The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-03
|HE WHOLESALE BUSINESS.
Fiat Houston Merchants Sold Last
Year.
ABE FULFILLED EXPECTATIONS.
H.. Outlook for This Year Il Very
Good-Pushing Into New Terri
tory Fnst-Trnde Notes.


ire preparing for big business during
he year 1897. The past twelve months
ere not altogether satisfactory from
BUSINESS standpoint, vet 1t can be safely
aid that Houston got Il larger proportion
bf the trade of South. Southwest and East
Texas than ever before There have also
,sen fewer failures among Houstoa's
,bo,esale stores than In other large cities
Texas. Nearly every firm has eNtelled
~ business so as TO take in new
erritory, and this has helped 10 make
Inn for th.. decrease sn general trade.
Houston wholesalers realize that when
hines are hard energetic action will count
more than ever and they lay their plans
accordingly. When money is scarce coua-
try merchants are especially anxious 10
purchasc their supplies whore they can
eecure the lowest prices aud cheapest
freight rates. 1t Is this card that local
firms have used IN drawing trade to THIS
point IN the past, and 1t is the one they
Will endeavor 10 impress upon buyers
more than ever during the year 1877. Large
and well selected stocks OF goods. low
p4ces. choap freight rates ont of Hous-
ton, quick transportation anl courteous
trea tine mt are facts that count and have
made this the leading Wholesale market
of the State.
Interviews with a few OF Houston's
n wholesale firms yesterday developed the
y fact that the past year had fulfilled eS-
I pectat.ons to large extent and that the
outlook for 1897 was very good.
w. D Cleveland & Co.--Our trade during
the year 1896 was very satisfactory. While
it ds true the volume of business has been
IN 1T Ipt e.
suits to our firm were more pleasing dur
ing the rast twelve months. We were
caught In very few failures. found colcc-
tlol.s good and conducted cur business
upon safe and conscrvatixe lines. !, IN re-
gard 10 the outlook for ISM. II Is difficult
il reach any conclus,on We do not an
ticirate any great activity for the next
few months. but think that the year on the
whole w.l prove more prosperous than
last
T. H. Thompson & Co.-Our trade is
constantly on the increase, and we are
safe in stating that other frui' and
produce house in the State will show one
half the business that was done by our
firm last year. Since locating our estab-
lehmmt with the fl ont doors giving ac-
cess to the mai business streets OF the
city and the bach doors opening upon rll-
road tracks that carry our goods to every
| part of the State, we can boast OF IN
excelIed receiving and distributing racili-
ties. Houston Is certainly an IDEAL pon,t
ness ne. The facilities for recewing perish
able goods here are unexcelled, while the
shipping advantages are all that couei be
trade here. and low prices and good stocks
do the rest
j. S. Dunlay Hardware Company-The
hardware business was quite active last
fall and after entering our new building
we had am especially good trade. The
year averaged better than last and the
prospects for 1897 are fully as good. We
have added many new lines in the past
six months and expect to have a good
trade in agricultural implements the COM
ing spring. Our travelling men start out
sunday night, and each one has reSoiveo
10 do the best business of his life Wh lie
we are ANXIOUS to add to our constantly
growing trade, We do not wish to incur
any useless risks, however. and VIII make
a special effort to secure a safe business
during 1897.
d. W. Michaux, representing James
Bute-Houston has the largest wholesale
paint and oil establishment In the South,
and its travelling representatives ere going
10 see that the trade brought here this
year Ii even In excess of our past expert.
ence The Butte business Is larger thar
hat of any firm either IN st. Louis or New
Orleans. dealing strictly In such special;
wall paper. and its trade extenis to a!
rarts OF Texas ard into Louisiana and
Mexico. We have rot Set finished stock
taking and can not state positively as tt
dent that 1t exceeded ''at of lS95. Oui
goods are constantly reacnsng INTO new "
/ The Texas trade that Houston can easily
\ meet the competition of any city In the
South.
Carson. sewall & Co-The first satui'
| day OF 1897 was busy one with lis, and 4
/ trade continues on the scale seen toda,
| we will have no complaint to make. This
past year w0s rather dun during the sum
uer and early fall. but the last three
Months made mp for the previous tnaotv
Ny. An examination Of our books show;
hat our wholesale grocery business wa!
larger last year than for any prev;ou;
twelve months in three years. Inc coitoI
crop proved 10 be above the average an'
Of itself put very large amount of mono!
into circulation. The short corn crop wa,
z great d:sadyantage s true: ,,; aiia VI W.
next six months.
4 Ifenthal & Grant-Our commisslo,
business has been on the increase eacl
year and kept 1t up during 1896. desplt
II the general depression in trade. ConsiSn
4 ments of povltry and eggs were very larg
4 the past fan, and prices on the latter hav
been esper lallv satisfe tory. EGGS ar
stu bringing roo1 prices and the poultr,
.lii n'' nov SHOWS an 'HTl'Ntu io1i'' ~
grain trade WIS worry good during IN
4 wear lust ended, and corn, oats and ha
coat nue N active demand. Corn ha
ruled low in price, as the general GRO
a was the largest ever known, thoug
Texas had the smallest yield in man
H wears. oats and hay are rather scare
n and higher than IN previous years.
II. d. Tay,cr & sons-rhe who,esal
grocery trade has been up to expectation
the past four or five months though las
spring and summer were rather duh. Lo'
prices on cotton have been dsadvantay
Recently, hut IA large proportion OF III
| Texas crop was marketed before the de
cline experienced N November and De
cemher consequently tho farmer has 10