The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-30
LOOKS LIKE PROSPERITY
INDIANAPOLIS MERCHANTS APPEAR
GREATLY ENCOURAGED.
Marked Improvement in the Building
Trades-The General Business Out
look in This City.

There is no doubt that prosperity is COM
ing this way, despite the systematic effort
on the part of some newspapers and calam~
ity howlers to ward it off, but it is on the
way, in spite of their efforts, and the indi-
cations are that it is come to stay. An
hour spent in calling on representative men
in the different lines of business will prove
this assertion. Everywhere it is reported
that business is better than 1t was this
time last year, and is improving from day
to day.
At the Board of Trade it is found that the
business of grain men is far above what 1t
was a year ago. Secretary Smith yester-
day exhibited to a reporter the records of
the office, which showed that during the last
week the average number Of cars of corn in
spected in Indianapolis was forty-two,
while wheat averaged about thirty-tWo.
This shows slight falling off in wheat han
died, but, as it is the season just following
harvest, this is taken as an indication of
shorter crop. Corn is a better indication OF
the times 1t is, of course, the last year s
crop, and the handling of it shows the
trend of capital
NJ. NJ. McElWaine, of the McElwaine-
Richards Company, wholesale dealers in
plumbers supplies, says that business has
shown a wonderful Improvement since the
middle of May. lit is naturally dull sea-
son just at present, and the fact that bust
ness is good now speaks well for what we
may expect a little later. Our sales are
80 to 40 per cent. better than they We're
last year, and collections are better. Ihere
is a demand for higher grade OF goods, too,
which is encouraging. There IS general
Improvement throughout the State and ad-
joining territory aud marked improve
The hotel men say that business is
good, considering the season, naturally
the poorest of the year for metropolitan no
tells. 1t is between seasons with the com
mercial travellers. Mr.. Elliott, of the Grand,
says he has every reason to believe that
business will improve rapidly. Money
seems to be freer, and the prospects for
q good trade in all lines indicate that the
hotel business will be lively"
M. O'Connor d Co, wholesale grocerS, re-
port that sales this year equal those OF
last year. but represent a larger amount
of goods sold. Nearly everything handled
by the wholesale grocers with the eXcep-
ton of tobacco and sugar, Is cheaper, and
therefore the same amount OF goods sold
means less receipts. Package coffee, Tor
pounds, q falling off of about Az per cent.
10 maintain the same total sales in value
as of last year means a decided improve
ment. Since June the business mas grown
S. T. Jordan, secretary of the A. Burdsall
Company dealers in paints, SAID yesterday
there was steady Improvement ana a de-
mand for better qualities and higher-class
goods. John w. Murphy, of Murphy, Hib-
ben q Co, dry goods, says business IN
that line is good and has been since the
middle of May. Collections are also better;
The Parry Manufacturing Company ana
other manufacturing concerns are adVertS-
ing for help, and find idle men scarce. A
good sign of prosperity is noticed on Ken
lucky avenue. In the window or a car
penter's shop there is a placard saying that
two carpenters are wanted. The proprietor
said yesterday that all the carpenters OF
the city, including the sa" and hatchet
men, have employment which is not usual
at this season of the year. $500
Robert Martindale says there is little I'M
provement in the real estate business,
which is first to be affected oy bad or good
times, and he thinks the Indications are
favorable for & revival. In the bulldlng
trades there is q steady improvement. Near
ly all the architects are busy, and some or
them have more work than they can 40 as
RAPIDLY as their customers would like. ii.
C. Adams, agent for the stratif1ed lime
stone which is used in foundations and for
general building purposes, says he IS 90
ing a lively business, and his observation
is that all the building trades are ENJOYING
steady boom. J. G. Adams manufactures
of brick, is finding trade somewhat i'm
proved.
Building contractors and supply men In
all lines speak of a revival and talk cheer-
fully and hopefully of the future. Inc reel
ing is such as cannot help resulting III
steady advancement. 1t is feeling OF con-
fidence so necessary for the transaction OF
business. The statements recently MADE
bv the banks show a better condition OF
finances than the city has ever enjoyed