Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-15
THE BUSINESS SITUATION.
A Miner Reporter Has . Talk With
Representative People In all
Glasses Of Trade.

"A MINER IepOEtoE CAICu1saVeu PIoUUy AV0
ly among the busy people of Butte yester'
day and to the general inquiry, how does
your trade compare this month with that
Of the corresponding period last year? he
noticed two remarkable facts. One was
that a noticeable Improvement in business
universally was spoken Of by certain classes
and the other that no class, or firm met
with to put the volume of trade now at a
lower figure, proportionately, than then.
Three prominent grocery houses said their
trade, reconing on the same basis of in
vestment. was unquestionably better, viz,
that their cash or ''good debts" were
greater. They stated, however, that
Rrocers' bills are pretty generally cash or
it's equivalent, because men must eat.
Several large mems clothing houses were
visited. I'VE have not noticed any falling
off in our trade, sir, and as q general
rule our customers seem to have more
spot cash."
A tour was taken among the large estab
lishments, where all the fanciful furbelOws
and mysterious articles of the female toilet
were spread in dazzling array. I'VE never
had larger sales or more of them. The
fact ia, our ladies are so nice and pretty,
you know, that the gentlemen will strain
every nerve tor make . turn, rather than
Bee them looking longingly for these pretty
things Dame Fashion has sent out this sea-
son. For instance, never before were such
tasty wraps and dresses, CATERS, hosiery
and head-wear seen, and when a woman
will, she will,' you know. Yes. sir. our
sales are certainly equal to, and, incline
to the opinion, are better than last Decem-
ber."
TNho, o~onr %ho,o ,n,.uol. ae .,.....
sions-the milliners-the bluehing MINER
man veutured. Here he was ill at ease, be-
cause there is nobody equals q lady in q
millinery store when once she puts her lit
tie foot down with a determination to
make you buy something. No man, and
probably few women, can resist her "Oh!
that is so nice. It adds, if anything could
add, to your appearance!" Who the deuce
could 60 there without feeling his heart go
pit-a-pat, and his brain go whirl-a-gig,
whirl-a-gig! Howsoever, the venture was
successful in learning that in that line Of
trade December, 1886, was al far ahead OF
December, 1885, as the fashions of the
former eclipse those of the latter, and the
ladies said that was by "long odds"
Among these classes of business it was OBJ
served that the report was on the credit
side of 1886.
Then the meat markets were visited, and
the universal reply was, "Meats one year
are like those of the year before-barring
disease in animals, which we never have in
Montana. Men buy at one time or an
other. We kill according to the demand,
and therefore our profits are relatively the
same. No, we do not notice any falling of"
Then the livery men and hack drivers
were spoken to. Their reply was that they
saw no difference. There might not be as
many people here, but Everybody don't
ride anyway
The reporter then carefully approached
the saloons. He had need to, because "the
devil turks" at the bottom OF the pretty
glasses there for men, just as he does in the
shining face OF the transparent mirror for
ladies. With clenched teeth and a reeretful
"No, thank you, won't take anything"
he asked the question, and the answer
from the wholesale men was prompt, I'VE
keep the best. and that is the secret. We
see no difference" The retailers said that
since the cessation OF the doubts about the
strike.things were booming. During that
time men generally who had cash, fearing
''rainy day." kept it, but now all is serene.
And so it was, judging from the guzzling
sounds that broke upon The MINER mans
ear. and at which he precipitately fled.
A round among the sho" places, concert
halls, It,, J. ~" me, tbT
proprietors clalmlnx that about the "last
OF the mouth" things were dull, but after
pay day the boys "whoop 'em up" The
reporter took their word for this, rs he
had no acquaintance, SO far, with the
places where beauty steps upon the stage
to mimic life for Butteites.
1t appears, therefore, that upon the
whole the trades paople are doing as we'll
or better than year ago, and when the
fact is remembered that Butte's mines were
never so flourishing and productive as
now, because never 30 systematically
worked, the inference is plain that here is
still "the greatest mining camp in the
world"