The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-16
BUSINESS AND THE WAR
INSTEAD OF HURTING TRADE THE
FIGHT HAS HELPED 1T.
1t Is Practically the Same story from
Merchants and Manufacture
ers in All Lines.

One of the surprises to business men and
manufacturers is that the war excitement
has not caused sharp falling off in bust
ness; but it has not, as is shown by in
qury. The wholesale grocers have for six
weeks past been doing the largest business
they ever enjoyed. Three of the leading
grocers state that the business in April and
thus far this month has been from 30 to 30
per cent. in excess of the corresponding
period last year. Margins have been close,
but the volume of their business has been
such that in the aggregate the results are
quite satisfactory.
The druggists are having an unusually
large business for this season of the year,
not only in drugs, but in oils paints, ETC.,
and the advance in prices of many articles
has been of advantage to them. The sales
of glass; which is handled so extensively by
the Stewart & Co. wholesale house. has, one
of the firm states, been fully 100 per cent. IN
excess of the corresponding period of 1897.
In other lines of the drug trade the A.
Keifer Company states its business is
handsomely in excess of last year.
The wholesale hat and cap dealers report
their trade fully % per cent. better than in
the spring of 1897, and the miliners have
had an unprecendentedly large trade. The
three houses have had the best year so far
of many years.
The leather dealers are having an excel
lent trade, and the higher prices have slim
ulated business. Both of the wholesale
houses here report their business as highly
satisfactory. The Indianapolis Saddlery
Company and Holiday & Wyon, manufac-
turers of harness, etc, report their business
as not having been affected by the war as
yet. These two concerns give employment
to two hundred or more men.
The hardware and iron merchants speak of
their trades being fully up to their expecta-
tons. and with the firm prices they are do
ing much more business than in the spring
of 1897.
The three confectionery houses report their
business at high-water mark for this season
of the year. Mr.. Daggett, of the firm of
Daggett & Co., says their sales in April
were fully so per cent. larger than in April
last year.
The dry goods houses are enjoying a good
trade. Murphy G. Hibben state that
their business for the last sixty days was
considerably in excess of that of last year.
The backward spring and unusually cool
weather, they state, has curtailed trade
somewhat, but the last few days, with
more springlike weather. they had been quite
busy.
The commission merchants speak of their
business the last six weeks as having been
up to it's old-time volume. There has been
an active demand for fruits and vegetables
and the commission men have held wen 10
gether, and have secured good prices LOT
goods sold. April with most of the commits
sion men was the best business month III
some years, and this month the outlook IS
even more me- ne OF erce for
eggs and poultry has been rather above the
spring average, and the season as a WhoIe
has been very satisfactory to this class Oh
dealers.
The manufacturers are really more sur
priSed than are the merchants over the SIT
nation. The Parry Manufacturing COM
pany states that it's business is now 70
per cent. larger than in the spring OF 1897.
About the middle of the month or April a
number of large dealers IN carriages
ten days they have to a man reinstated
them E. G.. Atkins & Co. are still very
busy and state that Ihe war Elk exc TEN Mt
trade. Dean Brothers report their trade as
very satisfactory. In some departments
they are running over time that they may
The Atlas engine works, Chandler q ray
lor. the Sinker-Davis Company and Heth-
erington & Berner report that they nave
enough to do to keep them busy and have
not as yet reduced the number OF the en-
ployes, working full complement OF men
full time.
The manufacturers of cerealine products
are in clover. Hervey Bates sr., of the In
dianapolis hominy mill, states that they are
running their full capacity day and night,
and at the cerealine mills there Is the
greatest activity. The stock yards are 40
ing the largest business ever known In
May, and the packing houses are exceeding
all records in the number or nogS killed
from week to week. The Touring mills are
under a cloud, the high price OF wheat and
the fact that flour has not advanceo IN
price in proportion with wheat makes 1T up
hill work for them to operate to advantage.
The wooden mills and the Indiana COTTON
mills are pushing the manufacture or their
respective products. They work more peo-
pie than ever before, and one of the mills
is running over time.
There is some anxiety among the mer-
chants and manufacturers as 10 now long
the present satisfactory conditions will pre-
vail, but they are unanimous in the opin-
ion if the war is short one tnere
will be no material falling off In business,
and that with speedy ending business OF
all kinds would begin to boom.
The Nordyke & MarmOn Company reports
that it has at present a greater num-
Der of orders for complete hour mllls, than
for some time past. The cOmpany'S reports
from wheat growing centers are uniform
ly encouraging. The acreage SHOWS graf
flying increase over last year and the con-
dition of the growing crop leaves nothing
to be desired With an increased acreage
SoWn, with every prospect Tor great yleld
and unmistakable evidences OF remunera-
tive prices for wheat and breadstunS, the
millers throughout the country are antici-
pating increased business and profits and
are either building new mills or remodellne
and increasing the capacity of their OLD