Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-07
CONDITION OF OMAHA'S TRADE
Last Weeks Cold Wave Brought Heavy
Goods Into Big Demand.
SHORTAGE IN NEW CROP OF RAW SUGAR
With Anything Like n Normal win
ter Jobbers Expect TO DO n Lively
Record Business from
This Time On.

AaHI NNth II .Lut utIudiu IOI III AlluE Va
seasonable goods. Jobbers have been say
Ing all along that what they needed was
a real touch Of winter weather, and the
way the rush orders came In last week
from all directions by telephone, telegraph
and mall would indicate that their predtc-
clothing and footwear felt the Improvement
perhaps more than wholesalers In other
lines, but still groceries, hardware and
everything coming under the head OF
seasonable goods WAS In better demand
than has been the case for some time past.
country, retailers had about all the trade
they could take care of. Up to last week
farmers were so busy with their tall work
that they scarcely took time to go TO town
and as a result retailers shelves remained
full. The demand last week, however, went
a long way toward breaking stocks and 1t
is thought that trade from this time on will
be very brisk.
Some complaints have been heard about
the condition of collections. The situation
has not been at all serious. but II has been
noticed that a good many merchants nave
been much slower about meeting their bills
than expected. A great Improvement Is
looked for in the near future, as merchants
are reducing their stocks at a rapid. rate.
Present indications are that jobbers' losses
this season from. poor accounts VIII De
unusually small, for while merchants may
have been a little slow so far, wholesalers
the front In good shape from this time on.
The markets still remain very hrm' with
the tendency of prices upward on a good
many lines of goods. Values seem to be ON
q good, firm basis, with no prospect OF
there nelnR any important ItuuCllOlib AOl
some time to come.
Sugar May Go Higher.
The sugar market showed considerable
ing to nc, affecting the entire line, is re-
ported. Raws are also higher in both New
vances are looked for. Another strong bull
feature is the report to the effect that the
visible supply of sugar throughout the
world is being reduced at a rapid rate and
that the 1902 crop of raws is 1,231,OCO tons
less than the 1901 crop. Taking these con-
dict that considerable higher prices will
prevail In the near future.
The cheese market was also strong and
active last week and an advance of A41zc
took place. October made goods are now
very scarce In first hands and at the same
time the export trade is increasing rapidly,
so that still higher prices at any time would
cause no surprise.
In the line of canned goods there have
been no very radical changes since last
report. Corn continues in a very strong
position, but tomatoes are possibly a little
concerned. High grade standards, how
ever, are not in abundant supply and are
being bought, up as fast as offered at
prices a shade under the market. Peas
are getting stronger every day and 1t Is
now estimated that the pool has obtained
control Of 50 or 30 per cent OF the peas out
side Of tobbers' hands, and consequently
the market is in a very strong position,
Further reports from California indicate
that many lines of canned goods, and espe-
cially apricots and cherries. are In very
light supply, with gallon a%pricots almost
It is still very dlficult to secure dried
fruits from the coast and so long as that
is the case jobbers say that outside prices
however, ave been reported on raisins oil
other California fruits.
The market on currants is slightly easier
than 1t was a week ago. Evaporated ap
Piles are also a little lower, as contracts
are pretty well cleaned up and the surplu,
stock Is now coming on the market, so tina
prices eased OF about sc per Id. on al
grades. The market on evaporated rasp'
berries though is a little stronger and ar
advance of %o was reported last week.
Rice continues to advance and every
thing in the way of strictly frst-class good'
is selling quickly at full prices. The recen
rains in the south have done so much dam
age that early estimates of the crop will
damaged goods will probably be sold to tn,
export trade.
The bean market held steady last weel
increased consumption is looked for anC
an advancing market.
Dry Goods in Better Demand.
The cold weather Of last week created
much heavier demand for winter weigh
goods than has been experienced in som
little time. Duplicate and hlhng-in order
arrived from all quarters and iObbeTs ha,
about all they could do to get the goods on
on time, Owing to the big rush of las
week, wholesalers naturally look for a con
tInued brisk demand throughout the winter
provided there is the usual amount of coll
Travelling men are still meeting with goo
success on the road In landing sprin
orders and there Is now no doubt but wha
more advance orders Will be taken thi
year than ever. before.
There is very little to be said regardin
the condition Of the market. as prices ar
in Just about the same position they wer
a week ago; As the season advances whole
salers ind II more and more difficult to &c
duplicate orders on popular lines Of good
and as a result retailers who come bac
for more supplies quite frequently NEE
with disappointment.
Big Movement of Holiday Goods.
Hardware jobbers reported an enormou
demand last week for slelghs and skates
Part of that was, of course, due to tn
SION anu coo 30 Wea'her, Dut oesiaes tns
day trade, so that jobbers had a busy tim
filling their orders. Other lines Of holida
goods handled by hardware jobbers weT
also In better demand than usual. Tt
trade In hardware though was not limitr
to holiday goods, for the cold weather mad
There were no changes in quotations lai
week that were worthy of mention. Price
been for some time past.
Genuine Rubber weather.
Last week Omaha rubber goods jobbel
had the heaviest run Of trade that the
have experienced in several months.
mot nearly as heavy as was general
thought, so chat the cold weather and sno
OF last week practically exhausted q
ahEkAI ~ NAN &ohAANA Va y A1AN Ro1
and that class OF goods. Rush orders can
In from all directions and II kept jobbe
working overtime TO get the goods shipp'
promptly.
There was also a good demand for leath
goods, as people who were not well sui
piled with heavy weight shoes could n
longe postpone buying. The orders tn
arrived were not very heavy, but thu
were numerous.
Fruits and
It was a little dangerous TO make shi
ments of fruits last week. so that no We
great quantity moved out OF Omaha. The
was. however. a big demand for vegetable
Prices have not changed materially, wi
the exception of potatoes, which adyanc
to Soc per blu. The prices at which q
different lines OF both fruits and vegetabl
are selling will be found in another colum
There was not a very heavy demand I
poultry last week, but with the excepti
OF turkeys prices held about steady. Tt
keys, however, were very slow and I
outside price for dressed stock was abo
lic, with culls selling down 10 lie. T
general prediction among commission m
Is that turkeys for Christmas will be fu
as scarce as they were at Thanksgiving a
that prices will rule as high II not higher
The egg market hrmed up a little. owl
70 light receipts and a fairly liberal Z
mand. The butter mark Z was also We
firm, with the tendency OF prices upward
WEARE COMMISSION COMPANY.