The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-15

nearly every class of interior manufacture
ing and 1obbing competing with eastern
concerns for the trade of the coast. The
furniture men believe that gradually rate
conditions will change so as to give this
market at least portion of the advantage
to which it is entitled by reason of it's
location: At the worst the situation is
far from discouraging and Minneapolis
travelling. men in the coast states will
gradually increase in number. 4S.
Minneapolis manufactures furniture for
the demand coming from the western
states, much of which is for the cheaper
grades. AS the northwest, the southwest
and the coast states develop and increase
their wealth, the amount of high-class
goods manufactured here will gradually
increase. This market has a customer in
the central northwest on which it can
always depend fora constantly increasing
trade. Each year will give it better
hold on the trade Of the southwest.
There is much reason for encouragement
over the prospects of this city as one of
the big furniture markets of the country.
Canadian Roads Caught Mapping.
Transportation facilities in the north
west are such that the average shipper
rarely has reason to complain with the
possible exception of during a certain.
period in the fall. Railway construction
the country and the machinery of business
has rarely been clogged by the inability
OF the producer to market his product.
Northwestern business men who have WIS.,
tied Canada recently see much in the way
OF contrast. At many points in Manitoba
ana Asslnlbo1a, farmers have really en-
dured much financial hardship on account
Of the inadequate transportation and ele--
vator facilities. Although the Canadian
Pacific has made temporary rate which
allows some. of the wheat surplus to move
over American lines, the congestion is
far from relieved Elevator companies
cannot buy the farmers product because
their bins are already full. Merchants
do not regard it as value received for
merchandise because there is much I'M
certainty as to when the purchaser can
realize cash on wheat and then there is
the trouble and expense of housing it.
Banks at many points in the wheat coun-
try refuse to lend money on. the farmers
grain, and wheat, regarded as good as
gold the world over, is in disgrace as
merchantable product in one part of the
country because its railroads were caught
mapping by the wonderful development of.
western Canada and it's bountiful yield.
1t is related where a farmer came into
Indian Head, Assiniboia, few days ago,
with a load Of wheat on which he wanted
to secure an advance of SIS in cash. After
making the rounds ~ of the elevators,
banks and stores he was forced to haul
which has not confronted the farmer on
this. side. of the, line. 1t would be less
frequent in Canada if American routes for
grain could be utilized more by the Ca
madam producer. ~
The Syndicate Buying Plan. Y.
Syndicate buying is making some prog
northwest Jobbers have discussed it
since inducements to enter various COM
blnes were first offered two years ago.
Retailers in some lines of merchandise
are ag1tatlng the plan, but among retail
erS 1T, meets with less enthusiasm than
among the jobbers.- Wholesalers in north
western states have had one illustration
where company with string of houses
has been able to secure certain lines of
goods at figures attractive enough to make
a strong card with the retail trade in
the hottest Of competition. Syndicate
buying has proved success where the
wholesalers forming the association have
kept strictly out Of each others territory
This has prompted the idea among some
of the twin city jobbers and also among
interior wholesalers that buying associa-
tions may increase within the next few
years. ~ II ..-, -. ..e..... -
In spite Of the urgent efforts Of secre-
taries of various trade associations to in
duce retail merchants to syndicate their
orders with the view of obtaining, "a lower
price than is possible by purchasing in
d1Vldually, no one familiar. with trade.
conditions in the northwest will maintain
That syndicate buying will make much
progress among the retailers for many
years to come. In the first place, many of
tho retailers Of the northwest are de-.
pendent upon the various Wholesale
houses for extended credits during GER
tain times of the year. This accommo-
datl0n means more to many merchants
when coupled with a reasonable interest
rate, than buying wire nails at one-quar-
ter OF cent per pound less than regular
price, or canned salmon at one-half cent
per can less than list. No wholesale
house is acting as banker for g.. retail
dealer unless 1t secures a respectable
portion Of his trade. The retailer knows
1t and bearing in mind that the lean years
may come and assistance over the thin
places be necessity, he ties to house
that he can depend upon in that partic-
ular, no matter how much the secretary
of his state association is theorizing on
what he could save if he Joined hands in
buying with his competitor up the street.
In some parts Of the northwest retailers
are independent enough to take up with
the new idea, but in large area retail
uOaAClS SSAeGdlly are .6uQ6dVOT10g TO DO
more business than their capital and local
conditions will warrant. Their main stay
is the wholesale house. Jobbers usually
have all of the money at, their command
that they need, and II there is anything
In forming associations to buy" in big
quantities. the northwestern jobber will
get to the bottom of it within aAfew years.
Lumber Across the Line.
In spite Of the duty, the northern Min
resota saw mill owners have been able
to invade Manitoba and Assinibofa for
lumber orders. zAs a rule this has been
done only when the trade on this side Of
the line was dull. The complaint Of the
lumbermen on the Canadian trade is that !
the Canadian buyer is slow pay The
contrast with the trade on the Missouri
river is great Collections from that
quarter are always clean cut and sure, |
The two sections present the usual con-
trast of the new country with the old |
settled and wealthy region Canadian |
dealers realize the need of assistance