Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-24
CONDITION. OF OMAHA'S TRADE
Staple Lines Rather Slow as Usual at This
Season Of the Year,
Jo88ERs' SALES OF FANCY GOODS LARGE
Retailers Report hest Trade in the
History of the City-Everyone very
BusS-Morc Expensive Glass
of Goods Sold Freely.

The principal feature of last weeks
trade was Of course the demand for holiday
goods Of all varieties. 1t Is doubtless true
that local retailers have never enjoyed as
good a holiday trade as they have expert
enced this year. Practically every store in
the city has been crowded from morning
until night and many times dealers found
1t impossible to handle their trade properly.
people seem to have plenty of money this
year to spend on Christmas presents, as Is
shown by the quality of the goods in de-
and, as well as by the volume of business.
Reports received from surrounding points
show Just about the same Condltions-that
Is. holiday goods are in big demand, but
staples and nearly all kinds Of cold weather
goods are more or less neglected. For that
reason the local jobbing trade last week
was not especially active.
Retailers out through the country are too
Dusy selling goods TO spend time TO order
more supplies and many iobbers are of the
opinion that they will not need more stock
until more seasonable weather puts in an
appearance. The general condition of the
markets Is much the same as 1t was a week
ago. There Is a general feeling of hrm-
ness an along the line, but stun very few
advances OF Importance have been heard of.
Look for Higher Prices.
Wholesale grocers are doing just about
their usual amount of business in staples
ana more than the usual amount In such
lines as candies, nuts and raisins. y falling
on in collections has been noted during
the last week on acCount of the rather light
trade general stores are having. They seem
TO De selling plenty OF groceries, but dry
goods, boots and shoes are moving slowly
and for that reason much of the money
that the grocers should receive Is going to
make up the deficiency in other lines.
one Joboer remarked that a good blizzard
from 81 to 5000 per day. There is very
little to be. said about the condition of the
market. Nearly all lines are in "A good,
prophesied for the first of the year on ac-
count OF the big demand and also because of
The advanced freight rates to go into effect
January l. The sugar market is in about
the same position as 1t was a week ago,
although prices are stronger in the east.
In farinaceous goods, beans were again
advanced last week, while oatmeal took
another drop. The coffee market is still
very strong, but prices are the same as
at last report. Starch, however, was ad-
Nanced Ac on all grades and candles are
also being quoted a little higher on account
of the advance in tallow.
Rig Hardware Movement.
Hardware iohbers say they are doing a
remarkable business for this time of year.
Last wear at this time they had what they
called an immense trade, but that was aC-
connted for by the fact that everyone was
loaking for higher prices after the first of
the year: This season, however, those con-
ditions do not exist and there seems to be
no reason for retailers buying more stock
at this time unless they need it for i'm
mediate use. When these conditions are
taken into consideration jobbers figure that
trade in the country must be In pretty good
shape. In making comparison with last
year a. lOthl JODDtT lOutu lIldl LOT InG
first fifteen days of this month trade eX-
eeeded last years business for the cor
responding period by % per cent, which was
contrary to all predictions, as u decrease
rather than an increase was expected.
There Is nothing new to be said about the
condition of the market as prices remain
just about where they have been for sew
eral weeks past. What few changes there
are reported are all in the way of advances,
but nothing of Importance has taken place
during the past week.
Some Lines ouict.
Dry goods. boots and shoes, and rubber
goods, are not in very great demand just
at the present time. Dry goods jobbers, of
course, have done a good business in holi-
day goods, but at the same time trade in
cold-weather goods is hardly what it should
be at this season of the year. People of
course cannot be expected to buy very
many wooden goods or felt boots as long
as such mild weather lasts and so about all
jobbers can do is to wait for more season.
able weather. But In spite of the fact that
immediate business Is a trifTe quiet, ad-
vance orders are coming in good shape.
Many jobbers say they never had a better
line of advance orders at this season of the
year. and for that reason are looking for
ward to a good spring trade.
The hide market is considerably weaker
than 1t was a week ago. Quotations are
lower ana there Is sort OF a panicky feel
VIII land. RecelptS are only moderate.
Fruit and
Fruit and produce men are well pleased
this year with their Christmas trade. There
was a good demand from the surrounding
country, as we'll as from the city, and con-
scquently stocks are pretty well cleaned up.
Oranges and apples were good sellers and
cranberries were Of course in big demand.
Christmas greens were more popular than
usual and very few are left on the market.
Prices on fruits and vegetables are prac-
tically the same as they were a week ago,
consequently nothing need be said on that
score.
The turkey market was overstocked,
doubtless due in n large measure to the
comparatively high prices prevailing at this
poiht. At the close of the week the market
was considerable lower than at the open-
ing and it looks as If a good deal OF stock
would have to be carried over. The supply
of chickens was not SO excessive, but still
there were enough received to cause prices
10 weaken n trife. There is no change in
game and but very little is coming, but
enough to supply present demands. Butter
and eggs are also quoted the same as they
were a week ago and the same is true OF