Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
CONDITION OF ONAHAS TRADE
General Business Situation Greatly In
proved by Timely Rains,
MARKETS ARE FIRM, BUT FEW CHANGES
Cotton Goods Retain strength and a
Shortage in Many PopuIar Lines L.
Feared Because Of High
Price of Cotton.

The rains Of last week, which visited
practically all sections Of the country trtb-
very beneficial effect upon all Kinds OF
business, both wholesale and retail. There
were beginniSs rs s saf hSrvo3s before the
rains and specially was that true Of country
retailers. IL is stated that II great many OF
them wrote to their JUDbers telling them
that II they did not have rain within the
next few days they would cancel their
orders. but the rain came, so that none OF
the orders were Cancelled and now conf
dence In future business Is restored and
every one is looking forward to "A very
successful season. In fact, jobbers and
manufacturer in practically all lines re-
port their advance orders as being much
better than they were a year ago at this
time and also larger than they anticipated.
At once business is. of course, quiet IN a
this Is rather a between season period. In
a short time, however, IT is expected that
all directions ana II conditions remain
favorable local jobbers expect to do a big
So far as the markets are concerned
there have been almost no changes of Inn
portance during the week under, review.
position, but quotable changes are very
rare. There is a strong undertone to the
all Indications seem favorable for con-
tinued firm, active markets.
Sugar May Go Higher.
The sugar market is in very much the
same position 1t was a week ago. That is,
consumption is Increasing at a rapid rate
higher prices in the near future are being
held at the recent advance.
There has been no quotable change in
the coffee market since last report. but the
feeling Is weak and the prices of a week
ago are barely maintained.
In dried fruits, evaporated apples .ad-
vanced sharply and in fact II is claimed
that present prices are almost prohibitory.
This sharp advance has been brought
is thought that there will be no decline
until the new crop arrives on the market;
The market on rolled oats eased of the
first of the week somewhat, but toward
the close II firmed up so that the loss was
just about regained. Other lines of fart
position they were a week ago.
Pickles are beginning to attract con-
stocks are we'll cleaned UP and the market
has ADVANCED sharply. There seems to be
but what stiii higher prices will prevail
before the new crops appear.
There Is no change to report In the
canned goods situation, as all lines are
being held firm at the quotations of a week
ago.
In regard to the condition of trade local
grocery jobbers say there is a good, active
demand for practically all lines and that
the corresponding time Of last year.
House Trade Very Quiet.
IlpuEt dht was very quiet ldSl Wttht
with local dry goods jobbers and in fact
II was the dullest week Of the year to date.
SO far as current business was concerned.
Trade in fall goods, however, is progress
ing In very satisfactory manner and II is
stated in some quarters that as many
up to date as were sold last year up to
July 1. The distribution has extended to all
lines and includes blankets hannels, UNI
derwear, domets, duck-lined goods, hosiery
and dress goods.
According to authentic reports received
from the country retailers as a rule are
experiencing a very fair demand. The few
summer weather is close at hand, so that
people are making their purchases In spite
OF the fact that there has hardly been as
time. Jobbers are not looking for any
great amount o: recorder business this
month but they expect 1t to start In next
There are no changes in market condi-
their strength and It is feared there will
be a shortage OF many popular lines be-
fore the end OF the season. Mills do not
no inclination to make more than are ac-
tually sold because of the high price of
cotton.
Hardware Market steady.
All lines of hardware are in just about
There Is a good, firm feeling and all In
dlcations point to a continued firm, ac-
tive market. There are of course a few
minor fluctuations, but none of enough
Importance to be worthy of mention.
Trade is moving along at a very salts,
Guilty being experienced in getting season
able goods there is no special feature to
the trade. Screen doors, wire cloth, poul-
try, netting and all such lines are scarce
and Il Is not so much a question of price
as Il Is of getting the goods at any figure.
The demand for all seasonable lines has
been unusually heavy for the last several
days and the amount Of goods being
last year or OF any previous year.
Good Demand for Leather Goods.
Boot and shoe jobbers are also enjoy
ing a nice trade. Quite a few merchants
have been In the city and have placed
Trade in the country is not reported as
being exactly rushing, but at the same
the outlook for the future is very en-
oouraging The merchants who have been
the best OF spirits and Judging from the
size OF their orders they are preparing for
a good business through the spring and
low shoes will be sold this year than ever
before.
Fall orders are stil being received and
all the local houses report that they now
they had at this time last year. When it is
remembered that last year was a record.
breaker. It is seen that this years big In.
crease Is ali the more remarkable.
The rubber goods trade OF course II
very light. There have been several gooc
bring rubber goods into demand. Aboui
all Jobbers hope for now is that retailers
will sell out what stock they have on hand
30 they will be ready to buy new stocks
another season.
Fruits and
Trade with fruit jobbers has shown con
siderable improvement during the las
week. There has been a much better sup
ply of strawberries, as we'll as OF fresl
Vegetables, than at any previous tim,
this season. Although there was a liberia
demand prices took quite n drop, as viii
be seen from the quotations given In an
other column. The strawberries that ar
now coming forward are from norther Ar
kansas and are considered much bette
than the stock that was on the marke
c few days ago, The berries are now Il
good shipping condition aud are quote
at 325n3.6O per 24-Quart case.
The egg market was hardly as high OF
the average last week as IL was the weel
before, but that is perhaps due TO som
extent 20 the fact that the stock is Il
hardly as good condition. Poultry ha
been scarce all the week and prices hav
been co~rrespOndingly high. Butter ease
on 70 some extent, the hrst OF the week
but the feeling was a little hrmer towar
the close OF the week.
oMAHA WHOLESALE MARKETS