The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-20
GENERAL TRADE NOTES.
What Is Doing In Few Lines OF Busi'
ness in This City.

ness In This City.
In talk with Mr.. A. ID. Langstaff, OF
Langstaff & Co., that gentleman, in re-
spouse to inquiries, said that "the hard
ware business was not as large from July,
1888, to January, as it would have been had
there been no interruption resultant from
epdemics in other cities This Interrupt
ton occurred at time when this trade is
most active. The trade during January,
February and March, 1889, has been fully
up to expectations OF jobbers. II has been
impossible during these months for any OF
the houses here 10 ill orders promptly, al
though well supplied with goods and ia'
cilities for shipping. Agricultural imple-
ments enter very largely into the sal es
from January to April /, and as the
goods are bulky the country merchants
generally buy when the demand comes.
The demand is somewhat decreasing at
this time and orders can now be filled
promptly. From tho vast number OF
plows sold il is evident that farmers are
putting in rs large, II not a larger, crop
than last season.
Regarding collections for the past six
months the report is very favorable. While
money did not come in rs freely during
October, November and December, 1883,
rs we could have wished, we appreciate
that II was owing to late picking. The
amount collected was rs large rs during
corresponding time OF previous years.
Since January collections have been very
good. More bills have been discounted
this spring than usual. We have had less
failures both in amount and number than
last year. There have not been rs many
requests 10 have accounts carried over Ia
next fall rs formerly. We consider the
outlook very encouraging"
Az 10 lines OF furniture representative
of the Armstrong Furniture Company in
formed the reporter that "the furniture
trade this season was not quite up to that
OF last year, which was an extraordinarily
good year for trade-better by 80 per cent
than Tor any previous year. The iobbinl
trade was very good, however. The iacil
tiles offered country merchants for getting
goods up the country this year are bette
than last, yet our jobbing trade has m
creased. The outlook il very good, pay
mcnts have been better, and our lossci
this year have not been over one.iourth 81
% per cent Of last year. The iurnitur,
business year opens In May"
"fho stove and tinware business Is M
important oncin Memphis, said a member
OF the house OF Woiter q Co., but II has
not been M good this winter rs formerly,
heating stoves being in light demand
South owing TO tho remarkably warn
weather, which rendered the use OF sucl
things unnecessary Dealers have had 10
carry over large stocks OF heating stoves
In cooking stoves aud tinware q large bus
mess has been done and is doing, and the
sales compare iavorably with last year
Collections have been Al and the outlook
is bright"
There never was brighter outlook fol
the stone aud tinwarc business Of Mem
phis Than at present." replied Managed
Thompson Of the Rogers Foundry Com
pany. eve aro competing successfully al
all points with O hr cities; trade is ia an
excellent condition"
Capt Bryson, OF Mitchell & Bryson, did
not think the furniture trade was any bet
ter than last year. "a very important trad'
month, September was lost owing TO the
epidemic scare oath. September 10 Jan
uary ~ tho best part Of our trade, II winds
up Ia May aud June, July and August
are dull months for us. Collections THU
season have been very satisfactory, and o
somewhat better character OF goods Ia,
been In demand. A $1,000 bedroom set
four pieces, WIS sold by our house th'
other day. There has been fine trade il
baby carriages this season aud dealer
have TO keep large assortmcnis on hand
| We are rapidly Increasing in population.