Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-16
CONDITION OF OMAHASTRADE
Warmer Weather Starts a Movement in
Spring Goods,
MERCHANTS ALL REPORT AG GOOD BUSINESS
As a Result of Farmers BeInr nj
work In II Fields Country
Dealers say That sales
Are "A Little slow.
MERCHANTS ALL REPORT A GOOD BUSINESS

Work In the Fields Country
Dealers say That sales
Are a Little Slow.
The sudden change to seas1noblc ve,tbe-
u"S wrought a great change in the general
retail business OF the city. Sprinp and s,r-
mer goods were in active demand an H..
week and sales have been large. In the
country 1t Is said that the warm weather
has enabled farmers to begin work i'm their
helds and that in consequence trad win
country merchants is none too active. The
general business situation. however. can he
described by one word, good"
The demand for wholesale groceries dur-
'"S the last week has shown "a marked inn
p'pNeineht. orders are piling in from every
diection and local jobbers ind they have
ABOUT al they can do to keep their bust.
ness up to date. There ar no very marked
changes in the market to report, as there
rs the same general frmness on practically
aIi uhes and SOM classes of goods are still
auNdhclng. a week ago, 1t Will be remem-
ucLeu, an advance ON refined sugars was re-
ported ana raws were quoted as bsing I'm "A
Nery strong position. This week raws ad-
Ntnced l-lbc and the market is very strong
~ the advance. 1t is said there are NOR
DugerS nan sellers and those who are
any time. q"
Quotations on practically all lines of
canned goods are Very firm and an advanCee
OF 2lRn5c per dozen on corn is announCed
1T Is said that stocks are pretty well clnanSd
up. Tomatoes are also In "a very ~ rnnG
position and hut few are lett in first hands,
me dried iruit situation is much the same
as was a week ago, except evaporated
apples. which are 1c higher. The only
onaHEe IN Idrinac Gus goods is that Of oat-
meal, whlch is n triiic easier.
Hardware Situation Unchanged.
Hardware men say that with them trade
IS about the same as it has been for the Iast
~ or lhree weeks. BY that they mean
the same time they are not rushed. Thu
amount of hardware being consumed Is. Of
course, considerably less than it would have
I'll ndu Ihef- been a normal spring.
Farmers were prevented from making their
permanent improvements. earlier in the
spring by bad weather and now, when the
weather is favorable. they are too busy.
Retailers out through the country bought
most cases bought freely. Their trade,
however, has not materialized and conse-
shelves. SO long as that is the condition ex-
listing in the country, jobbers cannot expect
a very heavy demand. They feal confident,
though, that a little later in the season
there will be a big Improvement, as farmers
VIII do the work then that they planned TO
do early this spring. The falling off in col
lections, which has been noticed Of late. Is
q good indication that trade in the country
The market: however Is SIN going UP and
no one seems 10 consider the possibility Of
the more important advances put into effect
during the last week are as follows: Sheet
c~orTurated iron. ioc per square. ~ and wire
cloth advanced from s1.1o to $1&5. The first
which Is a good example of the way hard
ware has gone up IN the last fw months.
in steel rails. amounting to 81 per ton. has
nad a tendency ~ str, ngthen the general
dence is felt in future prices.
Dry Goods Active.
Dry goods men are experiencing a boom.
as trade with them is as lively now as 1t
was slow a week ago. Retailers. out
through the state are having a good lively
trad, as the warm weather is bringing out
the buyers in good shape. Many dealers
are calling on local jJbhers and placing lib
bundle of orders for immediate shipment.
cation of the healthy conditions existing In
the country and that the duilness expert
enced previous to last week was caused by
unreasonable weather. Travelling men are
also having excellent success in getting
orders for fall delivery. Such lines as blan-
kets. underwear and hosiery are being or
dered quite freely.
Their are no material changes to report
in the condition of the market. as practi-
cally all lines are in the same strong posi-
ton they have been for months past. The
and local iobbers think indications very IA
yorable for prices staying ,up, for a long
time, as an excessive crop of silk is not eX-
pected.
Footwear Sells Freely.
A marked Improvement in the demand
for leather goods was also noted last, week
moving more freely, There has not been
very much recorder business so far, but a
few more days of warm weather II is
thought will start the orders coming in
ri rubber business. however. is rather
quiet. Travelling men are all in off the road
waiting for prices. which are expected
star, On. cain and they seem to feel very
confident regarding the success they will
meet.
lumber Market Strong.
A. -. -I....I-. " -. -.--s ~.
different from what il was a week ago,
but jobbers were not looking for any great
Imbr9 sS So,inf n rW d 80 ersy ar are t6 not b eaS y
stocked. and farmers too busy with their
spring work for job6ers TO- expect a very
After the rush of spring work is over with,
local dealers think they, ought TO do quite
a business, that is, II INDICATIONS are favor
able for good crops, The market is as
firm as ever all along the line and es-
has been advanced, as previously an
The hide market is somewhat stronger
than 1t was a week ago, and slightly higher
prices are anticipated. Receipts are still
rather light,
Fruit and Produce.
With the advent Of pleasanter weather
there has been considerable Improvement
In the demand for fruits and vegetables.
handicapped by the short supply Of fresh
stock, and consequently have been Unable
10 satisfy the wants Of their customers:
- 2 ~ hAAN - 'Nf go
short, and what few We're on the market
were of inferior quality, There was a good
demand for them though, so that they sold
in spite of their condition. At the pres
ent time quarts are quoted at $5.5Oq6O0 per
case, and pints at 81, oranges and lemons
are selling a little better than they were a
week ago, but prices are practically the
same, Mediterranean sweets are held at
So and seedlings At S2.G5n2. r..
The supply of radtshes is quite liberal
and so Is the demand, They are quoted at
SLSGl:5 so per bushel box, Asparagus,
spinach and onions are all on the market,
but in limited quantities. 1t is still i'm
possible to get tomatoes, as they are worth
50 cents per pound In Chicago and are
grown in hot houses in the vicinity Of s..
Paul and Minneapolis. Old parsnips and
beets are still on the market at sL256I5O
per barrel respectively. There continues
to be quite a lively demand for potatoes
and. prices are Just about the same as "A
week ago.
Eggs sold at II cents all the week and
while there is a good demand, receipts are
very, light for this season, Of the year, The
the demand not very heavy. Quotations
are given below.
Butter is not coming in very freely and
as there Is n good outlet for Il prices are