Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-29
MORN EXPRESSIONS
FROM BUSINESS MEN REGARDING THE HoL-
DAY TRADE.
The Volume Of Trade Exceeded Expectations.
Just as Hauy Customers bat Receipts Lighter.
What The Merchants Say.

The REGISTER again this morning
presents some statements Of facts from
merchants regarding the volume OF
trade during the holiday season, with
some comparisons with last year. Busl-
ness men generally expressed surprise
at the number of customers and the
aggregate sales for the week, this feel
ing being due largely TO the current ex'
aggerated statements regarding the bus
mess depression and distress among the
unemployed. That "the times are hard"
no person will deny, the only diff
ference Of opinion being as TO degree.
There can be no question that the lack
OF confidence is In q measure respons-
ible.
The merchants all say that they had
as many customers, and IN some In
stances more, than during any holiday
season 10 recent years. While this was
true, It is also true that, with number
OF exceptions, the receipts show q
falling of from last year, due
to the fact that the people bought less
expensive articles for Christmas pres
good day, "red letter day" In fact,
with large number OF retailers. The
natural consequences Of holiday trade,
which 10 no instance fell short Of ex-
pectations, was to put merchants In 4
better frame OF mind, and go a great
distance toward removing fears for the
Immediate future.
Below will be found a number Of In
terviews with merchants yesterday.
Ewing Bros. I'VE do not place any
confidence In the widespread talk OF
distress. or course no person will deny
that the times are hard. bat the situa-
ton is not as bad as It is pictured, and
this being true, nothing can be gained
by an exaggeration OF the facts. Our
business FOR the year was the best we
have had since we have been 10 bust
ness, with one exception. The holiday
trade exceeded our expectations and
Saturdays sales were the largest we
have had In business experience OF
ten years"
r. L. Scuhbart--"Our holiday business
went beyond our expectations. Trade
was especially good during the week
before Christmas. To show that we
have confidence in revival of trade, IL
is only necessary TO say that we placed
an order for $1,000 worth Of goods on
the day following Christmas"
Garlic Bros. Trade for the past few
weeks has equslled cur expectations,
and been very satisfactory"
James McKee-"0ur sales OF cigars
for the holiday trade were probably not
so large in the aggregate, as for the
same period last year, but VS. did more
than we expected. Saturday was the
best day we ever had"
A. w. Emshelmer &c Co.-"For 60
days trade has been very good-much
better than last year-but we attribute
that fact 10 the change ia business To-
cation. Our local sales have not been
very large, but our trade outside the
city has increased materially"
Jacob w. Grubb-"Trade for the
holiday season went beyond our eXpec-
tations, although not equal to the same
season In 1892. The sales were prnci-
pallY in the cheapest and best grades
of goods, very few calls for the medium
priced articles. Our diamond sales were
up to last year.
L. S. Good & Co.-"The holiday
trade has been very satisfactory. We
had just as many customers as last
year, but the sales were not so heavy.
Our wholesale trade, however, more
than Offset any decrease 10 the receipts
in the retail department. We sold more
goods on the whole this year than ever
before"
George r. Taylor-"Our holiday
trade was fully up to that Of 1892, and
better than we anticipated. We are
very well satisfied"
Schwertfeger g. Robb--"Trade Dur
ing the holiday season was fair, and
very satisfactory, everything taken into
consideration"
Peter Loecher-"The receipts for
the period which may be termed the
holiday season. were not quite equal to
last year. The store was just as
crowded during the last week, but Gus
toners bought lighter. There was q
remarkable demand for small toys
The scarcity OF money was In our
opinion. due largely TO the Worlds
Fair, which took On immense sum IN the
aggregate out OF the city OF Wheeling.
J. II. Locke Shoe Co.-"1s92 was our
banner year, and 1893 was the best we
ever had with that exception. The
holiday trade this year was eXcep-
tionally good. There appeared TO be
a tendency among she people 10 In
vest 10 useful articles for Christmas
presents. and consequently the demand
for ladies, misses aud childrsn's shoes
was very great. We are entirely sat
isfied with the trade for the season.
Z. b. Potts-"We made extensive
preparations In some lines for the
holiday trade. and we're more than
| pleased with the sales during the two
weeks preceding Christmas. We can
make no comparison With last year, as
orr stores are much larger, bat you
may say that we are entirely satisfied
with the holiday trade"
Good appointment.
The announcement was made IN the