The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1895-12-17
THE BUSINESS BAROMETER.
A Index to the Condition of Trade
Generally.
THE MONDAY SHOPPERS WERE OUT.
Houston Lively With Christmas Buyers.
The Rice situation-B and Shoe
Trado-Notes


The new business week opened with
very favorable outlook for Houston
merchants, despite the clouds lowering In
The skies. The day was cool and pleasant
and the streets were thronged with shop
ners both morning and afternoon. In ad.
d,tIon to the local outpouring OF buyers
The CITY was invaded by quite a large
.,ovd of visitors from other towns, being
me first installment of holiday excur-
sonlsts. These are expected TO increase
IN number tonight and tomorrow morning,
and By noon Tuesday there will be one of
he liveliest crowds elbowing their way
through Houston's streets that has been
seen here ia quite a while. The merchants
have decorated their stores and made win
dow displays that are a credit TO the city.
They expect a big trade this week. and
there Is little fear that they will be dis
sppoInted. The stocks shown all have
= bright and clean look. and as prices
ara tie lowest and goods the best to DC
attained anywhere In this section there
Is no doubt that visiting buyers win APP
preciate these facts. The Wholesalers and
iobbers were not only kept busy to-day
by visiting merchants. but many of them
nd numerous mail orders to fill. In fact
avery day for the next TWO weeks VIII
army of empoyes expect little rest until
December has come to close.
THE RICE MARKET.
Messrs. Dan Talmages Sons, New York.
In their weekly review state: There has
been an increased demand in domestic
sorts and some betted prices realized dur
Mg the closing days OF the past week.
The advance is due to hardening condi-
tons in primal points. moro especially at
trbutaho 30 New Orleans where there
A. al
nIlers to secure stock for daily run and
BUYERS of cleaned. such not only ready To
take UP the daily OUTPUT, but, like Oliver
Twist, crying more While buoyance
maintains and confidence Is generally
manifest there are those who look for
prices to sag and predict a lower level than
any vet established These seem to ignore
me warrantable basis for present ii muess.
/ e., that domestic sorts are 50 to ~ per
cent less than equal in foreign aud this
In tho face OF "A production, abundant
though IL ho, considerably short Of the
amount annually consumed in the United
States. II stocks-cottou. grain or ether
tommoditiCs (sold upon the exchanged.
offered similar Inducements In way of
profit, large transactions would be- entere
upon ere the going down of the sun on
the day when such fact became known.
Advices from the south, as above sug-
rested, show generally active conditions.
Is with the practical cessation Of or les
pned competition between Louisiana ana
Carolina, a higher plane Of values Is
thought likely after The new year opens.
The present volume Of business is consid-
srrhly ahead Of any previous period. cur
rnt season, and widely distributed. evil
itncng that stocks have heretofore been
rsasraly light Foreign styles are IN fair
ncuent. but the call Is exceptional. and
saly from those who for some reason b st
Known to themselves give undue prefer
sus 10 such without regard TO rs higher
| ns in comparison with equal grades in
Mmestic'