The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-04


sold more goods than any year previously.
Their sales had been unusually heavy for the
months Of July and August, fully . per cent.
over the previous year the prospect at that
month OF September washed away ali their
bright hopes aud gloomy doubts Of
the future, and anxiety about the
collection Of the amounts already sold took the
place OF their Anticipation
The continued rain in September, the injury
TO the quality of the cotton crop by the rains
the tightness of the money market at home and
abroad, the steady decline in the price of cotton
and the feeling of distrust that was abroad all
comoin9i 70 affect trade ami collections. The
failure OF many OF their customers who by
these untoward circumstance failed
70 make payment. and the certainty that they
had to meet their own liabilities made the
months of October, November and December
memorable for the dealers During these months
there was practically no trading. and very feg
goods sold compared TO former years.
The spring trade opened vita nothing to
brighten it i'll the future. Jobbers being in a
tight money market, With gradual decline Of
cotton made light purchases, and did not feel
IKE selling goods payable IN october as In past
years. Credits were closely watched and but
about half Of the usual spring bushes, done.
April a time usually that iobbers 90 into
the market to make their purchases for she
fall trade and q get their men on tine TOl1 in
Jun9 for future orders, opened up with cir
cumstances still about the same In view
OF the light sales of the spring and winter, the
made their purchases accordingly but with
the fact before them that sales made in the
spring wers payable in October. and goods sold
in June and July must date IN October, that
they must sell goods IN this way TO do a bust
ness, an unusual caution was taken in reference
to credits.
After three months trade the business was at
no time satisfactory. The volume Of business
done was light compared TO the previous year.
The tightness OF the money market, the low
price Of cotton and the unsatisfactory condition
of II in some localities and the dissemination of
good merchants to buy until things looked bet
ter, as whole, made the business Of the past
hsca year far from satisfactory. Jobbers do
not wish TO undergo another such year.
The trade Of Savannah IS extending into new
territory, is constantly being added TO, and Job
bers have shown that they are worthy Of all
confidence. They are ever ready to extend to
their customers all the credit they are emit
tied 10, and equally ready to extend TO them all
the facilities OF low prices.
Our iJbbers, during the financial trouble of
the past year, which pulled down many large
and wealthy firm, have shown that they are
strong, financially, and not one failure has been
recorded AGAINST Sayaunahs dry goods iobbers
The prospect for the coming year. from the
present outlook, is not dScouraging; with low
price on cotton at the opening Of the season, on
tue present crop, merchants cannot make such
losses on the staple as they did last year Those
who stood the heavy losses in cotton last year
by It's rapid decline may this season make slight
profits.
There has not been the advertising in mer-
chaDdiSe this season that marked last year, bus
mess. The stocks generally through the coun-
try are not SO heavy, and purchasers have been
more cautious Yet there will be- demand
for goods later, and the business
doubt exceed the business of last year for the
sar re month
While the last year was anything but profit
able one to the lobbers, the present outlook for
the coming year is not altoge her discouraging
throughout the country can be
credited to nothing so much as what Is known
rs dating ahead" 1t is the curse of the
lobber and the country merchant. If there
was no dating ahead by the manufacturers
and commission merchants, at the basiness
centers, the ioboer would not, as now, have to
late his spring bills payable in October and his
bills sold in June and July sixty days and four
months from oct. l. II there was no dating
ahead by manufacturers and jobbing merchants
north no buying Of spring goods By jobbers in
November, to be sold on the road in January,
payable in October, no buying by tua country
merchants of muslin, summer un-
ierwear. etc, in January, those he has
no use for in June, no buying by the jobber in
April to be sold on the road In June, of blankets,
'hawls, cloaks and all winter goods, this
rouble would be avoided and the country mer-
,hants would not buy blankets, shawls, ETC., in
september that cannot be used before Novem-
Der. If there was no dating ahead jobber
would have January and February to keep up
lis winter goods stock and dispose of them,
Ind the summer months to keep up and dispose
If his stock of summer goods. He would not
)e selling goods in June to be paid for ont of a
,otton crop that has just been planted. Bills
would be met more promptly and credit would
lot be so cheap.
AS matters now stand, a merchant may be
perfectly sound when he buys his bill in the
spring, but he buys his fall bill before he knows
what his circumstances will be in December
and January when his fall bill natures If dis
posed he can pay his spring bill and sell out or
TAIL before his other bills are near due.
We hope to the time when
his evil will be abated, and legitimate
trading take its place. Space does
not permit full and careful article on this sub
ject, but it is merely touched on to show the
great drawback the jobbers have to contend
with in carrying on safe and profitable bust
ness.
The following is the number of vessels arrived
at this port during the year, with U.ler rigs,
and net tonnage. The number does
not include arrivals at Tybee, but only the
vessels which have actually arrived at the
and have discharged and loaded. 1t
does not include river or inland coast steamers
OF sailing vessels, nor does it include vessels
under 100 tons. except of foreign nationality:
fs,-C C.al,r T.4.I