Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-02
CONDITION OF OMAHA'STRADE
Business is Fair Considering the Situation
in the Country.
HOPES TOR THE FUTURE ARE VERY BRIGHT
Report, From the Country Show Great
Improvement In the Feeling Among
the Trade--values Have n De-
cidedly Upward Tendency.

The heavy rains which visited all sec
tions of the state during the latter part Of
the week brought about a marvellous
change in the business situation in this
city. For a week or more the jobbers had
been receiving complaints from their Gus
toners about the continued dry weather.
These complaints had steadily grown in
vehemence until country merchants were
declaring that rain must come in a few
days or everything in the way of crops
would be burned out. Under such Circum-
stances II was not surprising that dscour-
agement took hold of merchants in every
line of business, retailers well as job
bers.
The rains worked great change. The
retail merchants who had refused to buy,
or had Cancelled orders already filed sent
in fresh orders and renewed o,d ones.
From all sections of the state merchants
were sending in the same reports-"It has
rained and there is every prospect now
that we will have a large corn crop, be-
sides considerable small grain" The job
bers, who were considerably discouraged
at the commencement OF the week, were
peared to have more confidence in the out
come of the seasons business than at any
previous time this year.
AS might be expected, collections are only
moderately good, money in the country
being anything but plenty.
HARDWARE.
There is a much better feeling among
the hardware men. but so far there has
been no material Increase in the volume
OF trade. With "A continuance of the pres
ent good outlook for a crop tobbers look
for a better demand for goods in their line
in the near future.
The hardware market is a good deal on
pears to realize that goods have been too
low and that prices must be advanced, or
they must get from under. During the
past week there has been more of an ad-
vance than for some time of late. Nails
nave gone up 80 cents per keg during the
ing money for a long time, and now eight
or ten of the largest have formed a COM
binaton to fix the price at point where
the mIlls may be operated on paying
basis. Some four or five OF the smaller
mills which were shut down have been
leased, and so long as the demand remains
at the present low point they will remain
idle. With an improved demand they will
be started up again.
BOOTS AND SHOES
The shoe market remains very firm in
fact, 1t is till advancing on some lines.
The volume of trade at the present time
Is not large, that is, there, is not much
going out. The goods being sold for
the fall trade, but shipments do not com
mence until about the lst of July,
large orders, but % they are e BTSs Bnynss Ceiy caT.
tlously, and are likely to continue along
that line until all danger of disaster to the
growing crops is past.
DRY GOODS.
The dry goods. men remarkng upon
what n wonderful change the rains pro
duceu IN the feelings of country merchants
Local houses received good many letters
from customers in the country, giving ex-
preston to the worst fears for the growing
crops and the future of business, and the
next day after 1t had raned the same men
wrote most encouragingly and ordered
goods
Business in the dry goods line is dull
as is usual at this season of the year. The
farmers are busy in the fields and there
has not been enough trade to break stocks
to any extent, and it is too early for the
fall trade.
The dry goods trade in the east is good
and as Il result there is a stiffening IN
prices on most lines, excepting wooden goods
for The fall trade. ,.. .r..-
GROCERIES.
The gTocers, like jobbers in other lines
are feeling much encouraged over the out.
look for trade, even If goods are not going
out much faster. In fact, it is too soor
after the rains to expect any actual i'm
provement in the volume of trade.
The market has been about steady on tn,
great bulk of goods handled by the grocers
There have. however, been some changes
Sugars are stiifening in price and IL look;
as II they were going to be higher before
long. .......
Corn products, such as syrups, glucose
jellies, etc, are also higher.
Some New York merchants are favorinl
duty on tea to make up for the loss OF
revenue expected to have been derived
from the income tax. 1t is said that mos
claiming that while the duty would not b,
felt by the customer, 1t would effectuallS
prevent the importation of worthless anC
spurious teas. Those who are opposed tC
such tax argue that the large importers
favor 1t because they would be enabled
to make considerable money out of the tea
which they might have on hand at the
time of the duty going into effect.