IMPORTS OF HIDES AT THE PORT OF NEW-YORK FOR THE YEAR 1860. Compiled from the Weekly Official Tables of the Shoe and Leather Reporter. 1,852,856 184,263 120,570 175,563 200,978 216,448 158,242 97,718 154,271 181,086 71,603 220,248 121,881 57,898 32,554 82,838 66,736 92,172 145,241 119,086 94,006 188,762 272,312 122,694 213,987 .... .... 1,433,286 Texas,. Sundry coastwise,.. By rail......... 81,189 10,433 .... 23,283 10,612 28,360 169,150 160,542 116,710 6,593 6,266 5,048 92,769 69,498 .... 19,132 89,177 42,583 67,608 34,068 541,935 516,808 7,184 22,979 23,625 77,893 186,089 100,815 150,744 147,820 1,716,257 CALCUTTA, &c., IN BALES. From sundry foreign ports, mostly IMPORTS OF HIDES AT NEW-YORK FOR THE PAST THIRTEEN YEARS. NEW-YORK BOOT AND SHOE MARKET FOR 1860. From the Shoe and Leather Reporter. THE past year may be noted as one not generally satisfactory to the manufacturing interests of this department of business, while most of the jobbers have realized fair profits, although the amount of trade has generally fallen short of their anticipations. At the commencement of the year 1860, the prosperity in the commercial affairs of the country gave indications of an active and profitable business. The panic of the previous year, caused by over-production of the New-England manufacturers, had so reduced prices of many kinds, that during the last half of the year 1859 many of the large jobbing houses of this city were induced to purchase on a liberal scale, and thus early secure a stock for the ensuing spring trade, while the rates at which these supplies were bought were supposed to be, and undoubtedly were, in many instances, lower than the same article could be manufactured, thus encouraging holders to believe they would be able to defy all competition in prices at the early spring sales, which it was generally expected would be heavy, both to the Western and Southern States; to the latter, on account of the great prosperity which that section had enjoyed for some previous years, through her large and remunerative crops; to the former, on account of the caution manifested by the dealers, and the limited amount of boots and shoes shipped to that portion of the country since the great commercial panic of 1857. With neither of these sections, however, has the business of the past year equalled expectations, notwithstanding the unprecedented harvest and the general prosperity of the West during the first ten months of the year. The month of January passed; Southern merchants scarcely began to make their appearance; and it became a subject of remark that Southern trade was coming in late. Travellers returning from that section of the country soon intimated that a large surplus of boots and shoes was remaining on hand, and that only moderate requirements for the spring business need be expected. To this was added, as a further discouraging feature, the report that many bills contracted the previous autumn would require an extension until a disposition could be made of stock on hand. Nearly the middle of March was reached before there was a moderate representation of the Southern trade in this market. Stocks were full, and prices continued low. For some new styles, however, which were less abundant, an advance was now obtained. The strike which was at this time taking place among the Massachusetts workmen rendered it difficult to obtain, at short notice, a full supply of all descriptions. During the latter part of March and the whole of April, tradesmen from the Western and Southwestern States came forward to a fair extent; but the lessons of 1857 did not seem to be lost upon them, for their purchases were characterized by much caution, and a decided preference for good substantial work, rejecting, at almost any price, the lowest class of Eastern manufacture, of which the market had been heavily stocked the preceding year. It soon became evident that sales to the West, although trade appeared healthy, and the amount all that could reasonably have been expected, were not approaching the ideas of our sanguine dealers, and that they would not equal the purchases of the spring of 1859. Trade with our own State, and some of those immediately adjoining, was steady and not below the average of previous years during the first half of 1860, while the aggregate sales to other sections of the country are variously estimated at 20 @ 25 per cent. less than during the same months in 1859. The wholesale houses and others engaged in manufacturing in this city, profiting by the experience of the previous years, cut up stock much more cautiously, studying more carefully the requirements of their customers, and awaiting, in many instances, actual orders before preparing their goods for market. This caution in management has enabled many of the manufacturers to realize, if not extravagant, at least fair profits during the larger portion of the year. The month of July brought but few orders from any section of the country, and a considerable part of August passed before the Southern purchasers were fairly in the market. As in the spring, so in the autumn, trade from the Southern States came forward late, and to a much less extent than had been generally anticipated, while extensions upon bills previously purchased were not unfrequent, giving considerable anxiety to some of our dealers, even previously to the presidential election in November. Early in September the West was well represented in this market, and purchases, although made with much confidence and freedom, were devoid of that recklessness which characterized the operations of the early part of 1857. Notwithstanding the quantities required for this section were much less than had been estimated by many, a business fully equalling the average of the last five years has been realized. Western merchants extended the time of making their purchases over a somewhat longer period than usual, while from the more Southern country there was a gradual diminution of orders after the first of September, and almost an entire cessation before the first of November, since which date the political affairs of the country have not been such as to contribute to any improvement. The year closes with a pressure upon many of our houses, brought about by the agitations of the country, which it is very difficult to withstand. Manufacturers have nearly ceased operations. A more than average stock of boots and shoes for the season remains in the hands of the trade, which, for cash, could generally be purchased at less than the cost of production. Exports of Boots and Shoes from the several ports of the U. S., during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860. CF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF BOOTS AND SHOES AT THE PORT OF NEW-YORK THE dry-hide trade of the past year has called forth, from those engaged in the importation, not only much energy, perseverance and patience, but a heavy outlay of money, and has been prosperous only by determined effort on the part of importers, excited by the great pecuniary interest which has been centering in this business for the last few years. The high prices to which hides were carried by the expansion and speculation of 1857, attracted the notice of hide-producing countries, and every available means was brought into requisition to increase the already numerous domesticated herds which roam over the pampas of South America; while the rifle and the lasso penetrated still further into the mountains. This stimulus has since gradually but largely increased the product in many sections both of the Eastern and Western continents. Notwithstanding the growing requirements for leather in this and other countries, the increase in the production of the raw material has more than kept pace with the demand, leaving a large surplus in the hands of the various branches of trade between the grower of hides and the consumer of leather. This surplus, in a country where capital is all fully employed, and money worth from seven to twelve per cent. per annum, must necessarily induce an unhealthy condition in some departments of the business, which, from the force of circumstances and the heavy amounts of capital employed in the importation of dry hides, has unfortunately, during the past year, borne heavily upon that class who are least able to support the loss-the manufacturers of leather. salted hides for the first ten months enjoyed, proportionately, a greater degree of prosperity. The heavy requirements of some of the European Wet |