Total,........ 68,702,835 48 88,123,248 14 1,277,018 56 31,670,049 11 5,025,483 69

DYE WOODS TRADE FOR THE YEAR 1859.

SAN DOMINGO and Jamaica Logwood are the leading articles, both for export and home use, while Laguna and Tobasco are in less demand by our manufacturers, owing to the advanced rate at which they are held over the former. Heretofore, San Domingo was held in higher estimation than Jamaica, from the more careful manner in which it was pealed and divested of unmerchantable sticks; but of late years, the latter has had more attention paid to it, and as no one can discern the difference when equally well trimmed, there ought not to be any in the value. Sisal is seldom imported, and most of the Honduras is shipped by the importers.

Fustic. In this article, the principal supplies are from Savanilla and Maracaibo, and are the kinds generally taken for export and home use; the small quantity from Tampico, Porto Cavello, Tobasco, Jamaica and San Domingo, of late years, being too small to excite attention. Cuba still maintains its high rate. The quality of every description has deteriorated in quality, and ranges from ordinary to fair, with but little prime.

Nicaragua.-Lima has become the favorite article in this description of wood. In 1822, it was unknown in this market, but now the importation is large, and being nearly divested of sap, is preferred by the trade to Hache, Cora and Indian Coast, notwithstanding the difference in price.

Red Woods. Owing to the large supplies of Barwood and its limited consumption, it is quite neglected, and in consequence fallen materially in price.

Camwood, which is the only other kind imported from Africa, although received in limited quantities, is at present in but trifling demand. Sapan wood from Manilla is preferred to that from Siam, and commands a much higher price, and both kinds have met a steady demand on arrival, from our manufacturers.

Rice. The importation has not materially varied, neither have prices for some years. That from the East Indies is generally taken in bond for export, while a large portion of the domestic growth is consumed in the United States. Our leading dealers, independent of being large importers, purchase consignments from the South, others supplying the demand. Prices, for some time, have rated too high to meet the views of exporters.

$11 50 @

14 75

Jamaica,..

1,200

14 50 @ 20 00

4,948

14 50 @ 21 00

5,712

12 00 @

20 00

3,816

11 00 @

12 50

4,191

11 50 @

13 50

1,210

15 75 @

17 00

18 50 @

22 00

156

16 75 @

24 00

Tobasco,... 2,055

20 00 @ 29 00

815

26 00 @ 28 50

918

24 00 @

28 00

267

19 50 @

23 00

290

16 75 @

21 00

Laguna,.... 3,514

23 50 @ 33 00

929

28 00@31 00

2,165

25 00 @

34 00

1,209

22 00 @

25 00

2,597

23 00 @

27 00

THE NEW-YORK BOOT AND SHOE MARKET.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR 1859.

From the New-York Shoe and Leather Keporter.

THE boot and shoe business, at the commencement of the year 1859, in this city, like that of our neighbors, gave promise of much general activity and prosperity, while, quite unlike the results to our neighboring cities and manufacturing districts, the expectations of many of the trade in this market have been realized. It was supposed that the West had generally recovered from the shock of 1857, while she had been gradually reducing the large overstock of eastern manufactured and other goods, which had burthened her markets for the two previous years; and that although many of her merchants and business men were not yet able to settle up liabilities contracted in 1857, still the country would require a large amount of boots and shoes, and financial facilities would be such as to enable tradesmen to meet promptly the more recent debts, and to establish, or in many instances re-establish a credit, sufficient to purchase all the goods desired. The southern portion of the Union was known to be in a sound and healthy condition, with her large cotton crop turning readily into cash at high figures, affording her ample means to meet every liability and to purchase freely all goods suited to her markets. The requirements of the West, however, were much over-estimated, but merchants from the more southern States have purchased freely throughout the year.

At the opening, there was a large stock of some kinds of goods which had been held over from the previous autumn sales which closed abruptly and somewhat sooner than had been anticipated. This stock chiefly consisted of coarse or second class goods, and was not felt to be much burthen upon the market. Some of our dealers, more especially those doing a large southern business, visited the manufacturing districts early in the year, purchased freely, and made preparations for a heavy demand. In fact, quite a number had commenced preparing for their operations wecks before, by sending their traveling agents or drummers through the country to secure, if possible, not only sales to former customers, but to enlarge the circle of their acquaintance and extend business relations, while some, formerly engaged in the western trade exclusively, thought to explore new and more remunerative fields by directing their agents into the warmer latitudes of the country. The effect of all this has been to raise much competition for the southern trade, quite to the advantage of merchants from that section.

The early spring business commenced about the usual season, and exhibited much activity for some weeks; but, as the season advanced, trade from the more northern and northwestern States came forward very tardily, not meeting the expectations of many of the dealers, yet from our own State, and some parts of Pennsylvania and Ohio, trade was quite heavy, and, as a whole, the operations of the spring were fair and satisfac

tory, many of our merchants having disposed of the greater portion of their old stock and otherwise improved their position. As a class, they had bought but lightly of eastern manufacturers through the winter and spring, owing partly to the amount of stock held over from the previous autumn, and partly to the caution excited by the effects of repletion in previous years. This fact operated heavily upon our friends at the East, who had manufactured enormous stocks of goods without the exercise of ordinary judgment, and who were slow in ascertaining the real cause of the subsequent depression, attributing the simple effect of over-production to a thousand and one causes which had no existence except in the fertile imaginations of the inventors.

In July, about the commencement of the second business season, it became evident that the market was glutted, and that a decline in prices was inevitable, notwithstanding they were already too low to afford a living profit to manufacturers. Those who had bought lightly and reduced their stocks were in a good position to take advantage of the eastern panic. They, therefore, purchased goods as they required them for their customers, and almost at their own prices. Trade came in to a fair extent from the South and from some sections of the West, rendering this season's business, although not so large in amount, one of peculiar prosperity and advantage to many of our houses; while others who had purchased more freely before the large reduction in prices, found themselves with considerable stocks on hand, and unable to compete with their neighbors in selling except at a loss to themselves.

Later in the season, and up to the close of the year, business from most sections of the country was light, owing to the full purchases made at an earlier date both by southern and western merchants. A less amount of

goods in the aggregate was required than had been anticipated.

The manufacturing of this city, which is confined principally to light and fine work, has been generally prosperous throughout the year. Most of the manufacturers have acted upon the cautious principle of making up only to fill actual orders, which they have succeeded in obtaining at fair and remunerative figures.