The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-20
CARPET AUCTIONS
BRING 1000 BUYERS
81. 500. 600 Worth of Fabrics
Offered for Sale by
Two Firms.
PRICES SHOW ADVANCE

Carpets and rugs valued at 81. 500 900
which began yesterday. Besides greatly
stimulating the carpet and rug business
the sales brought here nearly 1000
buyers from all over the country. break
ing all records In attendance Of buyers
in the market. Their virtually unani-
nous opinion is that a reawakening In
their business is bringing a rapid return
to normal conditions
Tho two sales were conducted by
stephen Sanford & Sons, Inc. 100 Fifth
avenue. and Alexander Smith & Sons.
los Fifth avenue. The auction rooms at
both places were crowded yesterday. the
bidding was more lively than in years
and buying was at good prices. The at
tendance Is expected to increase during
the week.
Tho prices at both sales showed in
creases OF from to \ per cent. since the
war began. depending on the fabric.
The prices were rather lower than many
retailers had expected despite the
scarcity of raw material. which has
gone up 10 to IL per cent.
Most Of the rugs sold were OF the
popular . by IL size. AZ Sanford's vel
vets brought $3.50, tapestries $3.50.
!arge administers OF various kinds az
high as Sl7 and small administers 81
Inches long, si.S5. AT Alexander Smiths
saio velvets led at sl4 to SASS. Saxony
administers brought sl3 to 1876 and
Alpine administers $1,000 TO 3l0.7S.
Manor tapestries ranged from 3s.l5 TO
$40 and N,pperhan tapestries brought
$40. A smaller Manor tapestry. : feet
inches by 10 feet 8 inches, was a good
seller NJ $500 TO s7.25.
Another evidence of renewed conf
dence in the trade was the return TO
normal of the anticipation allowance.
II was 8 per cent. per annum at both
sales. At Alexander Smiths sale six
months ago the rate was per cent. for
the first time In the Arms history.
Members of both Arms said there could
be no doubt the sales would greatly
stimulate business throughout tho coun-
try Buyers have been cautious since
the war began and stocks are low. but
competition aroused yesterday was the
most lively in years. The present sale "a
stephen Sancords first auction and has
aroused great interest rs thig Arm and
Alexander Smith are the largest manu-
facture.s and wholesalers in the country.
Tho Temporary slump in the rug and
carpet business has been due to the
scarcity OF coarse. tough wool caused by
the war. Il was explained. and tho lack
Of dyestufrs from Germany. Most Of the
wool came from China. the Balkans. the
East Indies and ireland, Domestic wool
= too fine FOR CO rpcte. Since the WAR he
ggn much crarsc wool has been bought
by manufacturers having contracts for
uniforms. especially overcnats, and the
Chinese wool crop - poor this year
Some relief In the dycstuff famine is
promised 10y the news that Great R-it
Ian has released two steamships the
Guantanamo and the city ~ Savan-
nah. with cargocs OF dyesturs. These
cargocs will not b. intcrfe-cd with by
the allied feet, provided they fly nett
trail fiag and are consigned 10 Sec
rotarv Rcdneld for the use Of dyesciff
consumers
Both firms reported plenty of orders
especially IN the last few weeks. In
fact, the ord r. arc coming .Y - fas,
that they cannot be- filled because "f the
Lack or raw mater Al. The Sanford mills
~ Amsterdam, y. Y. are running full
time. and tine Smith mills AZ Yonkc's
put their 800 men 81 half time recently.
They would need them all To- M orders
If they could get wool and dyes.