Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-12-24
THB HOLIDAY TRADE.
JUST As MANY SHOPPERS, BUT PURCHASES
OF LESS VALUE.
Comparison Of Business With Last Year, at the
PosiOfics and the Express OfHoes-The
Florists Complaining.

To the casual observer there is no
difference in the size Of the crowds
which have promenaded the principal
thoroughfares and thronged the stores
on Main and Market streets during the
past few days, and the crowds which
assembled at the same points at the
same period last year. Every second
person carries one or more bundles, and
there has been an air of activity strong
ly al variance with the complaint OF
hard times so frequently heard. While
it is probably true that there are as
many holiday shoppers as ever, 1t is also
true that the bundles are fewer, are
smaller in size, and the contents Of less
value. Very few merchants made ex-
tensive purchases for the holiday trade,
but a number have been agreeably sur
prised at the volume of business. While
the sales will not compare favorably
with those of last year, merchants gen.
orally report very fair trade, all cir
cumstances taken into consideration.
AS matter of course, yesterday was
the best day OF the holiday season for
the merchants. From early morning
until late at night, the streets in the
business portion were crowded, and the
stores showed the same condition Of
affairs. Standing room only, and not
much OF that, was the order Of things
on the street car lines. Notwithstsnd-
ing the great number OF passengers cart
ried, the service was good. Last nigh
a number of retail business men we're
seen by REGISTER reporter, and all
were satisfied with the days sales, and
breathed signs OF relief that the rush
was over. The threatening weather
appeared to have no effect on the peo-
pie, so far as diminishing the size Of
the throngs was concerned.
Tonight the Christmas stocking will
be hung up as usual, and old Santa
Claus will pass by very few of the homes
which ne has been accustomed to visit
on his mission OF happiness. He has
felt the effects OF the business depres-
sion, and his sack will not be so valua-
BILE as heretofore. bat the young hearts
will be gladdened just the same. And
parents, friends and sweethearts, will
not be forgotten. II they are sensible,
they will not look at the intrinsic value
of the presents they receive, but will
accept them as tokens of friendship and
love, which qualities are not measured
in dollars and cents.
Yesterday was q busy one at the post
Office, the money order and stamp win
dows being surrounded by crowds Of
people all day. The carriers also de-
livered q great many packages. The
package business, however, falls far be-
low that Of last year, and the carrier is
correspondingly happy. One general
delivery will be made on Christmas
morning.
The express Offices are all having as
much business as they can conveniently
handle, and the clerks and teams are at
work day and night. At each Office in
this city reporter was informed that
the wagons will deliver all day Sunday,
as it would otherwise be impossible to
dispose OF all the packages on Christ
mas day.
At the United States Company's Office
the cashier was making a comparison
with last years business when the re-
porter called. He states that it was
about the same, possibly trihe lighter
this year. The value Of the packages
handled ranges from SO to S25. Most of
the business done at the local Offices be-
fore yesterday was ia packages going
out of the city. The u. S. Company
had so many of these on Thursday and
Friday evenings that there was not
room for them in. the warehouse at the
b. IL o., ard they remained on trucks
outside all night. Yesterday foreign
packages began TO come in, and the de-
livery wagons were kept busy all day.
At the Wells Fargo COmpauy's ONCE
it was stated that just as many packages
were handled as last year, but they
were not so valuable. At the Adams
office the force was so busy that it could
not find time to make comparisons.
The force of clerks, however, is smaller
and manages to keep up with the bust
ness. The holiday trade is nearly all
packages, and those sent out from
Wheeling range in value from 25 cents
to 900.
The florists all complain of poor sales
in evergreen, trees, holly, etc. Their
sales are not so large as last year and
their profits are much smaller.
The railroads are reaping rich
harvest, and travel is as heavy as it
usually is at this season. Holiday rates
have encouraged many people to spend
the holiday season with their friends In
other towns, and many are spending the
season away from home. Yesterday
she b. K o. accommodation coming In
from Grafton was crowded all the way
in, and in one instance eight people
we're crowded into two seats, while the
aisles were full Of people who could
find no seats at all. The rates con-
tinue to-day, and travel to-day and
even tomorrow will doubtless be very
heavy.