The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-23
LOCAL TRADE CONDITIONS.

Careful readers of the Sunday Journal
could not have failed TO notice the numer-
Gus evidences it contained of prosperity in
not only in the well-flled advertising col
umns, always a sure sign of enterprise and
activity in trade. but in the market reports.
the expressions of local stock brokers and
grain brokers and the interviews with mer-
chants. All of these pointed one way, and
that the way which business men like-the
way of general prosperity. large trade and
a bright outlook for the future. Interviews
with nearly score of our leading mer-
chants in different lines were unanimous in
saying that business during the present
year had broken all previous records and
that the prospect for continuance was ex-
cellent.
The spirit of these interviews appeared
in such expressions as "the business out
look was never so good as 1t is right now"
1.-The indications point to a splendid holiday
trade" business is in a better condition
than ever before;" trade generally has
been on a larger scale than last fall 1.-The
prospects are good for a larger holiday
trade than ever BEFORE" business condi-
tons in Indianapolis the entire fall have
been unusually good;" prospects for
large holiday trade could not be brighter"
business this year is far in excess of any
thing we have ever done:" there is no
question but that the holiday trade in In
dianapolis this year will be record-break-
err These and other similar expressions
were the keynote of all the interviews with
out dissenting voice. and they show that
the outlook for local business is unusually
good.
Probably there Is not, another State in
the Union the capital of which is so dis
tinctly the business, financial and CONNER
cial center OF the State as in Indiana. In
this State the capital is not only the po-
litical center, but the commercial metropo-
lis of the State. Indiana has many other
fine cities and towns. but the whole State
contributes to the growth of Indianapolis.
1t is the center of the railroad system and
is destined to be the center of the inter-
urban system, a sort of clearing house and
distributing point for the business activities
of the whole State. All roads lead to In
dianapolis, and the prosperity Of the State
contributes to that OF the capital The
discovery Of natural gas brought great
prosperity to the cities and towns in the
gas belt, and the discovery Of oil brought
into the State and great deal of wealth
to its citizens. Both discoveries contributed
materially to the prosperity of this city,
which is fast becoming one Of the money
centers of the West Our seven banks and
six trust companies are among the best
managed and safest institutions of the kind
anywhere. The reports of the banks printed
a few days ago showed aggregate resources
of $42,73 AL. The operations at the In
dianapolis clearing house for the current
year will exceed s45o,OoO,OOO.
The interviews in the Sunday Journal
showed that our wholesale merchants are
particularly pleased with the way trade
has kept up this year during what are gen.
orally dull months, while our retail mer-
chants note the growing demand for fine
and high-grade goods. Both Of these facts
are Indicative of general prosperity. and
they show that the city is drawing on a
larger territory for trade than ever before.
There is no reason why there should be any
dull months when country merchants are
all prospecting. When thousands of people
in cities and towns tributary to Indianapo-
lis are making money they want to buy
the best of everything. and they come here
to find it. They come by thousands on the
interurban lines every month in the year.
The costly goods and wares that adorn the
show windows Of our stores until people
wonder who buys them all are not sold to
Indianapolis purchasers alone. They are
bought by persons of wealth and taste from
| scores of neighboring cities that now have
hourly communication with the capital by
interurban cars. Thus 1t is literally true
that all roads lead to Indianapolis and the
| whole States prosperity Is hers.