The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-31
THE WHOLESALE TRADE.
An Increase in the Volume of Business, and
an Extension of Trade.


an Extension of Trade.
There has been an increase in the volume Of
the wholesale trade during the last year. and
there has been marked improvement in the
condition of the business generally, compared
with the close of 1884 There has been slight
reduction in profits, but this shrinkage has been
more than Offset in the years business by the in
creased trade, which extends to points that pre-
viously never bought in the Indianapolis mar
ket The business is in a healthful condition, be-
cause the wholesale dealers of the city are il a
better position for getting greater benefits from
the revival of trade. when it comes There is
no fear of loss on stocks now on hand, because
values are as low as they can get.
There has been an improvement in the whole
sale dry goods business" says D. P. Erwin, the
South Meridian street merchant, ION 1884, dur
the last year. 1t has been fully up to 1883,
which is the best year ever had since 1882. In
the years $780, 1881 and 1882 we had something
of boom. but in 1883 trade began to decline
and now there is tendency toward the prosper
ing trade preceding that year. Prices have
slightly improved, and the prospects for the new
year are very encouraging in that direction. We
enter upon the year with more firmness
than there has been for three years. This is
Oo.SC'oly Iuo Casa III RELATION 10 WOODEN SOOUS.
Collections during the last year have been very
satisfactory. and comparatively there has
been decrease in the losses. There is
better grade of credits. the slow and me-
dunn traders having been pretty we'll weeded
out. There is more of a disposition to do a cash
business on small profits. The prospects for the
future are very bright. The country is full of
produce of all kinds, and labor all seems to be
employed. The improved condition of the rail
roads enters largely into the encouraging pros
thn hoy Cd mad g
more transportation than last year, which is
very good evidence that the manufactures and
railroads are making money. With the country
full OF produce, everyb body has got something,
and this is the basis for prosperity, The low
prices of domestic cotton goods has brought
about an export demand, relieving the markets
OF the surplus, which accounts for the better
feeling that prevails in that branch of trade"
lis there any special Improvement in the In
dianapolis wholesale trade compared with other
markets."
'There has been a marked decline in the Job
bing trade of the eastern cities, owing to the in
creased volumes of stock offered at Western
points. There is general tendency for the
trade to concentrate at the points nearest the
market, and Indianapolis dealers have been
greatly benefited by this disposition on the part
of retailers. This trade will continue to improve
without Indianapolis is overshadowed by some
greater Western market AS it is now, no West
ern city is doing more jobbing than indianapolis,
with the exception of Chicago and ST. Louis.
We regard Cincinnati as out of the field of com
petition"
Murphy, Hibben & Co., wholesale dry goods:
Trade during the last year has been rather bet
ter than in 1884 We look forward to fair
years business in 1886. There is nothing to dis
courage and nothing on which to base hopes for
any great increase. We expect prices to con-
tinue about the same"
Byram, Cornelius & Co., wholesale dry goods:
"Our business has been quite as good as in 1884.
Probably not larger in amount. but more salts
factory. There is tendency toward an advance
in prices, and in regard to the prospects for next
year is rather fair.A They would probably be
better if Congress would quit tinkering with the
tariff adjourn and go home"
Fahnley d McCrea, wholesale milliners:
"There has been something of a decrease in the
millinery trade. The prices have been lower
during the year, and generally cheaper grade of
goods has been sold than usual"
Griffith Bros. wholesale milliners: "Taking
the year through, the trade of 1885 will average
about the same as in 1884 although the fall sea
son was not so good. Prices have been very
low, and cheap class of goods has been sold.
While the trade is about es large in volume as
in former years, it has not amounted to as much
In dollars and cents. The profit has been about
as large as usual, but cheap grade of goods has
been in style, and, of course, there is not as
much money in selling hats at 81 dozen at 10
per cent profit as in selling them at $25 dozen
at the same per cent"
M. OConnor, wholesale grocer: ''Trade this
year in groceries has been as large in volume as
it was in 1884, but it does not amount to as
much in dollars and cents. owing to sErinkage
IN prices. think that the decline has been about
per cent. Not much of an advance is expected
during this next year. but people must have gro
ceries, and there is nothing discouraging in the
outlook for the future that can see."
SEVERN, Ostermeyer & Co., wholesale grocers:
There has been little change in the condition
of the grocery business during the last year,
compared with 1884 The trade has been as
large In bulk. but there has been a downward
tendency in prices and profits have been small
| expect no advance in values during the next
year. but the prospects are good for an active
trade
Layman, Carey & Co., wholesale hardware:
During the first six months of 1885 our trade
was about the same as in 1884. Since the LIST of
Prices are on the upward tendency. Iron has
already advanced Indications are that there
will be an advance on all hard material Goods
are still very cheap, however, and have been so
low that there has been profit to manu-
facturers in making them. They have not been
so low for several years The turn is upward
row, and we look for continued improvement
for some time-at least three or four years We
expect no boom, but simply good healthy prices"
Hendricks, Cooper Ss Co., wholesale boots and
shoes: There was something of decline in our
trade during the first seven months, but the fall
trade has brought us out ahead of 1884 The
price OF leather has advanced some but still
there is little animation in the markets. We're
gard the present indications as very favorable
for an active spring trade There is some money
in the country, and there is a better feeling
among business men generally, East and West"
Jones Il Mckee, wholesale boots and shoes
1.-THE trade during the last year has been very
satisfactory. The losses have been less than in
1884. but this has been due to a closer scrutiny
of credit We expect business to be very much
better in the spring than it is now, although we
do not anticipate any advance in prices The
indications are, however that there will be
trouble in New England between manufacturers