Direct Trade of Southern States with Europe, No. III [pp. 493-502]

500 DIRECT TRADE OF SOUTHIIERN STATES WITH EUROPE.
A firm in the city of Charleston lateiy imported a large supply of
goods direct, and about the same time had an order filled for similar
goods in New York, which, they state to the (committee, cost them full
fifteen per cent. higher than those impcrtedt direct. Among them was
a case of cassimers, a match case to one imported, the same in every
respect, and costing near 30 per cent. higher than the imported case.
Another firm of this city, largely engaged in the wholesale trade,
has a partner residing in New York, by whom about one-third of
their stock is purchased there, the balance being imported direct.
They inform the committee, that the goods purchased in New York
have cost them fromn 15 to 20 per cent. higher than similar goods imported direct.
In regard to the assortments of goods now in the Southern seaports, the committee are uninformed, except as to Charleston-in
which city the supply has been greater than any had there for thirty
years past, containing excellent assortments of foreign goods. Of
domestics-the assortments, though better than heretofore, has not,
it is understood, been either as varied or good as at the North. The
great market of New York must afford more range of selection at all
times, but it may be questioned whether it affords a much greater variety of goods suited to the Southern market, or of better staple.
Most of the importing houses, during the past summer, had partners
in Europe, who were well acquainted with the wants and tastes of
the Southern people, and made their selections to suit-and, notwiithstanding the trade of the city has been far greater than was anticipate(l, they have still managed to keep their stocks at a respectable rate, and are now understood to have very good assortments.
A strong p)roof, not only that the assortments have suited the demand,
but that the rates have been better than could be obtained at the
North, exists in the increased business; the sales of this season notwithstanding the epidemic of the last summer, are computed at 25 per
cent. advance on those of the year preceding. Many intelligent
and enterprising dealers from the interior towns, villages and country, who formerly traded to New York, with a full knowledge of all
the facts necessary to proper conclusions, have discontinued trading
with New York, and made their purchases here-and others, after
persisting in going there, and purchasing, have returned here, extmined the stocks, and regretted they had lost time and money by
going. While greater activity has pervaded this market, a comparaftive stagnation has fallen upon that part of New York which has
heretofore participated largely in our trade. One firm, which has a
louse both in Charleston and New York, sold on the capital employed
the past year full 75 per cent. more goods in the former than in the
latter city. These are gratifying evidences that our trade is falling
back in its ancient channels, and again returning to fertilize and repeople its ancient home.*
* In one of the best New York commercial papers, the Herald, of the 4th of May,
inst., since the adjournment of the Convention, is the following paragraph of its commercial report. The confirmation it gives to this statement is perfect, as it estimates
the filling off of Southern trade at 75 per cent. The insinuation that it is for want of
credit to the Southern merchants, is undeserved, and will no doubt be duly appreciated
by them.
"The Southern trade may now be said to be over for the spring. It has been ex