The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-03

test. All OF that sort of thing win be
very greatly modified if a period of rea-
sonable commercial activity shall follow
as an immediate result OF thee chang in
the government. More of friction seems
likely to arise in the administration of
local affairs, in municipal control, and in
the apportionment OF official positions than
in the adjustment OF business matters
Trade conditions in Havana present their
own distinctive features. The foundation
is Spanish. but many visitors have given
10 the shops OF The city mild flavor OF
the cosmopolitan. and many American
visitors have given TO them slight tinse
OF the American. To me and 10 many with
whom I have talked of the matter. the
most noticeable feature Of Havana stores
is the quantity of absolute trumpery which
they display They are enough toy-shops
and toy departments in other shops TO
give every child on the island a tin trum-
pet, a doll, hobby-horse ard a wooliy
dog.
Il is not easy to determine. by visit
TO many OF the stores just now heavy
stock any given merchant may carry As
a rule the shop proper IS small and narrow.
In many Of them very small stock of
wares is spread out TO cover as much
space as possible. A rear room. however,
may be heavily stocked with supply Of
goods wrapped in paper parcels producible
when desired and repacked after being
displayed. There are many wares in many
lines which seem to Americans to be Who'll
" undesirable and wholly unstable But
they are carried for a trade which is
wholly different from thee American in its
tastes and its requirements. Still. one
sees a vast amount of merchandise which
indicates. by it's general appearance, de-
cided slowness o movement.
Prices at retail are undoubtedly exorbit-
ant. This applies TO the asking price. Just
what the actual selling prices will be de-
ponds greatly upon the purchaser. Dur
ing a shopping expedition today. I was Of
fered various wares in different stores at
from three 10 four dollars. which could
have probably been carried away for two
or two and a half An elaborate fan was
offered at ten centen $50. Newspaper cor
respondents have to buy a great many fans
at ten centen. but this could PROBABLY
have been secured for six or seven Cen
ten. after a struggle OF an hour or so.
had not the hour TO spare. so I went to a
gent s-furnishing store and paid thirty
five cents for a clean collar which I could
have bought in New York at two for a
quarter.
1t is, of course. to be expected that prices
of goods az retail would bee high. Amos;
everything is imported, and the tariff has
been excessive, while taxes and charges
for doing business have also been high.
Il would seem that under a reduced tariff
and a lessened taxation for doing business,
the smaller the merchants stock today the
better off he would be. Many me-clanJs
are likely 10 suffer severely by reason Of
a competition with goods imported under
a very considerable reduced tariff. It may
he well for American dealers who are iook-
ing for trade here to take that feature in
to consideration in the question OF credits
to local merchants. The loss Of some or
the whole OF his prospective profits might
not swamp man whose stock was y holly
paid for, but it night easily lead 10 a cramp
which would delay his payments. IL VIII
also be highly advisable for American mer-
chants to make close and careful study
Of the local requirements. and to adapt
their offerings to those requirements. il
is usually easier and better 20 supply what
is really wanted in any particular locality
than ii is to force what is reglriei ~
the purchaser as unsuitable aud undesire-
able Some things will sell readil in Port
land. or Indianapolis, or Seattle which
would not sell at all in Havana. Some
things Will find quick marke; n havana
which could hardly be given away in any
American city