The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-26
RECORD BREAKER.
Holiday Trade Put Merchants
in Good HumOr.
All Report Increased Trade
Over Last Year.

The holiday business season of 1902
stands as the record for the period of
largest sales by the merchants OF this
town. There was not a dissenting voice
among the business men Of whom In
quiries were made this morning in re-
gard to the business transacted by them
during the four days previous to Christ
mas day. AS they inspected depleted
stocks, all agreed that this years trade
had outdone anything in the past
Different reasons were assigned by diff
ferent men for the unusual increase.
Some attributed their individual pros
perity to the fact that their stores had
been longer before the public, that the
people were getting better acquainted
with them. Others said there was more
money in everybody's pockets, and ah
agreed that the present year has been
kind to people in every sort of occupa
ton. But one merchant was seen who
said he did not notice that he had done
a larger business. He said his sales
compared we'll with those of last year.
w. w. Mills. of the Mills Dry Goods
store, said this morning:
From diamonds to toys, 1 think every
merchant in town did rustling busi-
ness. 1t has been a good year, and l
think our store about doubled its sales
over those of last Christmas"
Anton Demuth, Of the Cash Dry Goods
store, was of the same o3inion. Our
business exceeded our utmost expectl-
tions, | am very sure There were four
days of the shopping rush this year
against three days last year, as Christ
mas came day earlier. But in proper
ton am sure that each day of this
years shopping was better than those OF
last
Mr. Mills. of the firm of Emahizer 8
Mills, replied to the inquiries of the re-
porter:
I'VE were not in business here a yeal
ago and can make no comparison with
last years sales. but its size was con-
sidera BILE of a surprise and it seems TO
De holding on. Our store had to work
part of Christmas day getting out orders
that we could not deliver sooner"
d. p. Paxton. of the Model Supply
store. said:
Our week has been a very satisfac-
tory one. The farmers seem to be well
supplied with money and all the other
classes of customers bought heavily.
The run was on no particular class OF
goods but on all"
]. T. Maxwell of w. NJ. Crosby's store
stated that he was unable to give an ac>
curate comparison of this years Christ
mas sales with those of last year. Mr..
! Crosby himself stated during the rush
| that trade was heavier than it had ever
| been before in his recollection.
w. T. Crosby of the firm of Crosby
Brothers stated:
I'VE now have an extra force check
ing up our charge sales which we did
not try to keep recorded while the rust,
was on. The cash sales have been un-
expectedly large and think ou1
charges will exceed anything in the
past. Business has been so much bet
ter than in the past that we hardly
know yet where we are"
Among the hardware and toy men
things appeared to have gone equally
we'll and empty shelves show that the
rush of Christmas shoppers has beer
buying as freely as the store keepers
anticipated Smaller stocks will be car
ried over than is usual among the stores
which meet the holiday trade.
w. NJ. Thompson of Thompson Broth
ers: I'VE have every reason to be-
proud of the holiday business. It equals
/ the largest year we ever had and we are
feeling well satisfied
Ralph Moore of the Hall Stationery
! company: Our Christmas trade was
something enormous. 1 estimate that
| it was twice as large as il was last yeal
| though conditions are different and our
| facilities have been greatly improved
NJ. L. Zercher said: "A week ago
| made an estimate of the business 1 ex-
| pected to do during the Christmas rush
but I find that it was away too small
| I think the increase in sales was not 81
much due to increased general prosper
| ity rs to the ability to handle the Gus
toners. In our store our help is more
experienced than it was a year ago, anc
that fact has considerable to do Will
results in trade"