Evening star., 1898-07-21
ON THE UP GRADE
Business Situation as Described by
Local Merchants.
BETTER THAN last YEAR
How the improvement is Felt in
This City. i
BRIG HIT PROSPEC T

Better times are at hand, seems to be the
universal opinion of local merchants
Some more interviews on the subject were
obtained today.
Mr.. John II .Magruder, Connecticut ave-
nue. and NJ street: Business with me. es-
peciaily since the beginning of the year
has shown marked increase, as compared
with that of last year. l look forward with
confidence to a Good business in the fall
and have made my arrangements in ac-
cordance with this expectation. 1t is my
opinion that the Improvement in business is
due in a large degree ito the money that
has been put in circulation by the war eX-
penditures but 1 Think that after the war
the revival in trade will continue and that
we will enjoy again an era of prosperity
The Bradbury Piano Company, w. P. Van
Wlckle, manager: Business is good deal
better than was the case last year. There
is one good indication of the Improvement,
and that is cole ctiens are much easier
than for some time rast Reports from
our branch houses in the territory of which
this city ts a center are exceedingly encour-
aging, and, further, they are making prep
arations for sn increased trade in the fall
Our local trade is irst-rate, even at this
time Of the year, when so many of our Gus
toners are out of the city,
Barber & Ross, 11th and G streets: "Busi-
ness with us has been very satisfactory.
During the past six months it was at lea st
one-third greater than was the case last
year, or, in fact, any previous year."
Considerable Increase.
Pabst Brewing Company: There is no
cause for complaint in our trade. Business
is very good, much better than 1t was this
time last year. 1t has increased consider
ably since the 1st Of June, and the growth
Is keeping up right along. While 1t Is true
that we benefit from the presence of the
soldiers near Washington, we are profiting
also by the general Improvement of the
times. There is undoubtedly more money
going around. and when the people have
plenty of money, those who drink beer are
likely to spend a little of it for beer
Mr {. G. Bryan, the grocer, 1413 New
York avenue: My business during the
present year has far exceeded that of last
year. There can be no doubt that there are
healthier trade conditions prevailing today
than for many years past at this season.
The prospects are indeed bright for the
fall. The little effect the war has had on
trade has teen beneficial"
Mr.. Jobr Callahan, general manager of
the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat
Company: Travel has been nvery heavy
on our steamers right along from the 1st
of January. Our passenger business has
largely exceeded that of last year, while
the freight business has also been excep
tiCnally good. 81 n
The Norfolk steamers have been most
beneficialy effected by the war with Spain.
officers of the United States army and
navy have necessarily had to make fre-
quent trips by this route to Fort Monroe
and the Norfolk navy yard. AT present the
steamers are busy carrying friends and rel
atives to see their wounded loved one at
the general hospital at Fort Monroe.
S. F. Hahn of VIM Hahn & CO.: 1--WE are
doing a better business iinow than at the
same time last year. We arel so confident
of constantly increasing business that we
are enlarging our 18th street store and We
expect very brisk fall trade
P ]. Nee, 745 7th street: II think there
is a great future ahead for business men.
The war is causing much money to be put
in circulation. and | think it will be the
means of ushering in good times.
My business is now better than 1t was
at the same time last year. and look for
ward to good fall trade
Larger Than Last Year.
Mertz & Mertz. 9o6 street-'We find
great reason for hopefulness in the present
trend of business. Our trade during the
last spring and present summer is larger
than it was during the same period last
year and it seems to us that all indications
point to business improvement next fall.
We are looking forward to fine fall
trade"
Wash B. Williams. corner 1th and ID
streets-"Our trade is fifty per cent better
than it was at the same time last year
We are looking forward to brisk fall
business.
Edward F. Droop-"A marked feature of
our trade this summer is the large amount
of spot-cash business that is being done.
The large amount Of money being placed in
circulation just now is having a splendid
effect on the business of the country. We
are securing a large special trade from
Camp Alger, but our regular trade is keep
ing up unusually well. The soldier boys
have four of our pianos at Camp Alger
now, and the regiments are purchasing
a great many brass instruments.
Since the destruction Of the Spanish
fleet and the fall of Santiago our foreign
ticket business has increased very much.
People have been delaying going abroad on
account of the war. but the business we
are doing shows that they are satisfied
there is nothing to hinder foreign trips"
D. ]. Kaufman, 1907 Pennsylvania ave-
nue-"I established my clothing business
here last summer. and the results have
gone far beyond my expectation. In the
spring the business increased. and this
summer trade has been very good, indeed.
The business l have done in July so far
has been greater than 1 expected to do
during the entire month. During the COM
ing fall l anticipate doing twenty-five per
cent more business than last year. The
outlook for improved business conditions
= I