Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31
CONDITION OF OMARA'S TRADE
Movement Of Merchandise Rather Quiet
Last Week,
IT IS THE SEASON FOR COMPARISONS
Values on Practically All classes of
Merchandise show Large Gains ms
Compared with u Year Ago
bbe All wei Pleased.
7 Is THE SEASON FOR COMPARISONS

The lull which usually follows tho rush
of trade previous to Christmas was cX-
perienced in this last week by both job
bers and retailers. Jobbers especially had
n quiet time, as most of their travelling
men were in and consequently very few
orders were received. They had, however,
all the business they wanted, as this is the
time Of year when they change stocks and
prepare for tho coming year. Retailers
were also busy sorting up their stocks and
invoicing, so there Is really very little to
be said regarding the condition Of trade.
The markets, too, were almost without
feature, but SOM important changes are
expected after the first of the year.
The closing up Of a calendar year always
invites comparison and this year Is no cN-
ceptiion to the general rule. JobberA and
retailers almost without an cNCcp ion re-
port big gains in the volume Of business
transacted and say that IN spite of the un-
favorable weather for heavyweight goods
collections at the present time are In bet
ter shape than they were a year ago. The
greatest interest, however, IS conferred in
the comparison of prices. The upward
movement of values In nearly all lines dur
Ing the last year Is a familiar fact, ana in
many cases the advance has been 50 grca,
as to cause some uneasiness.
some comparisons.
The hardware market has attracted as
much. attention, perhaps, AZ any, and Is
considered "A good example OF the way
values have advanced during the last year,
A prominent hardware jobber OF this city
In speaking of market conditions called at
tention to the fact that values at the pres
ent time are considered high because they
are compared with the extremely low prices
which prevailed during the years of dcprcS-
sion. Present values, of course, seem, be-
yond all reason when compared with those
of last year, or two or three years ago, but
when placed by the side of prices in force
in 1892 It Is seen that they are not so badly
Inflated after all. A few lines, OF course,
are higher now than they were even in lSS-
but on the average the reverse IS true.
For example. wire nails are Sl,95 higher
higher than in 1892. Painted barb wire ma.
advanced since a year ago $3.50, .whlen
makes its present selling price $40 a.
compared with $3.50 in 1898 and $3.50 in 1872
The advance in plain wire has also beer
heavy, but not equal to that on barb wire
1898 1t was selling at $lG5 ana In lN32 at $50
These are perhaps as good examples as cal
be given of the almost sensational advance.
an hardware during the last year FOLLOW
dng are a few cases where prices in $50
were high, as compared with present quota
Mons: Screws Of a certain size that are
now selling at 30 cents we're worth "a cents
a year ago and $l0S in 1892. A partlculal
size and grade of tin roofing, now WORT
1892 Locks that are selling now at $ls
were quoted at $l.10 in 1898 and $l.l5 IN iSsZ
Any number, of cases OF TINS kina in,SHhI . .,
express IS tina: values at the present time
are not on the average as high as me!
were before the period of depression. ne
claim Is made also that the advances o
The last wear are perfectly natural and are
brought about by the law OF supply anu h a
mand. For that reason dealers figure ina
the market is in "A good, healthy coh9i'toi
and express the greatest confidence III II III
the coming year.
Grocery Market HiEher.
The grocery market is in the same posi-
tion it was in a week ago. no GhahSes w' a.,
ever having taken place. AS Is usually il,
case at this season trade IS Guiet; ou -
Snnk and from then on. Local %jobbers speai
very favorably of the showing made durln'
the present year and say ma t h las
wear. The market on most lneH nag ~
aged up considerably higher tlan II utu
vcar ago. though some lines, such as oat
y,nea, and coffee, are lower. 1t is thouGht
however, that the market as a Whole Is lug
Is per cent higher for the year
Thread Goes Higher.
Tho only event of Importance last wee
oarre In threads. Notices of a Decent au
vance were received from both Coats an en-
snbhnr, 55 cents. Dry goods Iobbers, IN
same as other wholesalers, uld very ~,
business last week, Ihey mace ms . sonabI
S poo and to get the spring lines in shape
Among the shipments or spring EGonS an
C. mnorted laces. Local jobbers are count
Ing on a big spring trade ana say tnGS so nt
going TO have the best r @nH '"'s'S' '''
n.y. 10 a diGirult matter to compare pre5en
nrices with those of a year ago as ViSr
ARE 80 many different lines ana gIauTs, ~
tohbers say il Is safe to can ne ~ "
She way from 5a2O per cent hlShe' '"""
was a year ago
Rather quiet at Present
Root and shoe men call trade quiet Jus
of nrescnt. but are looking for a Go0u, oIlS
den,and to set in after the hrst OF LAe Soa
11at niiors' stocks are getting broken UP an
aMniicatc orders should begin to come !
RAPIDLY. 1t is the same sto's ~ as n
rlncs on leather goods the same as .
PrlvvS IIv ali other lines. The cheape
,nrades Of shoes, jobbers say, are % pc
rent higher than they were Il Seir as
while the better grades are ohlE dpout
per cent higher. me auNahtt, Tircrease
T. brought about largely by the increase
cost in hides, but also by the ero'''o"" Wv
mand for leather goods. ,oooiyir
RIbber goods men say they are Iert'rL
oln,ost no orders at all, but the present COi
weather is giving retailers a BooH 'hauT
nrCtics and such lines, whlch WIZ ~ AZ
rcact on the iobbers. Rubber Soous ar az,
higher than they were IL year as, nco
scrvatIve estimate places the adNau'TT =,
not far from II per cent "a"'"s
into consideration,
Fruit and Produce
There was very little demand last wee
for the lines handled by fruit and produ'
men. Grocers seemed to have enough, le
over from Christmas to supply what ut
trade they had and consequently pouBnt Il
most nothing Mt all. There was some HIT
demand for poultry, but dealers had ma
work i'm disposing of what they carried oN'
from Christmas, TO say nothing OF Il"tu',t
the fresh receipts. The onlN leoluFe 10 ~
general trade IN fruit and vegetables was !
lack of activity and consequently Etue nee
he .gail