The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-01

important lines of trade are set fortn
more in detail below:
Dry Goods-Five million dollars worth
of dry goods were sold in the Salt Lake
territory last year., and Salt Lake houses
toO just half of the trade Dealers
report an increase of fully % per cent
in sales over 1897. largely u to m
creased consumption. In his line Salt
Lake is the natural distributing point
for all of Utah, southern Idaho. eastern
Nevada n western Colorado. Inc
chief obstacles to a further EXPANSION
of trade, local merchants say. are the
absence of competitive stocks and a
not altogether satisfactory condition or
freight rates. Twenty-Five years ago
the base of supply for the retail dry
goods trade was New York: thence 1t
shifted to Chicago; now it is h Mis-
souri, river, while Denver is growing IN
Importance as a distributing center.
Salt Lake presents points of advantage
not possessed by any of these points,
and, in h future. is certain to build
up a heavy dry goods trade.
GrocerieS.-AS noted above. the Salt
Lake grocers have yanquished all COM
petitors. and are in sole possession or
the field. Dealers report prosperous
conditions during the past year, and
the volume of trade reflected the nat
ural increase consequent to the increase
II HOpuldllOI. mate COuQillOllS dIG 09t-
isfactOry TO the trade. although the
disturbances caused by rate wars dur
ing the year tended to the disadvantage
of the jobber.
MISUNDERSTANDING YEAR.
Agricultural APPRENTICESHIP Lake
dealers in vehicles and farm machinery
announce that the year 1898 was a rec
ord-breaker for trade. which reached
the handsome aggregate of We and a
half millions. This was an increase or
fully One-third over any previous year.
Not only this, but the two successive
years of prosperity enjoyed by the far
mers have enabled them to liquidate
their old obligations, and collections
have been good. The implement trade
of Utah, southern Idaho and other ad-
jacent territory, is almost entirely in
the hands of Salt Lake houses. which
carry as full and complete lines as can
be found at any trade center. On the
whole, freight rates are satisfactory.
but there is some complaint as to dis
elimination by the Southern Pacific.
which works to the disadvantage Of
Salt Lake in Nevada.
Hardware.-Salt Lakes hardware
merchants now supply the trade OF
Utah, Idaho, southwestern Montana
western wyoming, eastern Oregon,
eastern Nevada and southwestern Colo
RADIO, and sold $1,500. 900 worth of goods
last year, at a low estimate. This was
an increase of fully one-third over the
previous year, but dealers believe the
trade could be doubled, were freight
rate conditions adjusted with a view to
Salt Lakes interests. Supplies for the
mines constitute a large share of the
hardware trade, but the bulk Of the
business comes from the retail mer-
chants. The chief competition comes
from Missouri river points, Chicago, ST.
Louis and St. Paul
Drugs.-Six years ago Salt Lakes
wholesale drug trade cut a small ngure
in the commercial world. Last year
four-fifths of the drugs and druggists
supplies sold in the territory tributary
to Salt Lake were sold in this city. the
volume of business reaching about
$500, 600. Freight rates are of small
consequence TO the druggist, and many
lines of the trade are sold as rheaUlv
in Salt Lake as at Chicago. Assay and
mill supplies form an important factor
in the wholesale drug trade. and there
is nothing required for the mine or
mill thai cannot be purchased at Salt
Lake. The cigar trade is also an I'M
portant side line, as indicated by the
sale of 226, 900 by one Salt Lake firm
last month.
Boots and Stockholders in this line
sold approximately $500. 900 worth of
goods last year, which was a very sub
s~tantial increase over the preceding
year. Still, dealers admit there is no
good reason why they should not cap
ture the whole trade, providing they
carry competitive stocks. They have
reached out into new territory during
the year, and probably owe a wider
field than any other line, and largely
with goods of Salt Lake manufacture.
in certain grades.