The St. Louis Republic., 1901-11-22

Q the logical result Of the untiring ef- .
O forts made by St. Louis merchants in .
. years past. to place this city in its =
O proper place as the leading wholesale,
O jobbing and manufacturing CENTER .
Q Abe Friedman of Friedman Bros. =
. Shoe Company. Q
E< O o . q . . q . . . . . U
The close of the year 1901 promises 20
mark the end of a season of most uneXaIn-
Piled prosperity in all lines of trade IN SE
Louis. Reports from representatives OF
every wholesale and jobbing house In the
business district, and also from the depart
ment stores show that the volume OF busi-
ness transacted this year thus far has been
larger and heavier than in any previous
year in the history OF the city. All classes
of business are in a prosperous condiuon'
receipts of orders have been heavy, coliec-
tions unusually good and prompt, new ter
ritory has been invaded and added TO the
st. Louis market, and taken as whole
the condition of trade Is healthy and the
outlook for the coming year was never sur
passed.
Many causes are advanced by local mer-
chants for this gratifying condition. First
the fact that the years crops, despite the
drought of last summer, have exceeded lhe
gloomy expectations Of last summer, ana
have brought good prices. and in eonse-
uuence the farmers and planters have plenty
chandise Another cause is pointed out IN
the untiring and unceasing efforts of ST.
Louis merchants and manufacturers indl-
vidually and through their organizations, TO
build up St. Louis a commercial center
and spread her reputation as market Tor
honesty. integrity and reliability to the four
quarters of the globe. coupled with her pre-
vious reputation for lower prices and the
merit of her merchandise. With these
facts constantly paraded before the eyes of
.tasf Iva rf1fN'P
saIers and jobbers declare, the immense vol
,,me of business which has been directed
into this market the past year mas beeh
fairly earned and is the legitimate result
of legitimate business methods r.--
Jonathan Rice Sees Bright Outlook.
Jonathan Rice of Rice. Silk & Co declared
that the condition Of business was never
healthier. and that the outlook il rosy red.
"'Business was never better with us. he
said 'sI don't remember when / have OBJ
served trade in as generally healthy conGi-
tion as It has been this year. The people
throughout the country have been very
PROSPEROUS and are in a contented and hap
py frame of mind. which conduces largely
10 heavy and extensive purchases in every
line of trade. The crops have been Uniform
ly good throughout the territory we tap. ex-
cent in n few instances where the long
drought of last summer left its impression.
"Our business up to date has been largely
I'm excess of that of any previous year, and
we look confidently forward not only to a
continuation of the volume. but an in
crease in our spring trade. Collections are
unusually good, a feature which ts very
gratifying. as it is not always the case that
when business Is Increasing collections are
prompt. All together. we look 20 see the
end Of the year mark the close Of the most
prosperous season the city has ever en-
Joyed."
J. 8. GoodfeIIow's OptimIstic View.
is Goodfellow. president of the GoodfeI-
low Shoe Company, has optimistic views on
the condition of business. as he has reason
10 have.
"It has been a remarkable year for trade"
said he. Although weather conditions
have been unfavorable to our line for sew
eral weeks. our books show an increase OF
$4,000 for the month. When the seasonabIe
weather reaches us We anticipate 4 still
heavier rush of orders.
'The country is experiencing one of the
most prosperous seasons for many years.
The drought of last summer proves TO have
been pretty much Of a bugaboo. from ad-
vices we have received from all over our
territory. where the farmers and planters
have. except in few cases. had good crops
Ihere Is more money in the country to-day
than since the Civil War. and it is more
equally distributed. Naturally, when the
farmer and planter rejoice, the whole coun-
try shares in his good fortune and ST.
Louis. as the recognized commercial center
OF the mississippi Valley. is enjoying a
boom In all lines of trade. We Certainly ex-
pect the remainder of the year to continue
the record made thus far and the prospect
Tor still heavier business next year Is nm
Usually bright"
-. n. o"er never Saw Anything Like 1t
Julius a. Baer Of the Grandfather
paused moment TO look I'D from a mass
Of correspondence to observe:
Il rather think the tidal wave OF prosper
ity has not only arrived. but is threatening
10 overwhelm US. Business has never ap-
preached anything like the present volume
with u.s. Take a look around our denart.
ments and you Will be convinced that the
people have money to spend and are appar-
emily afraid they will never have another
chance 10 spend It. Our mall orders have
increased remarkably within the last
mcnth and our employees are working
brayeiy TO keep up with the orders. When
the increase in business comes next month
which it most certainly will. we will be
There Is no doubt that St Louis IS en-
5oying an unprecedented boom in business
and II am any prophet in such matters,
next years business will eclipse the record
Of this year. Everything indicates that
trade conditions were never healthier than
w. J. Walker of Ely & Walker said that
business with his firm had shown a remark
soie and healthy increase for the month
ana ne looked for q continuation of IL
throughout the remainder of the year and
the coming spring.
Our sales have been very gratifying thus
far. and the volume of business is much
heavier than last year. The tone of the
market is healthy, crops have been fairly
good throughout the country and the farm
ers and planters have money. Collections
are very good, and st. Louis is reaping the
benefit of the prosperous season. As a COM
mercial center of established and undoubted
reputation, she Is entitled TO the recognition
which is just now being bestowed upon her
by the merchants Of the vast territory trib-
ntary to this market"
st. Louis Hustling IL Responsible.
Abe Friedman OF Friedman Bros. Shoe
Company said: ''The remarkable increase
in the volume Of business. which we. in
company with other local concerns. are now
enjoying is the logical result Of the un-
firing efforts made by st. Louis merchants