Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-01
CONDITION OF OMAHESTRADE
Ali Kinds of seisonable Goods Moved Very
Freely Last Week.
JoBBtRS REPORT GAINS OVER LAST YEAR
General Tendency of Prices Decidedly
Upward and n Number of IMPORT
ant Have Re-
Gently Taken Eject.

! Ihere was n lively movement last week
of all seasonable lines of goods. The city
was fpli of buyers and as a general thing
their orders were very liberal. A good
rivals and as practically all of them bought
their stocks before leaving, the city job
bers naturally felt that they had made
new friends. Several large opening stocks
were also sold last week which helped ma
mess. Wholesalers and manufacturers in
all lines agree that spring trade so far this
year has been the best ever experienced
their expectations, which Is saying a good
deal when IL is remembered that II was
generally predicted that the spring demand
for 1908 would break all previous records.
A good trade is expected for this coming
week and in fact present Indications point
to a continued liberal demand throughout
the season.
Advance orders are also coming forward
in the season and with average crops Job
bers expect a big fall demand. They have
placed their orders with manufacturers as
though big crops were assured and they
are going to carry, larger and more com
Prices are still In a very firm position
on practically all kinds of goods. During
the week under review a number of inn
present indications point to firm markets
for some time to come. Manufacturers
goods they can turn out and in fact are
largely oversold, so that local jobbers are
still having a hard time to get prompt de-
liveries. Freight is also moving slowly
the same as It has been for some time
past so that there Is more or less delay
tailers have been caused no great inCon,
venience, but it remains to be seen how
the late buyers Will fare.
Another Advance in Sugar.
The grocery market is in a very strong
cidedly upward. The demand is very brisk
and local houses are working their full
Another advance of sc in the price of sugar
went into effect last week. This advance
covered The entire line. The demand is
strong market is looked for.
There has. been very little change since
There is, however. a little better demand
Tor corn and some sales have been made
that would necessitate an advance Of 5GI0c
per dozen in the selling price. The cnn-
nsrs ALMOST without exception have with
S wbsgn t theIr prices on future corn, and
are 5gTAc per dozen higher than the open
There is also a better demand for dried
fruits than there was a short time ago
but the market Is without material change
So i9r as rs quotations go: Some lines are
larly is that true of prunes. 1t is thought
that any great increase in the demand
The coffee market is stiii in a a very erSSe Strong
position pos stsd and prices on both green and
PREDICTION is being freely made that prices
VIII rule still higher in the future.
Swim AS ffeedicte a week ago, the market on
advance of 4 scales went into ere nv ,o "t
triday. Manufacturers are largely over
ders to be shipped at an earlier date than
the last week in March. Those who are
best posted on the situation say that mer-
chants cannot go wrong by placing their
orders at present prices.
Ell The Lenten demand for fish is now in
Ioll swing ana Jobbers say that II looks
as though the demand would be unusually
large There is a god supply. however,
Il is thought will be we'll cleaned up be-
fore the new catch comes on the market
considered. the best. There q has sob been mot not
ms'eTiaI change in prices during the week
The woodenware market is very strong
and In fact several advances have taken
euect since last report. Jobbers look for
are advising their friends to place their
orders at present quotations.
Lively Demand for Dry Goods.
Dry goods iobbers experienced a very
lively demand last week for all spring lines.
mere were fully as many buyers In the
CITY as at any former time this season and
as a result all hands were kept busy walt
ms upon the customers. The general Inn
preston, now is that the most Of the heavy
BUYERS nave placed their first orders and
that there Will be a little slackening in
brisk trade, though. is expected throughout
me season. for although merchants have
looked for in the country, which. If it ma
terializes, will soon reduce. merchants
~ y punt NltIG lnGN VIII nave 10
place additional orders.
This coming week jobbers intend to start
men men out with fail samples and from
the way merchants talk. statesmen expect
10 DO a good business from the first. The
scarcity OF many lines of fall goods and
the upward tendency of values will OF
course, make merchants buy earlier than
they would otherwise. They realize that
considerable higher prices and as none Of
them care to be caught short, travelling
tthheh nope 10 oreak All previous records n
the NUMBER OF advance orders rhaN urtR
take In the next few weeks.
The cotton goods market is still in a very
strong position and in fact there was quite
a boom last week and nearly all staple lines
were more or less affected. Those who are
for some time to come and are very con-
hdent that early buyers will make no mis-
take as everything points to higher prices
in Wire and Nails.
The only important change in the hard
ware market last week was an advance in
wire nails amounting TO l0c per cwt. This
was announced some time ago that there
would be several advances during the
are quoted as being in a strong position,
but there have been no changes of i'm
portance since last report.
Local Jobbsrs experienced a very nice de-
mand last week and say that spring bust
ness Is starting out in very promising man
for the next several months ana In fact
more stock is moving out than there was a
FSA o6o~ hGi u nu special ledIaTE 10
the trade, as the demand covers practically
the entire line Of seasonable goods.
Rubber Clothing in Demand
Rubber goods Jobbers report a brisk de-
mand for rubber clothing. as well as for
footwear. The rainy and sloppy weather Of
last week caused ali kinds of spring rubbers
10 sell freely in the country ana jobbers
also experienced a good demand. Whole
salers who handle clothing say that with
a normal spring they will sell more stock
this season than ever before. Macintoshes
that line of goods are becoming more
every year and as people have
plenty OF money this year. jobbers figure
hey will spend some Of IT for rubber cloth
There has been no change in the Situation
for fall rubbers. Travelling men are book
Ing a good many orders and so far as re
ported prices are being well maintained.
With no prospects Of any weakness. Whole
salers look for merchants 10 soon change
their tactics and begin ordering their fell
stocks freely.
The leather goods trade is also OF very
proportions. A good many
buyers are coming TO market and are plac-
ng very nice orders. They report the pros
oects for spring trade as being very hatter-
Fruits and PrOdace.