Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-18
CONDITION OF OMAHA'S TRADE
Retail Merchants Have Full Supplies Of
Christmas Goods.
joBsERs LOOK FOR SLIGHT RELAXATION
Holiday Purchases stiIl Good and
staples Moving More Rapidly Than
Usual at This Sensou-PrOs-
poets for $500 Are Excellent.

full supplies of Christmas goods, and from
now on 'jobbers expect the demand to settle
back into the usual channel. There was,
however. O good demand last week, and
Omaha jobbers were we'll pleased with
the result of the six days operations.
While the 1obberJ may be said to have
about finished their Christmas business,
retailers are just getting nicely started.
Last week the volume of holiday trade
was much larger than the week before.
and thts week promises to witness a rush.
Ing business unless all signs fail.
The demand for wholesale groceries con-
tinues as active as ever, especially for
certain lines that play an important part
In Christmas festivities. Shipments, of
course. are not very heavy as a rule al this
season or the year, but what Is lost In size
10 largely made up in numbers The most
popular lines just now are dried fruits OF
al varieties. raistns, nuts and candies.
Retailers generally are pretty well supplied
department at the present time.
Hardly change of any Importance took
course Of the wheat market, so that it is
oods tfe nS
1rm. but quotations remain unchanged.
Joobers are already anticipating their bust
Say orders have been as ii Is sfd or
crops that have yet to be grown. Everyone
seems s1l to ;, be expecting q big increase in
bsrs intend to be prepared to handle 1t.
Out Rate Helps Trade.
Trade in hardware Is exceedingly good
Tor this time of year. The cut In railroad
rates rates has considerable to do with 1t, as
lines that could hardly be needed for pres
ient use. One jobber remarked that he
never knew retailers In general to take
have In this case. That fact in itself is a
eood Indication of the condition of trade in
the s country. ,l Try. and Of the confidence retailers
Is, In fact. decidedly healthy feeling
throughout. from manufacturer to con.
svmer, SO u higher, prices should prevail
after the first of the year no one would
Pc pe very ,,I1n much surprised; m In speaking of
on nf the 19p0ef e
IRON that Is to be consumed by the rail-
roads alone during the coming year. and
@saia @ that ne Is expecting an advance the
There is little to be said regarding the
condition of the dry goods trade locally, ex-
cept that everything is moving along in a
very satisfactory manner. Orders are COM
ing IN from every direction for all kinds
Of woolen goods. and jobbers say 1t keeps
them busy to fill them, although it takes
several orders to amount to very much in
dollars and cents. The outlook for spring
and jobbers feel sure of a prosperous year
unless the unexpected happens. The mar
Het is Ing in good eonI condition. & as prices are firm
show no lack Of confidence in future prices
and It Is said that although the cotton crop
are not overly abandant and may even even
command a premium. Mills are all rum
ming at fun blast, and there seems to be
FOR all the goods that can be produced.
- Shoes Move Slowly.
Boot and shoe jobbers report trade as be-
Ing rather quiet just at pres ent, as this Is
Sheir on season; Retailers a,s are all doing "a a
they bought several weeks ago and only
order as they run short. These sizing up
could be expected and indice tions are, all
favorable for a good spring trade, SO job
bers are all well satisfied,
ness, but by no means as heavy as few
weeks ago. Retailers are pretty well sup
sss a%s o s'sSsa the Tsasef ssy
are not ordering very heavily. AS long as
the cold weather lasted there was big
demand for felt boots and leggings. but that
has fallen off considerably during the last
few days, Jobbers. consider this banner
year as both October nsy and & were
and so far this month sales show up very
favorably with the corresponding period Of
In the lumber trade there Is no change.
little stock is being. moved and even the cut
Retailers seem to prefer to wait until spring
before increasing their stocks. even IL it
The hide market remains the same as a
week ago as regards quotations. but re-
ceipts increased somewhat. Furs are be-
ginning to come in limited quantities, but
mostly from nearby points. So far only
such furs as mink, skunk and muskrat
have been received.
Fruit and Produce.
Commission men are not doing exactly a
cushing business. but still they are having
q nice trade. Oranges are selling well, a
tribe lower than they were quoted a week
ago, navels, fancy Rose brand, going at
H!00R4 25, Redland at 1915 and seedlings
at So 325d3.50. Apples are in good demand at
the same quotations as week ago. Call
fornia Strawberries are still on the market
at soc per box. Malaga grapes are little
higher, $S.00QlS.50 being the range. New
York catawbas are still to be had for 1sc
per basket
Christmas trees and trimmings are in big
demand, but the quotations are practically
the same as were given out at last report.
The egg market Is some higher, strictly
fresh stock going as high at &c Butter
10 also little better, the common grades
being quoted at 12Q12hc and the choice at
l29lSc. Gathered creamery Is about 1SG19c
and separator 20g21c.
There is also little better feeling In
poultry Receipts are somewhat larger, but
as yet. Hens, live, are worth about 4lkc
are held at 5QbiSc: dressed, sa6lac. Ducks
dressed, &c. Turkeys, live, sQ9c dressed
1lQ12c. Game Is not In very good supply
ana neither is the demand heavy. Prices
range about the same as week ago. with
tho exception of rabbits, which are little
higher. Jacks are quoted at S.25ql6o and