The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-17
LOCAL SPRING BUSINESS
DAMP AND CHILLY WEATHER HAS
DONE MUCH TO RETARD IT.
Some Improvement RecentIy-SmaII
sale Lines-CommissiOn Trade.

IN March was q little IN excess IN volume
that of March, 1896, but on account
of the unusually wet, cold weather in
April business hardly held its own, but
since May l there has beeen a marked i'm
provement, and he thought that without
question May this year was to show a de-
cided improvement over May, 1896. AS to
prices, he said that in two or three lines
slightly higher prices than a year ago
ruled, but in most lines the range of prices
is much the same as in May, 1896, and that
means that goods are sold on very small
margins. Collections have been better since
Jan. than for some years previous.
j. c. Perry, wholesale grocer, states that
his business has been for the last sixty
days up to the volume of last year, and in
some staple articles sales had been greater.
He thought that the other wholesale groc-
ers had experienced much the same condi-
ton. That it should have been as good as
1t has been is rather a surprise, for through
March and April much of the time the
weather was bad and roads Utmost impas-
sable from incessant rains. Since May 1
business has been in excess of that of the
first half of May, 1886. on most articles
the margins to the wholesale man are very
slim. Sugars are now selling one cent a
pound lower at wholesale than one
year ago and coffees six cents a pound
lower than in May, 1896. Most other arti-
Giles range much the same as last year.
The demand for canned goods through the
winter was not as large as usual, but in
the last thirty days the demand has in
creased. Should the wheat, hay ana oats
crops prove as good as indications now are,
trade.
Griffith Brothers, wholesale milliners, say
their early spring business was disappoint-
ing. This was largely due to the unusual
weather conditions through March and
April, but the last thirty days their bus
mess has shown marked Improvement over
the corresponding four weeks of 1896, and
every bright day they find their business
SHOWS an increase over corresponding days
vim TO their trade the last two weeks than
at any time in some months. The eXpe-
renee OF the other large millinery estab-
IShmentS is much the same. So far as
indianapolis is concerned each year shows
a handsome increase Of business over the
preceding one, as indianapolis millinery
houses are reaching out into new fields.
Parrott 81 Taggart state that their bust
ness the last few months has been the lar
gest in the history of the plant. Mr.. Tag
cart salo tnat IN proportion to the popula-
ton more bread and crackers are sold in
indianapolis than in any city in the Union.
he sad this statement could be verified.
ana further, that indianapolis bakers give
more weight of bread for the same money
man 90 bakers in any other city. Indian
apol1s has more large bakeries, according
10 us population, and gives employment to
more men and pays better wages than any
other city: Under present conditions, he
says, the prohtS are not one-half as large
as tye or ten years ago. In another point.
Mr.. Iaggart says, indianapolis bakers ex-
Gel; that is in quality of bread and variety
they make. He knew this to be the case
from the most careful investigation. There
mas been a great development in the variety
anu excellence OF the, cakes manufactured.
Probably in no line has there been more
complaint of a dull business than with the
commission men, yet William Walton, one
OF the Oldest of the commission merchants.
says when all things are considered they
nave rot so much reason to complain as
may seem from the tenor of their remarks.
IN depressed times men who are out of
business are apt to drop into the commits
SION business, either on a large or limited
scale. A few years ago fourteen commits
sion houses did the business here; now
there are thirty-three to divide the BUSH
ness: Th1S is quite an item in considering
the business condition. Mr.. Walton thinks
that in the last six months more Irish DO
tatoeS and apples lave been sold on this
market than in any former year, but at
very low prices. Potatoes have been lower
In some years, but apples never before sold
as low on this market as in the last six
months. There are many articles in the
fruit and vegetable line that during the
winter brought full average prices, cab
bage, onions, oranges and bananas being
in the list. There is one point he mentioned
which is of Importance. The larger of the
commission houses are not depending so
much on goods shipped in to be sold on com
mission as in former years, but are larger
buyers to sell again. AS a consequence it
requires more money than formerly for a
commission house to do a big business and
successfully. AS to the markets locally,
grocers have been more liberal buyers and
the last few weeks there has been a marked
increase in the business with the cities and
towns that draw their supplies from Indian
apolis houses. Especially is this increase
noticeable with the cities and towns in the
gas belt region.
A representative of the Arthur Jordon
Packing Company states that there has
never been a time in which more poultry,
eggs and kutter were handled in the spring
months than this year. While prices have
been seemingly low, they have ranged we'll
with prices Of former years, at the CORE
spending period. The local establishments
have so many branches that when the re-
ceipts are gathered in it makes a great
of the fact that indianapolis now ranks as
the largest packing point for. eggs and
poultry in the country. There are other
points where more butter is packed.
The business with express companies is
an excellent criterion of business generally.
Agents Brown, of the American Express,
Henderson, of the Adams Express Compa-
MES, all report their business as having i'm
proved remarkably the last sixty days, so
much so that no more is said OF CONSOLIDATE
ing offices to cut down expenses.
Work in the shops of the Nordyke & Mar
mon Company is gradually increasing. AT
present part of the machine shop is kept at
work nights getting out the connections for
a large system of rope drive for the large
mill at Harrisburg, Pa. Last week a good
sized contract was received from MOrelia,
Mexico, and three representatives from
JIldC city Called fflQdV 10 confirm tue OEOGT
and arrange details. They are on their way
to Europe, and will stop off at Springfield,
O., where orders will be placed for ma
chinery. Nordyke q Marmon Company
have also received the contract to remodel a
flour mill at Peru, Ind; also, one at Moores-
vile, Ind. Their represent
ative sent in a contract last week for a
300-barrel mill, to be erected in Manitoba.
Prospects for business in the Northwest are
good. One of their representatives is now
in Texas closing up a contract for a large
mill.
Rohm Bros. of Rockville, Ind, for whom
Nordyke & MaTmOn Company nave built
three mills, placed another order with them
last week for a large bill of new improved
machinery and connections, with which to
remodel their mill at Mansfield, Ind. This
mill when completed will be thoroughly up
to date and of increased capacity. A cable
order was received Saturday morning from
Brussels, Belgium. for machinery with
which to produce fine corn goods. The two
new mills just completed at Warrington,
Ind, and Belleville, ILL.,. have been put in
successful operation, and the results OBJ
tanned add to the laurels already won for
the NOrdyke d Marmon Companys famous
swing sitter system.
April Shipments.
The following shows the shipments by
rail in the month of April from ~Indianapo-
lis. as reported to the Board of Trade:
Flour, 1850 brls; corn, $500 bu; oats, 1000
bu; bran, y tons; hay, l car; broomcorn,
105. 600 lbs; cement. 5000 brls; coal, Al cars;
coke, $50 ears: cooperage, 80 cars; corn meal
and hOminy, 1920, $40 lbs; cattle, 1879 head;