The evening world., 1888-01-11
WORDS FROM THE PEOPLE.
THE CONDITION OF PEOPLE IN AVENUE G
AS SHOWN BY TRADE.
Apparently More Prosperous Than Dwellers
in Other Quarters-Many Obliged TO Pur-
chase In Small Quantities md Mt High
Prices Discussing the Cause Of the Press
ent stnRnation In business.

chase In small Quantities md ut High
Prices Discussing the Cause OF the Press
ent stnRnntion In business.
Continuing the talks with dealers on the
east side, THE EVENING WORLD to-day pre-
sents the views of several grocers on Avenue
G.. People living in that thoroughfare seen
to be more prosperous than in some other
quarters, and little complaint Is made.
Dealers are intelligent men who read the
newspapers and keep informed on the topics
of the day. The expressions are interesting
and varied.
The tariff question is a topic of discussion
with some dealers, and tariff reform is not
the bugaboo for them that it once was.
Opinions regarding the effect of strikes on
the workers differ. Nearly all argue that the
habit of purchasing necessaries in small guam
titles is IN expensive one to the buyers, while
it gives to dealers the expense of an extra
clerk to attend to the myriad customers who
make many of these small purchases. And of
course this expense must come i'll one way or
another from the buyers.
Louis Hanken, grocer, IA Avenue c, is a
remarkably well informed man. He said
You won't find much to talk about among
grocers over here except hard times. Most
people here are working people, though a
few are rich and own their business places.
] sell n big paiIful of coal for seven cents.
But there Is not MS much money IN it as in
former years. The peddlers have taken the
trade away from retail grocers. Customers
don't buy more groceries than enough to
carry them through the day. They have no
place to keep goods, and the stores sell very
close.
II think the %stagnation is owing to the
uncertainty of what Congress will do. If
they will go at it in earnest and do some
thing with the tariff | think business will be
better. ! used to be scared at it, and when
Hancock's tariff reform letter came out |
voted against him. | am getting over that
Protection should help working people, but
it does not. II is only good for the monopo-
lies. l think wonders of Cleveland. l like
him out and out.
+. Bauman, of SO Avenue G, has a large.
well-lighted and w~ell-appointed grocery. He
finds no fault with business, which is always
n little slow after the holidays. His trade is
with people of all conditions, and is on n
strictly cash basis.
Henry Iimmermann. of Avenue C and
Fourth street. said We are doing a steady
business-a better business this year than
last. Prices are very low, leaving close prof
its. Customers are poor people, a majority
day. and making many five. and
10 cent purchases, thereby compelling us
to keep an extra force of clerks. Coal
is seven cents a pailful, and we make about
NNIi pLiIlllhSo OA u Npu. We btll DOu TWO
tons in a week. Peddlers have spoiled the
business for u.s."
j. G. Beckmann's grocery, Avenue B and
Fifth street, is well S ocked with all varieties
of groceries and provisions, and, although
business is not so good as formerly, he finds
no cause for complaint. He can give no
reason for the falling off in business, unless it
be the frequent strikes.
Manager o. w. Svenson. of the Union
Pacific lea Company's store at So Avenue c.,
said that business was first rate. The store
had been established some time.
A good-looking young man, who is not am
bilious TO see his name in print, is the man.
ager of the branch store of the Atlantic and
Pacific Tea Company at Avenue G and Fifth
street. He was found busy i'll an establish
ment fitted out in the familiar red and gold
style. The store has in eleven years built up
n fair trade, and it averages fairly his year.
TIL trade is chiefly among those who buy in
fairly large quantities, though customers for
ten cents worth of tea or coffee are not infre-
quent.
Henry Osmer, of 121 Avenue G, thinks
trade might be better, but makes no COM
plant with 1t as it is. His customers are the
tenants of the ~neighboring blocks, and they
have only money enough to purchase in very
small quantities. But they must live, and SO
far as their money goes their trade is fair.