
of the steady purchases in agricultural sec
tions of the country where great harvests
brought sound prosperity. Cotton goods
exports increased very largely over 1907 and
1875. and the Philippine market was added
as A possibility that holds many attrac-
tiors at the moment. Imports OF linens
were phenomenaly large and other impor-
tations were not sensibly decreased in to-
tails, q fact accounted for in part by the
rapid rise In domestic prices, without sim
liar response abroad. Trade with China
showed a steady increase until the middle
of the year. when II fell off sharply. At
present the difference between the selling
prices at Shanghai and the cost of replace
ment here precludes the possibility of an
early resumption of business
In woollen goods during 1909 price move
ments were abnormal and coupled with
complications as a consequence OF tariff
agitation. The basic cause of the rise was
the increased value Of wool. In the course
of a few months fine territory went up
from so 10 81 cents a pound 70 "A 70 7s cents.
South American crossbred5 advanced Is
per cent and so on through the long line
of clothing woods. The average advance
asked on spring goods ar the opening OF
the season, in the middle of the year. was
from 20 to % per cent. we'll known staple
serge was advanced So cents. from 81 15 TO
81 80, and another radical advance was that
of a sixteen ounce standard clay. which was
moved UP 37i5 cents yard.
HIDES AND LEATHER.
Prices on hides during 1903 advanced to a
pont that broke all records since the Civil
War, and though values were considered
extremely high in 1906 they were IN all
cases below the highest point touched last
year The causes which brought about
these abnormal figures were mostly natural
and were due To the fact that the slaughter
of cattle throughout the world has not kept
pace with the Increased demand for leather.
Prices on the average at the close OF 1903
were about 121a 70 10 per cent higher than
at the close OF the previous year although
there was some weakening in December.
especially in country hides. The most I'M
portant incident of the year was the re-
moval by Congress of the Is per cent duty
on foreign hides. While the subject was
under consideration at Washington Inn
mense quantities were imported.
The year 1909 has been one of great pros
perity in tho leather industry. especially
for the tanners who were able TO lay in
large supplies at The lower prices of the
previous year Leather was consistently
advanced in keeping with tho rise in hides.
Early IN tho year there was not mucn
activity and values showed little change
and while tho tariff legislation was pend
ing business was especially slow as most
buyers believed that with the removal OF
the duty there would be reductions In the
prices Of leather. In consequence OF THIS