Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-22
Unprecedented Conditions Report
ed by Country Dealers.
BIG DEMANDS MADE FOR GOODS
What Iowa Merchants Say of Their
Localittes-Brlght Prospect for Elk.
cellent Crops and Busy Fac.
sorics the Coming Season.

Chicago, Feb. 21-Marvelous prosper
ity and activity in every line of finan-
cial, mercantile and agricultural indus
try is shown by official reports fled
during the last few days by country
merchants all over the northwestern
states with Secretary c. S. Tomlinson,
of the National Association Of AIer-
chants and Travellers. Spring trade
is opening, and the country dealers,
taking advantage of excursion rates,
are flocking into Chicago to do their
spring buying. They it is who nave
brought proof positive that the north
west is experiencing reign of pros
perity such as has not been known for
many years.
Visiting merchants report that trade
prospects for the coming spring are en-
ceedingly bright. They report pros
perity to have visited the northwestern
states that has started the factories
running night and day; that has pro-
vided plenty of money; that has given
the farmers excellent prices for crops,
and that has again opened the copper
and coal mines ana even the stone
quarries. Besides the activity pre-
duced in all lines OF industrial en-
deavor, the merchants report that
owing to the fact that the farmers
have more money than formerly they
are demanding better goods, and
merchants are buying with this fact in
view.
Testify of Great Prosperity.
| "There can be no Doubt" said Sec
rotary Tomlinson, ''as to the prosperity
of the northwest this year. To your list
of interviews could add host of 9TH
ers telling the same story. The couE-
try merchants are in town to give their
orders for spring supplies, and the
quantity and quality of goods Or
dered as criterion of conditions IN
the middle and northwestern states"
Here are few Of the sentiments eN-
pressed by Iowa merchants in town to
do their spring trading:
ii. Oransky, Baskerville, Ia.-Farm-
ers here have plenty of grain yet to be
sold, and the good prices they will OBJ
tain makes the business outlook very
good.
f. E. Roberts, Newton, Iowa-Wc
have fiue crop of corn stored at pres
ent, while manufactures in other Sec
lions of the state are thriving. Labor
is well employed at good wages.
| Max Loeb, Abba, Iowa-The mines Mt
Abba are working full time and coal is
bringing good prices. Business will be
good this ring.
NIL. Ware. Coggon, lathe stock
| is in excellent condition and is bring
| ing good prices. Shoe manufacturers
are busy, and our January trade has
been good considering the weather.
Prospects are the brightest.
= NUor,
j. NJ. Lowry, Seymour, Iowa-People
in our community have more money
and are showing disposition to buy.
better goods than ever before.
NJ. T.. Ware, Coggon, Iowa-People
and dairy industries in our section If
the state are prospecting, while good
prices prevail. A good spring trade is
anticipated.
A. B. Siegele, afuscatine, Iowa-'rne
lumber industry of this section is pros
porous, while the button factories are
doing all they can to fill rush orders.
Prospects and present conditions are
excellent.
r. L. Swan, Independence, Iowa-The
canning factories of this part OF The
state are running to the limit. Stock
is in good condition and all prospects
are DTlSnI.
AS the number OF country merchants
in the city is swelled by every train
which arrives, such reports as those
given are verified over and over again.
Not pessimistic note is heard from
the merchants, and as they have come
to the city to supply their fellow citi-
zens in the western states, the mer-
chants may be taken as truly trade
barometers which indicate almost to
a nicely, the industrial, agricultural
and financial condition in their home
cities. Similar reports are being
brought from the southwestern states.
From Colorado comes reports OF ac-
tivity in mining, while even from She
southern states bordering on Mexico
reports have reached Secretary Tom
inson of similar conditions in the stock
industry.