The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-08
OUTLOOK is BRIGHT
jFOR SEASON OF PROSPERITY IN
ALL LINES OF BUSINESS
SAY SAVANNAH MERCHANTS.
INCREASED BUSINESS WITH THE
OPENING OF THE FALL SEASON.

Travelling Men Report Increased
Placing Large Orders-Busincss
Throughout Entire State Is Also
in Good COnditiOn-Farmers Are
Enjoying the General Prosperity.
The prospects for a successful fall
and winter season in all lines of bust
ness in Savannah are exceedingly
bright and the merchants are juDilant
over the outlook. Yesterday most OF
the business houses were closed and
nearly every merchant had leisure to
talk over the outlook. All departments
of business report that the summer
season has been better than any that
they have experienced in years and
with the opening of September there
are indications of an increase.
At the hotels are numbers of COM
mercial travellers, men here in the in
terests of manufacturers and producers
of nearly all classes of articles. A
chat with several of them showed
that their business is in excess of
any they have been doing at this sea-
son of the year and there are indica-
tions that several large orders will be
placed within a few days. One hotel clerk
compared the register of September
last year with that this month. There
are nearly half again as many COM
mercial travellers in the city now as
then.
One travelling man who has been do
ing business with Savannah merchants
for the last thirteen years, said, he
had accomplished more during his pres
ent visit to the city than in any two
visits last year. Every merchant he
said is ready with orders for goods.
The outlook for fall trade he said has
never been better.
Prosperity Not Limited to One Line.
The prosperity is general and mot
limited to one line or class of mer-
chants. Interviews with several COM
mercial men showed that all lines OF
business are brisk The merchant re-
ferred to said that in his meeting with
fellow travellers they had told him their
order books contained more ana larger
entries than for years.
The grocery firms have been placing
orders daily, their goods being contin-
ually in demand. The dry goods firms
are also expecting their fall and winter
stocks in within a short time and in
several cases the consignments have
already arrived. AS a result several
summer clearance sales are advertised
and more will probably be announced
ar The GurnlnG
summer stock must be disposed of to
make room for fall and winter goods.
The clothing stores have begun to
display fall and winter suitings. One
travelling man representing a large
New York clothing house said he had
received an order from one firm this
year which was exactly double that
which they had given him last year.
Every other line of business is in
creasing its orders and many of the
stores are making preparations to en-
large their force of clerks.
Plenty of Ready Money.
Merchants say they made more cash
sales during the summer than for years,
and the number Of customers who have
asked for time is less than it has ever
been. One grocery merchant reported
that in former years he has been kept
summer accounts and collecting ac-
counts. When he began the work this
year he found it considerably less than
it has been in former years. and there
was little or no trouble in getting in
what little money was out. This ipdi-
Gates that people generally have more
money this year than in former years.
The investments in real estate also
go to show that people have loose money
IN IAoe han n
tivity during the summer months In
the building line and many lots have
been sold. A steady demand has been
reported by all real estate dealers. One
dealer alone consummated the sale of
three lots last week. which aggregated
a price of $4,000, and a large part Of
this amount was paid in cash. The
terms given guarantee the remainder
in comparatively short time.
Houses have been going up rapidly,
especially in the southern section OF the
city, showing clearly that more people
are owning their own homes. Rents
have been active and one of the largest
renting firms reports that all
its energies have been re-
quired to secure available homes
for their clients. Besides the
building, which has been very general
and the demand for rents. there has
USeH HluCH ACTIVITY III lHe TSSlueltltl
portion of the city.
Prosperity Throughout the State.
The evidences of prosperity are not
confined to Savannah alone, but are
general throughout the state. Travel
ing men representing Savannah firms
have found little difficulty in placing
orders. Wherever they go they seem
to find healthy business condition,
and while there have been few I'M
usually large sales, there is a steady,
general demand that speaks for the
stability of the prosperous conditions
The majority of the larger towns, es-
pecially those in the southern port of
the state have been growing rapidly,
and there is considerable wealth repre-
sented among their merchants. The
greater part of this is coming steadily
to Savannah. the merchants finding
they can place their orders to better