The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-31

| the year just closed over the previous
year. The gain is placed at sc 2-3 per
cent, and while this may be accounted
for in part by the almost total failure
of the local fruit crop and the large
lmDortations of fruit from outside, the
TACT still remains that the Salt Lake
jobber in groceries during the past
year had a better command of the
field than ever before. All the local
merchants in this line report the most
prosperous year in their history, but
look forward TO still greater business
next year.
Dry Goods.
An increase of s., 600, 900 in the dry
goods jobbing business of Salt Lake
over the year before is considered a.
very conservative statement, and yet
when 1t is considered that that repre-
SCENTS an increase. of 40 per cent, it is
a highly gratifying statement. 1t DEM
onstrates that despite the fierce compe-
tition of st. Louis, Chicago, Denver and
san Francisco, the Salt Lake mer-
chants are demonstrating their ability
TO meet the trade conditions of this
region, and while they do not supply
over one-half. of the dry goods used
they are making gains each year.
Farming Implements.
Up to the 1st-of September, the year
JUST closed was very far in advance
OF any previous year, and promised to
furnish sensational figures. But be-
cause of bad frosts in the north es-
peclally IN Idaho and the failure to ship
wheat TO the coast resulting in low
prices, the farm implement trade fell
on heavlly. While the increase is graf
lfylng, about 20 per cent, it is far below
what was anticipated early in the
season, when all conditions were favor
able. The falling off late in the season
was not due to inability of the local
dealers TO meet the demands or to meet
the outside dealer. With the removal
OF the local obstacles the business in
THIS line can be extended indefinitely.
In this connection it must not be over
looked that very many in the cities
are lnduiging in fine carriages and
turn-outs of various kinds under the
influence OF more prosperous times, and
that TINS largely augments the business
OF the implement dealers.
Hardware.
1t has been a great wear for the
hardware jobbers of Salt Lake. The
activity of the mines has made the
demand something unheard of before,
and the only problem in the last half
OF the season was to get the goods
from the faciu les and foundries to
meet the demand. Happy are the deal
ers who put in heavy orders early in
the year. The jumping of prices, in
some instances far over 100 per cent,
gave them opportunities for reaping
profits such as seldom come in the
average life of a merchant The il
crease for the year is placed at so per
cent, or S1,2O0,000 over the year 1898,
which was a good year. The field re-
mains the same except where new min
ing camps have beer opened and the |
competing points are unchanged
Missouri river cities, Chicago, ST. Louis |
and st. Paul. They have made no in |
roads in Salt Lake territory and have |
hardly held their own on the frontier.
Drugs.
The conditions as to the drug trade re-
main the same as formerly. In this I
Inc the item of freight cuts no figure
1n a large portion of the goods. as they
are laid down as cheap in Salt Lake as
anywhere in the country. There has
been a good increase in the years total
If business, however, fully so per cent
over last year The demand for chem
Gals for assay purposes was a marked
eature of the years business The
salt Lake iobber has a more complete
monopoly of the field than ever. and
s reaching out continually for new ter
'itory to conquer. The organization of
| new wholesale drug firm during the
'ear is an indication of increasing bus
ness.
Boots and Shoes.
The increase in this line was so per
.ent over the preceding year. and yet
he Salt Lake jobbing business in this
inc would seem 10 be in its infancy.
The local dealers have been handi-
appel by being unable heretofore to
AVE on hand a sufficiently large stock
o meet outside competition as regards
quantity and variet-. But these OBJ
tacles are being overcome, and all
ocal dealers look for greatly increased
BUSINESS in the year now opening.
Lumber.
The Salt Lake business in this line
vas retarded to great extent by in
bility TO have orders filed in the Ium-
er fields. One firm, out of an order
or S,O0o.000 feet, secured LOCO. 900. and
his complaint has been general. In
pite of this the total jobbing business
Jumped from 100000 to $500, coo. an in
rease of 60 per cent. What is said here
lumber may be said of all kinds of
uilding material.
There is not line from top to bottom
the list, representing all the chief
rticleS of human activity that does
OF show an increase of from "a to
ear 100 per cent. 1t has been a great
ear for the jobbers of Salt Lake and
hey have every req son TO be proud of
he record made in 1899. =