New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-30
BIG HOLIDAY TRADE
Unusually Large Business in All
Branches Reported.


forecast q good beginning for 1919. 'Duns
Review says:
Retail holiday trade was Of imposing
proportions, and this exhibition of buying
power on the part Of the people. as the re-
cult of agricultural frultfulness and OF
fully employed and highly paid labor, has
a favorable effect on wholesale trade and
on Industrial lines. In the drygoods de-
partments conditions at the close OF the
year are very satisfactory, both for cot
tons and woolens Mills have large orders
running months ahead, and }obbers. who
have experienced the customary slack
ening at this season, are anticipating
large increase in demand. In the iron and
steel trade the chief feature Is the con-
tinued heavy purchases by the railroads
There are shorter holiday suspensions OF
work this year than usual owing 10
the insistence Of demand. Coke is very
firm, due TO the inadequacy OF supplies to
meet the extraordinary movement. New
England shoe factories are working on
fun time with present orders, but new
business is seasonably dull The decline
in hides is having a weakening effect upon
leather The grain and cotton markets
show continued large domestic movement
and exports. Interest In the financial
markets is still keen as to the result or
the Balkan peace negotiations in London,
but holiday quietness generally prevails
Tho favorable influence OF the unus-
yslly large holiday trade Is very strongly
felt in the tobbing markets and at the
close prices Of piece goods arc at the top
level Of the year. while the mills sener-
ally ere we'll sold up for the next few
months. In cotton goods mail order de-
fnand from jobbers keeps up and pros
poets for a steady spring distribution are
bright. Brown goods are 30 well solo
ahead that agents find no difficulty In
holding prices at the top, while prints are
quiet but firm, with prospects that any
increase In demand will be followed by
advances. Staple ginghams are closely
sold up and dress ginghams are In better
request. but fine and fancy cottons still
rule quiet Mapped BOTTOMS for next fall
are being ordered. but prices will not be
fixed on leading lines until tho middle OF
next month. In woollens and worsteds
business already done on staple mems
wear for fall 1913 has exceeded expec-
tation. demand being unchecked by ad-
vances that ranged from 2ls cents to 1915
cents a yard. while in dress goods some
substantial orders have also been booked.
The mills have large orders ahead, but de-
liverIes are difficult owing to restricted
production at mill centres. There is an
improved demand for silks. The cotton
and wool yarn markets hold very firm.
New England manufacturers are stili
very busy shipping orders In footwear al
ready booked. Concessions in leather arc
mainly on stocks that sellers were de-
sirous OF cleaning UP prior 70 inventories.
but the tendency Of prices IL downward.
Bids Of Sec, tannery run. are now being
made on union sole leather, against the
previous quotation OF Ic, but holders In
sist that the lower quotation now Is for
inferior quality. No transs ctions OF any
account arc reported in Chicago packer
hides. and prices OF these arc purely
nominal, but some idea Of the position OF
the packer cowhide market Is given by
clearance transaction al New York or
between 5000 and 100 smaller outside all
weight cows, November December salt
ing. at 1Hfc, against previous sales OF Oc-
tober sailing (Which are OF better quality
made a while ago at lsisc. Foreign hides
are steadier than heretofore, and the dc
clIning tendency noted week ago ap-
rears to be checked. European tanners
have entered the market for dry River
Plate hides, and are estimated TO have
purchased over 10000 Buenos Ayres at
only slightly under the price that was
asked for the last offerings here"
"Bradstreet's" reports for the week as
follows:
What is described in most sections Of
the country as a record holiday trade has
crowned a year which has had few equals
and fewer superiors I'm nearly every line
of human endeavor. This. OF course, re-
fers directly TO volume OF product or
value OF output rather than 20 margins
OF profit, which are conceded TO have been
cut in many lines. necessitating larger
volume of sales 10 return an equal aggre-
gate OF net results.
BEST reports as 20 holiday and retaii
trade came from the West. Northwest
most parts OF the Southwest and the Pa
clfc Coast. I'm the Eastern states TRACE
las been good. and there are many large
centres reporting the ycar-eno trade rs
breaking all records. Less buoyant ad-
vices came from southeast or the Mls-
eiseinni. but here shorter Yields arc held
mainly responsible for whatever railing
off Is noted from sanguine expectations
or from tho records of a year ago
TN wholesale trade and Industry there
has been a quieter tone. rejecting end-of-
wear hating OF demand pending inven-
torying. but in jobbing trade there Is re-
ported rather more than seasonaole &C
tiyity I'm satisfying demand for recorders
for seasonable goods or In preparing
spring goods for shipment. AT few CEN
trss the absence Of steady cold weather
&c mentioned az limiting retail distriou-
ton of seasonable goods, but tins. AFTER
all. gems premature. in view or the ldcI
that the winter season is actually only
one week old. In industry there mas oeen
slight letting down OF production, due
IN seasonal shutdowns, but II is noted IN
tho iron and steel trade that these hoii-
dav stoppages will be shorter than usual.
The advent of Il widespread snow ana
rain storm has had some effect upon
TRANSPORTATION, tending as II did 10 re-
tard movement, but the latest report as
IN the car supply shows only slight IN
crease in the shortage Of equipment
TIE PRINT CLOTH MARKET.
lBy Telegraph to The Tribunel