Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-15
CONDITION OF OMAHA'S TRADE
Shortage of Freight Cars Causing Some
Uneasiness Amcng Jo5ters.
PRICES FIRM, WITH UPWARD TENDENCY
Outlook for Future business in All
Lines Considered Very Favorable
and Jobbers Expect 60 Break
All Previous Records.

The only disturbing element in the trade
situation In this locality seems to be the
sloie Tor farmers to move their grain and
other farm products. The effect of that. OF
course, is to make money scarce In the
country, reduce the volume OF business To
some extent al retard collections. The
situation, however Is not looked upon az
at all serious. for the fact is pointed OUT
that farmers have the produce to sell ana
Just as soon as the shortage of cars is
relieved the money Will begin flowing into
the hands OF farmers ana from there to
the retailer and back to the iobber and
manufacturer. The outlook for future busL
ness as a result is very encouraging and
every one seems to feel confident that
spring trade is going to break all previous
to get the goods with which to all orders,
owing to the greatly oversold condition OF
the markets and also because of the con.
gested condition OF the railroads, which
make shipments from the east very slow
IN arriving.
The markets as a whole are I'm very much
the same condition they were a week ago.
There have been some fluctuations II
prices back and forth, but as a general
thing values are being well maintained.
with the tendency upward rather than
downward. Owing TO the big consumption
Of all staple lines that is expected for the
next several months, those best posted
predict very strong markets for some time
to come.
Sugar and Coffee n Little Higher.
In the line of groceries prices are very
nrm, with the consumptive demand eXcep-
siohaIly eon heaVy Tor this season OF the year,
ana several lines are quoted higher than
they were a week ago. The market on
rehnedt sugar has not changed far as
quotations 60 but raws have been marked
up one-sixteenth of "A cent with every in
dtcation for still higher prices in the
future. Another advance in raws wou,d
cause an advance in refined grades and as
| ,ne London market is quoted strong, higher
prices on refined are looked for a most any
now at hand, which wfll Increase consump-
tion.
strong position, with prices advancing.
Both Arbuckles and Lyons have advarceI
prices on roasted coffee one-half cent per
pound owing to corresponding advances in
green coffee. 1t Is reported that receipts
IN Brazil have fallen OF very materially
| coffee was reduced half a million bags dur
ing the month of January. Those who are
In position to know look for SIN higher
likewise taken an upward jump and China
teas are quoted all the way from &c to 5c
| per pound higher than they were a week
ago 1t seems that there is no tea in the
country except last years crop. as every
BODY. from the importer to the retailer,
| airy l. at which time the government tax
was reduced AS result stocks of teas
are lighter than they have been before in
good many years
The cheese market is in a very strong
| position, with advances eportcd on tricks
Iimburger and Swiss. Ociober-msde Young
Americas are exceeding scare and hard 10
obtain at any figure.
Iotdus are a ullle easier again and prices
| range 5q7lzc per bushel lower than a week
ago.
In the line OF canned goods there is not
much new TO be said except that the mar
ket on future corn is in very strong posi-
ton. II is claimed that seed corn is very
scarce and for that reason the new cron
Will be materially reduced. During the
week under review the market has ad-
vanced Phase per dozen.
The rice market is still in a very strong
position and prices have advanced NC. The
high grades are becoming more scarce every
week, so that the outlook for continued
strong prices is very favorable.
House Trade Active.
House trade with Omaha dry goods lob
any time far this season. In fact at
no former time has February house trade
been as heavy as during last week Mer-
chants arrived from all directions, and as
tney are hguring on good brisk demand
for sprng lines their orders were naturally
unusually large. According to advices re-
ceived. this week will be fully as lively
as last week. so that jobbers expect to do
rushing business.
Omaha wholesalers are doing consider
able complaining about the difficulty they
are having In getting popular lines of goods
from the manufacturers, owing to the fact
that most lines are largely oversold This
applies not only to patterned fabrics but
also TO plain goods. Brown cottons OF GER
tain grades are also I'm short supply, and
1t is said that sales for export during the
last thirty days have exceeded 100000 bales
of sheetings The result has been an ad-
vance In both brown and beached goods
and still higher prices are looked for In
addition to the export business the home
demand has been very large up TO the
present time so that jobbers say that early
buyers will make no mistake in supplying
carry them through the spring. The ac-
ttvity extends to all departments. includ-
ing dreSs goSHS, %aSn goods white goods
Owing to the general healthy condition OF
business throughout the country conserva-
tive Jobbers feel themselves justified in
predicting a continuance of a liberal de-
mand for some time to come.
Hardware a Little QuIet.
The hardware market was not very brisk
last week. but still the volume OF business
was about as large as could be expected
rather of the opinion that the shortage OF
cars mentioned above is having bad
ers use the big bulk of the hardware. and
they are not doing very much buying Just
at this time; This situation. however, is
very short time spring business will
doubtless show a big Improvement
So tar as the general market situation
is concerned. there is nothing OF much In
terest 10 report, as all lines are in prac-
tieally the same position they were a week
ago, and so far known no important
changes will take place in the near future.
The feeling seems to be good and Arm all
along the line
Good Demand for spring Rubbers.
The soft weather of the early part of
last week created a very lively demand
for rubber boots and sandals. The snow
went on so quickly that IL was almost inn
possible for people TO so out OF doors with
ing business Jobbers felt the effect 70
some extent, but most merchants had so
much stock on hand that they did not have
to order a new supply.
The situation has not changed since last
report in regard 20 future business. Mer-
chants are beginning to place their orders
to quite an extent, but there Is still more
tendency for them to hold their orders
back That is the case every year, how
pronounced this season than In former
years
Leather goods Jobbers are doing a very
nice business, as retailers are beginning TO
get anxious 10 place their orders FOR spring
lines, 30 as to make sure OF getting them
on time. In very short time jobbers look
for quite an increase in sales.
Fruits and Produce.
There was a good, brisk demand last
week for fruits and vegetables. Apples in
particular sold freely. Jobbers report their
stocks quite liberal and In a position TO
NIL all orders promptly Prices have not
changed materially during the week
Oranges were also In better demand than
they have been for some little time past
Green stun Is coming on the market more
freely and the demand for II is Increasing
different lines are selling will be found i'm
another column.
The receipts of eggs were very liberal ali
last week ana as a result prices took quite
a drop Poultry on the other hand was in
light receipt ana as the demand was quite