Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-29
CONDITION OF OMAHA'S TRADE
Merchandise Values Generally Have an
Upward Tendency.
COUNTRY COLLECTIONS SATISFACTORY
Dealers In summer Goods want to See
n Good Hot speII-Rnin and Threat
eninE Weather Interfere
with Retail Trade.

ening weather Interfere
with Retail Trade.
There was a fair movement of merchan-
disc OF all kinds In a retail way during the
week just closed In spite of the fact that
the weather conditions were not such as to
induce free buying. At this season OF the
year, when spring goods have gone into
consumption, and when 1t is too late to
buy such merchandise as might be wanted
while the weather is cool or subject to sud-
den changes, there is nothing SO conducive
to an active buying demand as steady.
warm weather. A few warm days will not
do. Thus far this season the weather has
not been warm enough to bring out the de-
-mand for midsummer wearing apparel and
IN many departments carrying such lines.
satisfactory to the Grocers.
Business with wholesale grocers continues
to be very satisfactory. The volume of
trade FOR last week was fully up with that
OF the preceding week and the outlook is
bright for a continuance of present condi-
lions. AS long as crops are in good shape
grocers have little fear for the future of
trade. The market In most cases is firm,
but a few lines that are Influenced by pecu-
liar conditions are constantly being. quoted
higher. In this latter class canned goods
might be mentioned, especially corn and to-
tnatoes. The enormous demand by the gov
r eminent is making heavy inroads upon the
spot stocks OF these goods. the report Is
that they are being well cleaned up and
Consequently the market is being quoted on
tomatoes 10ul5 cents per dozen higher than
last week and on corn 5a7i9 cents higher
with every indication for a still further adj
vance before the arrival of the new pack.
Dried fruits have changed but little with
the exception of evaporated apples and
aprleots, which are being quoted a trifie
stronger than they were a week ago.
Both slcel and Manila rope, as anticipa-
ted. is still going up, the advance for last
week amounting to about ! cent per pound.
The mn rLpt for some kinda of fnrinurhpt1S
goods, however, especially oatmeal, shows
a tendency to go the other way. This is
crop of grain and the consequent desire to
clear up the old stock. The decline so far,
though, has been only nominal.
Dry goods houses are doing n rushing
business. Only Il few merchants are COM
ing to town, but mail orders for all kinds
of goods for immediate delivery are COM
ing In rapidly. The exposition will doubt
less help out the dry goods men more than
any other class of jobbers, as most mer-
chants prefer to examine the stock before
making purchases. This is not the case in
hardware, boots and shoes, or hardly any
other line, and consequently the dry goods
houses are in a position to make the most
of the opportunities afforded by the eXposi-
ton. When a merchant once gets to look
ing over a line of dry goods it is difficult
for him to leave without giving an order,
especially when selections are as large and
complete as they are at Omaha.
In speaking of the condition of the mar
ket, n local jobber made the remark that
there Is one feature about current reports
regarding the condition of the dry goods
market that is extremely aggravating to
those who are interested in it and who
Keep posted. He said it was not true that
prices are falling off and the market break
ing up, as has been generally reported, but
that In every line but one prices are strong.
Print cloth in cotton goods is the one ex-
ception, but the weakness in this line is
d9e entirely TO rne tatt shat ane capaeisy
is several times greater than the consum-
ing demand and consequently there is moth
ing strange in the weakness of the market.
Not only Is the general dry goods market
strong, but there is every indication that a
not far OFF. The high tariff on Wool sooII and d
the increased consumption this year over
last of wooden goods are bound to cause an
Hardware Firm.
Nothing out of the ordinary took place
last week in the hardware trade. The mar
ket remains firm, but no q~uotable changes
are reported. Wire cloth, and in fact all
seasonable goods are in good demand, and
trade tns inia IS golns to a Continue that inc PhsiSens 0 col.
lections are good.
Trade in boots and shoes is also. about
stationary. The majority of the jobbers
make very favorable reports and appear to
be well pleased with. the. amount of bust
are anticipating a heavy trade as soon as
crops are harvested and for that reason are
giving more liberal orders tnan they have
been for several years past.
Rubber goods men report the demand for
mackintoshes and In fact for all kinds OF
rubber clothing as being very satisfactory
Travelling men seem to have little difficulty
In taking orders Tor that class or goods,
such good request. The increase in the
cost of rubber undoubtedly has a tendency
TO make merchants slower in giving theil
orders as many of them think there may
be a cut in prices later in the season. Il
"a probably true, though, that the volume
Of business for the year viii not be materi
ally reduced by the new schedule of prices
the orders necessary to complete the con
cessionaires' buildings on the Midway, ane
however are practically all delivered Rnl
only a few odds and encs remain. .Whel
these are finished the exposition trade vii
accustom themselves to the slack bushes
that usually prevails at this season of tn
The market on yellow pine Is weak, as /
shown by the fact that the last price, lis
mill. This is being done because there i
practically only the home market for tn
being nearly destroyed by the war. TIL
market on cedar shingles is showing
take orders without a considerable advanc
being made over the quotations of a wee
taken then for future delivery.
Fruit and Produce.
Missouri strawberries are now about tn
only ones on the market and are bein
quoted at 1915 per crate; occasionally
few Arkansas berries arrive, but they ar
not wanted by consumers, and commissio
men are forced to take what they can &c
for them, Missouri berries are of goo
quality, but are coming in rather slowl
because. of the late season. The crop
also rather small, as about half the plant
are reported as having been destroyed b
the dry weather of last year.
The market on lemons Is firm, with
strong tendency to advance. A few mo
warm days will undoubtedly start the pric
inward
The abundance OF fruit is destroying III
demand for cabbage, but as the supply
small the price remains about the same.
The receipts of country butter are no
quite liberal and the quality fair. The bul
of II goes for packing stock.
Eggs are still quoted at 95 cents and al
coming Just about fast enough to meet II
consuming demand.
The quotations on live poultry have n,
changed for some time, but the demand
Stacking somewhat owing to the fact thu
fresh fruits and vegetables are now con
paratively cheap.
OMAHA GENERAL MARKETS.
Condition of Trade and Quotation
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