The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-07

ceries was considerably increased over
the previous year. Not only was the vol
ume Of business larger. but the prices
obtained were better. The demand con
tiuued good throughout the year The
advance in the prices Of groceries. now
ever had hardly begun 20 be felt TO any
extent IN the retail trade az the end OF
the year.
Liquors ami Tobacco-There was good
increase OF trade in these lines The ar
ticiss are usually clsssed as Injuries. The
fact that the demand was greater would
seem 10 indicate that the people have more
money than they have had for several
years with which 10 indulge themse Ives.
The war tax Of cents a pound on tobac-
co was resp0ns BILE for only two-thirds of
the increase in price Of the article re-
corded during the year Both volume and
value OF trade iu liquors and tobacco
were larger during the last year than the
year before.
Fruits and Nesetables.-The fruit crop
10 the territory tributary 20 Savannah was
almost failure during The season just
past. There were practically no peaches.
and the watermelon crop was MOI an aver
age one. SUI. the value of the business
doHe in fruits and vegetables was about
as large as in 1S97-9S. Prices ruled higher,
and the increased prices just about offset
the diminished quantities. The producers
and vegeta oles and truck suffered short
3
the season. but prices realized for the
products they were able to put upon the
markets seasonably were Satisfactory
Provisjons.-The trade in this line did
not show any Increase. Indeed, We're it
not for advanced prices, it is probable
that The total Of value of the wholesale
trade u this line would have shown a de-
cline. This is attributed to the fact that
the farmers throughout the Savannah ter
ritory are now raising more Of their pro-
visions at acme than formerly.
Dry Goods aud Not.ons.-In these lines
the increase in demand from jobbers was
most gratifying. More goods. worth more
money, were handled during the year just
ended than for a number of years For
several years country merchants had let
their stocks run down pretty close TO act
ual demands Last year the brighter out
look encouraged them to put more goods
on their shelves and q their showcases.
That their sales and collections were good
is evidenced by the fact that as a rule
their payments to wholesalers have been
cheerfuIy and promptly made.
Clotning-There was a largely increa sed
business done in this line during the past
year. The increase over the previous year
is estimated at nearly, if not quite, 1913
per cent, Notwithstanding prices were
higher than for several years. The increase
is credited almost entirely to an extension
Of trade, and to the increased purchasing
power of the country districts
Boots and Substituting the year there
was a sharp advance in leather, making
shoes somewhat higher Nevertheless the
volume of business done was approx
mately the same as the year before. The
hat trade also seemed TO remain about
stationary.
Hardware-This was one line in which
there was a genuine boom. For ten years
or more there has been nothing like the
trade in hardware that was transacted
during the year just ended. And every
thing made of iron or steel was higher
the advances ranging from 20 to $50 per
cent. The demand seemed not TO slack
for the twelve months while in numerous
instances manufacturers and dealers were
absolutely unable to meet the calls upon
them. The chief demand has come from
he West and North. but the effect has
been felt no less in the South than in those
sections The outlook is that during the
new year now just begun pretty much the
same conditions will obtain, and those VINO
buy iron or steel goods will have to pay
good prices FOR them.
Builders Supphes.-Pretty nearly every
thing that has been said of hardware APP
| plies to builders supplies. Prices ad-
vanced from % to Is per cent. on nearly
everything that goes into The construction
| of a house-iumber. nails, bolts, locks, tin,
| etc Nevertheless the movement of build
ers' material has been lively, aud contin-
ues without prospect Of an early let-up.
| Furniture.-The trade in furniture dur
| ing the year was most gratifying. There
was an increase IN the volume of trade
and an Improvement in the quality of the
articles demanded. Good furniture seems
TO be going into the new houses.
Manufactures.-The year was a good
| one for the manufactures of Savannah
Every plant about the city has been
tive ceff