Evening star., 1877-12-31
ness 0nflOAk.


ing the trade Of this season with that of pr eyi-
ous years. to learn what are the prospects of
business revival, the reporters OF The STAR
called Upon a number Of our leading mer-
chants aud business men. and obt: lined the
following diversity Of opinions, Which they
place before the public:
Messrs Solomons 6 Chapman booksellers,
had done an average Christmas business. but
we're not very hopeful Of any de eided Improve
ment in business In the near fu- fure, on account
Of the unsettled condition of the finances.
They were not desp0ndenf, however but in
tended to keep up to the mark with fun stock
in their line.
Mr. VIM. NJ. Shuyter, dry goods merchant.
was not at all enthusiastic over business pros
poets. He was Of the opinion that trade was
bad everywhere, and that it would grow worse
The people want confidence i'm money matters
before they VIII buy anything more than is
absolutely necessary.
VIM. y. TeeL merchant taller, thought that
this years trade was about the same as last
years, and last years was about the worst he
ever saw. He saw no direct prospect of i'm
prOyement in business. but intended keeping
the ball rolling, and had already ordered full
stock Of English goods.
X. II. Mohun & Bro, booksellers. thought
that this wear trade was @ li5tle t Improvement
than heretofore.
INV Cali, Bro & Co. jewelers., were pleased
with the years trade, and thought the pros
poets were good. Their business this year was
a decided Improvement on last years, not
Withstanding that money was tight and prices
much reduced
Mr.. BushrOd Robinson. the clothier. said
that since he has been in business in this city
he has never been 80 much encouraged as he
has been by the business he has done within
the last three months. There is one feature of
his sales, however, which goes to show that the
buyers are not eXtravagaDt. For instance,
customers who last year would buy fifteen
dollar boys suit of clothes are content with a
cheaper suit this year. There is a great diSpO-
sition displayed by customers TO be econOm-
cal.
Mr. Walter Ker. the halter. said that the hat
trade, but that the fur business was backward
This he attributes To the very mild winter
weather We have thus far had
George W. COrnwell 4 Sons. grOcerS re
ported that business has been and still con
tinueS to be good better. indeed. than last
year. The people, however. buy close and
Mr.. II. y Barlow. picture dealer. 1925 Penn
Sylvania ave- takes rather a cheerful view of
the situation. His goods. he said. being luXu-
TieS. are the first To feel the effects Of a panic
and the last 10 recover from them, but there
has been decided improvement mt i'm business
within the last three months. Though most of
his Christmas trade has been in small articles
the sale OF expensive works has been inerelS-
ing on the whole. showing a growth of taste i'm
the city. He thinks that alfwill 20 right if
Congress only adopts measures that Will tend
to increase the reyiying confidence.
Perry Bro. dry goods 9Th st. and Penn
SNlyania ave. report business tOlerable only.
ne sales are mostly cOnilneU 10 small articles
They hope that the trade may be more pros
Porous i'm the immediate future than the ac-
counts of commission merchants and their own
experience Justify them in expecting.
Al Halle Hume :, grOcerS, the trade has been
better lately than during The corresponding
pen iGd last year. MIR. Hume thinks however
that the prospects for any decided improve
ment la business are very unfaVOrable il the
specie resumption bill is not repealed. He
has. however. laid in large stock of goods to
De ready Ia meet the demand should business
brighten up.
At William Wallis clothing store the sales
have been greater during the last three months
than curing the corresponding months of last
year, but this is attributed TO thC fact that they
and cannot consequently be taken as an ind-
cation of the revival of business
Al r &. DAVIS, fancy goods, Sh Market
business i'm November and December being
better than during the corresponding months
of last year. The holiday trade does not, how
ever, furnish much indication as to the charac-
ter of next years business. If, however, there
is no revival in trade there can hardly be
greater decline.
nesSrs. Tayi0r x Hufty. furnishing goods
62jPennSylyania ave- said that trade has been
excellent during TIE holidays, and is increaS-
ing. They think that the outlook is good fora
driving business III the spring, and have i'm
ported largely
Mr.. J. W. Colley. dry goods merchant, stated
that there is no marked improvement in his
trade on that of last year. He thinks the pros
=
tuTe.
Mr.. George c. Henniag, clothing dealer.
stated that there is not much Improvement in
his business. He has sold Il fair quantity of
goods. hut the prices are considerably lower
than last year. He does not cater specially
Ior holiday season, having regular trade
MesSfs Webb X Beveridge think hat they
have not realized any special improvement in
trade over that Of one year ago, and see no
reasons for immediate Improvement.
Mr.. \. StrauS. clothing dealer. has realized
in his business decided Improvement com
pared with last season, and thinks the pros
pect good for lively spring trade. What he
hopes for is plenty Of work for mechanics and
labOTelS.
Mr.. G. NJ TowsOn, dry goods, saws his re-
ceIpts are considerably ahead of correspond
ing months last year, and the prospects for
spring trade are good. Cotton goods are firm
er, and his arrangements for future operations
Will be extended and enlarged.
Mr.. {. Rupert, the toy merchant, has real
lied a decided Improvement in trade this sea
son, his sales fully corresponding with his in
creased facilities. Looks for good spring
season, his hopes being based on confidence
of revival in all mechanical branches.
Mr.. John MaTkriter No. 626 Z St, uphOlSterer
and picture dealer, said that business with
HIM was fully up to last Christmas times. IL
was noticeable that, Notwithstanding prices
were from 10 to y per cent. lower than last
year, the ma ajOrity of purchasers were ecOnOmi-
cal and took the cheaper class of goods, and
seemed more calculating than ever before.
The liable Brothers ISL. and A. }. elothierS.
corner of 9TH and ID stS., think the trade was
not perhaps quite up 10 last year, but the fall
ing on was owing 10 the unreasonable weather
Owing 10 the reduced prices of clothing they
are quite sure that had cod weather set i'm a
few days before they would have done a much
larger business than ever before. They how
ever, show their confidence in the business
future by adding constantly to their large
stock.
Robert Beall (bOOkseller). 4a5 PENNSYLVANIA
ave, said his Christmas trade was ahead of
last year. because of the decline OF prices
While the trade was brisk with medium and
lOw-pTiced goods, there were comparatively
few expensive books purchased. The general
trade during the month has been much better
than during December last year, and the out
lcOk Is cheerful.
At Messfs. W. III. & q. ii. Morrison, book
sellers, the holiday business was never better,
exceeding any previous season for years. and
the general business has been good and is
looking up.
Joseph ShillingtOn, bookseller. Pennsylvania
ave. and Az St, thinks the number of Christ
mas customers was greater than usual, but the
purchases were not i'm proportion, aud there
seemed To be disposition, not only at his
store. but on that part of the avenue, to pur-
chase gifts of utility. Altogether the trade has
been q little better than last year, and the gen
eral trade has been as good as for several
years past.
John W. BOtelcr & Bro. dealers in china,
frIa 4 n ~ h,.