Omaha daily bee., 1895-01-01
THE PULSE BEATS OF TRADE.
The Bee Puts Its Fingers on the Arteries OF
Commerce and Records the Beats.

The Bee Puts Its Fingers on the Arteries of
Commerce and Records the Beats.
Interviews with the leading business men
Of Council Bluffs, after each has rounded
up his years work and had time to think
of the future and study its portents, are the
best means of arriving at an accurate esti-
mate OF the real situation The confident tone
that pervades all that is said in the following
columns shows how well Council Bluffs has
weathered the storm that has been so dis
astrous to many other cities. Such show
ing and such strong expressions of confidence
in the future would alone be sufficient to
make 1895 a more prosperous year. But with
the outlook that all see the future is indeed
not at all dscouraging.
AS SHOWN BY SHOES.
II have been in the shoe business for many
years, and came to Council Bluffs year ago
for the reason that ] thought it was a
phenomenally good retail point" said b. NJ.
Duncan, the vigorous young merchant who
has built up such a magnificent business at
the big shoe store formerly owned by f. H.
Evans MY experience during the past
year has been sufficiently satisfactory TO
demonstrate the wisdom of my choice |
wanted to make 81 100000, but wanted to
make 1t off of ,000,0 900 people. But the year
has been remarkable one in every re-
spect 1t opened up with the country in
the throes Of the greatest panic in its his
able stagnation caused by all kinds of busi-
ness getting down to bedrock foundation.
This would have made close and careful
hnanciering necessary II there had been no
other cause. but when this in turn was
followed by the nearest approach to crop
failure we have known in this section in
forty years and a complete failure in half of
the adjoining states, 1t provided all that
was necessary to try mems souls. The mer-
chants that were able to stand the pressure
nnrf nj nj a,..
fact that our business men were able to
tide over the disastrous year is the strongest
proof that Council Bluffs has enjoyed a
degree OF prosperity that many other cities
have not known. II the shoe business can
be taken as an indication, mine at least will
snow up with the best years we have ever
had. have done a bigger business this
year than was done by my predecessor in
any previous year This, OF course, is ac-
counted for by the fact that have made
prices closer the cost mark than ever. Buy
ing for spot cash and in big orders from the
manufacturers when money was of such
pressing Importance to them, | have gotten
all the edge from them that could
be given, and this has enabled
me to put prices down to lust
about what some wholesale houses were lob
bing them for. Thus my trade has had
the newest and best goods at ordinary whole
sale prices, and often in some of my special
sales at prices far less than cost | have
learheu that the people want the best goods
for the least money, and ! have given them
goods at prices they could not find anywhere
else In this country, Confidence begets con-
ndence, and | believe the public has con-
hdence enough in me to feel sure that when
advertise a bargain it has no string to it.
have never advertised thing that / didn't
nave, nor bargain that was not prepared
to give every one who called for It.
"As to the future. | have every confidence
In 1t. Council Bluffs is as solid as the
ground upon which 1t is built Personally, |
propose to make II a record breaker | have
no old stock on hand. and in a few days
l will have buyer in the eastern markets
ana get the best offerings at the factories
Tor spot cash, and II | don't sell shoes
cheaper than they were ever sold, and make
Council Bluffs more than ever remarkable
as retail shoe point then ! will confess
that l don't know my business Thank the
public for me. and say that l have some
thing better than ever for the future
INDICATED BY IMPLEMENTS.
The very best barometer in the world