New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-12
Its Creation Due to the Splen-
did Economic Advantages
the City Offers to Jobbers
and Manufacturers.
BY the Industrial Bureau OF The Merchants
Association.

Nv the Industrial Bureau OF The Merchants
Association.
With the approach Of winter and the
blasts Of n fria,id temperature. IL Is pecul-
iarly fitting that we should consider
means OF protection against the cola. II
would be particularly unfortunate II We
were unable 70 provide the heavy gar
ments necessary for winter wear. But
there is no need for apprehension. Nc"
York City is making enough FUR garments
TO supply not only the demands or her
own population, but much Of the demand
from the population Of the entire country.
The growth OF the manufacture Of fur
goods In the city Of New York has been
one OF the most interesting features ot
her industrial development. II is an IN
dustry which Is dependent 10 a large de-
gree upon the general prosperity OF tho
country and upon the styles which are IN
vogue al any particular time.
In the last ten years there has been a
phenomenal increase I'm the consumption
of fur goods OF all sorts in the United
States. Thus. in 1899. according To the
REPORTS OF the federal census, there were
73i establishments engaged In TINS IN
dustry, which turned out product valued
at s25. Ss9. 90. Ten years later there were
l.2A establishments. which turned out
product valued at So. 1895. 90. or more than
twice the value Of the products IN 1899.
The increase in the production OF FUR
goods in New York City was even more
rapid. Thus in 1859 the value OF the
products was SIS. 23g. 900 while In 1850 the
value OF the fur goods produced In this
city had increased to g9di0Oo. These
figures show more clearly than words that
New York Is the centre Of the production
OF fur goods. In fact. during the year
1859 the city turned out approximately Il
per cent OF the entire value OF products
OF the industry In the United States.
The production OF fur goods is an in
dustry which finds certain great economic
advantages in a New York location. In
the first place. the industry is dependent
upon a large and wealthy market. New
York presents a market which Is un-
equ allied either in wealth or in size. AS
result. this city is to-day the great mar
ket for fur goods in the United States.
and the basis for the production I'm this
INDUSTRY lies in the local market for its
goods in this city.
Not only does New York present incom-
parable local market facilities, but as a
distributing centre New York location
is even more essential for the fur manu-
facturer because this city is the style
centre for the United States.
In the fur goods industry, as, in fact, In
N al - liz n
design and style is fundamental in the
successful marketing OF the product. In
this respect II is similar TO the clothing
industry, the cloak and suit industry. the
millinery business and so on.
Every human being, with the exception
Of few hard-shelled individuallsts whose
horse sense makes them independent de-
cires to be In style. To be in style Is to
look like your neighbor. only little bet
ter, and In order to believe that you actu-
ally look better than he does II is neces-
sary for you 10 have your wearing APP
parel either made In a style centre or
else modelled after something which is
made in such locality AS a result.
style centres have been created In every
part Of the world.
New York City is the unquestioned style
centre Of this country. The inventors OF
design and the artists In the creation or
clothing goods are located here New
York offers. therefore. to such manufact-
urers as are dependent upon changes In
/ style location which is practical
necessity. Since the fur goods industry Is
largely dependent upon the styles Of diff
ferent periods for the profitable sale OF Its
products. a New York location for the
manufacturer in this industry is an es-
ssntial.
In addition at present New York is
the centre for the raw material supply In
this industry. Imported raw materials
form the important basis for the manu-
facture OF these products. This city, with
It's exceptional shipping facilities. is the
centre for importations Of fur goods.
In l9i? the value OF fur skins imported
was s17,sSs.o00. and of this amount al
most $4,000 900 worth was imported into
New York. It's Importance as a centre OF
' importation Is even more strikingly shown