Omaha daily bee., 1892-02-07
THE CONDITION OF TRADE
The Local Retail Trade is Gradually Grow.
ing Better.
COLLECTIONS ALSO SHOW IMPROVEMENT
The Jobbers Report Very satisfactory Out
look In Nearly All Lines -General
Prospects In tho West I'm
proving.

proving.
Tho business situation brlghteus rs spring
approaches nearer and while some branches
OF Omaha's retail trade feel the reviving IN
fluences more than others, 1t is safe to say
that there is a general Improvement ali
along the line. Local collections are consid
eraoly better than they were two months
ago, which Of itself is very good Indication.
A Wall street authority in commenting on
the general business situation remarks that
in the west there are indications Of greater
activity than for a number Of ears past, due
doubtless to the great inarease o OF values in
that section arising from the remarkable
production OF wheat and corn, but in the
south there is n feeling of depression, unc in
= this section, while the accumulations OF
money are abnormally large, business is in
active. During the past week there has
been an increased demand for dry goods In
the west and this is looked upon as a token
that other branches of business will soon
show a like Improvement.
In the absence of definite information as to
the transactions which occur over the coun-
ters Of stores 1t is impossible to form accu-
rate conclusions as TO the business situation.
There are tew facts which are made mani
fest by the ordinary comment OF business
men, Indicating activity or dullness in trade,
and these Are supplemented by definite
figures as TO the condition of the banks, the
situation of the treasury and the extent Of
the clearings Of certain localities. The stock
and bond markets also serve to throw light
upon which safe conclusions may be based.
AT tho present moment we are confronted
with statements that there is an abundance
of money in the west, and we also have at
hand definite figures indicating the mass of
idle capital resting at the commercial centers
of the east. 1t is difficult to reconcile these
statements, except upon the assumption that
~, lar Nf io In
circulation than there was a year ago, and
the statements of the treasury indicate that
this Is a fact.
The probable explanation of the activity in
the west and the accumulation of money in
the east, aside from the facts already indi-
Gated, is to be found in the statement that
collections which for more than year back
have been difficult have now become easy,
and the west which has suffered during the
past two years. has been paying debts of
long standing to the east
In turn IL is also trading on its improved
credit, and hence, while 1t is making up for
the waste which until now it could not re-
pair, the real evidence OF Its recent thrift is
shown in the enlarged bank accounts of the
eastern merchants. With moro money to
spend there is reason for the belief that both
sections will contribute largely to the work
of increasing production of all that goes to
satisfy the wants OF men.
The Local Jobbing Trade
Ii
uon though heavy roads have undoubtedly
interfered to somo extent with the movement
of goods in n retail way in country towns.
The movement of grain in Nebraska from
farmers hands is now very light, and 1T
would not be surprising il this did not act to
some extent to reduce the purchase OF goods
by farmers and delay collections.
In hard ware prices have shown a tendency
to strengthen. The prices on staples In this
line have been extremely low aud manufac-
turers begin to show disposition to advance
prices ABOVE the actual cost OF production.
There Is, however, no signs OF q boom in
prices. During the past week barbed wire
advanced lOc per 100 and wire nails l0c per
keg. Collections in this line in the city are
better than they were, but stlll they are
nothing to brag Of
The grocery trade of the past week has
been very satisfactory in jobbing way. and
upon the whole better than year ago. The
price on sugar remains about the same, the
coffee market is hrmer. Some lines of canned
goods are very much higher, notably, corn,
tomatoes and string beans. Not enough goods
OF this character were packed in the west
last season TO supply the demand.
The New York Bulletin says Of the grocery
trade at that point that buyers almost with
out exception refuse to be hurried, and their
slow methodical action at times becomes
something OF an annoyance, with complaint
accordingly. Yet there are many operators
when brought right down to point of frank
Acknowledgement. who admit working out
season and on generally advantageous
. terms, Us no run of custom has objected to
the payment Of fair rates. The south and
southwest Is expected to be somewhat back
ward In development of wants, owing to the
low price of cotton and the consequent econ
omic9l methods pursued by consumers. Ad-
vices received from primal points this week
contain information. as rule about in ac-
cord with what might have been expected,
the strongest accounts coming from the coffee
countries and acting more or less as stimu-
liant Sugar promises well, and the West
Indian crops are now moving with greater
freedom.
The local dry goods iobbing trade does not
present any especially now features. The
volume of business Is quite satisfactory and
all that could be asked for at this season OF
the year. In reference to this branch of bust
ness the New York Bulletin says that not
withstanding that the period under revie "
has marked tho ending OF one month and the
beginning of another, the business effected by
agents and manufacturers has reached Q
large amount; and while 1t has been con
Quoted in very conservative manner. that @
large trade has been done Dy jobbers and the
various branches OF the manufacturing trade
ceived by the former for assert ments
OF miscellaneous merchandise. Heavy
remittances by package purchasers
Is good collateral also OF the largo
ness of the trade north of the Ohio. In the
southern tier Of states, ana the cotton bell
particularly, the package trade has been more
frightened than hurt The tobacco, sugar
and rice crops are OF full average quantities
aud prices, and food products have beer
raised In larger quantity. The commercial
depression in consequence Of tho low price.
for cotton has been so magnihed tha
farmers have become frightened aud boarded
any surplus funds to tide them over until tn,
maturity of the next crop. Failures through
out the south have involved no greater in
debtcdness than last year. but while the
public mind is more critical 1t Is much NOR,
conservative, and, borrowing the example Of
more favored sections, the demands o
dealers and consumers are being directed b,
actual requirements.
LIVE STOCK MARKETS.