Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-15
CONDITION OF OMAHA TRADE
VO'ume OF Business f,r the Week Larger
Than Anticipated.
COLLECTIONS RATHER DISAPPOINTING
Nalues on Most Lines are About the
Same as They Were IA week Ago,
but Stu the Tendency H. Up
ward aud Not Downward.

than was generally anticipated. The inn
preston was that practically all of the
large buyers had been on the market and
placed their orders, but from the heavy
bills that were sold last week IL Is evident
statesmen also met with good success ON ths
road and the mail orders came I'm freely, 81
that taklng the situation as a whole Job
bers say they have no cause for COMPLAINT
Future business is also i'm very ia STAG
tory condition. Travelling men arc on me
goods and so far have met with eN.er-
tonally good success for so early in me
season. With anything like an average crop
of small grain and corn every one Is CONT
dent that fall trade this year will be very
Collections at present are not as satisfac-
tory as they might be. That is owing 10 the
TACT that there is stu a very marked short
age or cars with which to move grain aud
other farm produce. Farmers consequently
have TO, ask for much credit at the hands
fall to discount their bills. but have 10 Sss
their jobbers for extensions. Tho situatious
as. yet is not what would be called exactly
difficulty is remedied disastrous effects ray
follow. The tendency. If course, ia FOR
farmers to keep down expenses unt! they
can move their crops and get some mon-y.
II the relief comes In time merchants will
not be Injured, but If farmers are short OF
money throughout the spring season trade
IN the country will be materially decreased.
Prices have not huctIated to any great
extent during the week under review. There
Is, however, the same firm tone to the trads
that has characterized the situation for
many lllOlAilS past. lnOSe VINO are In a
position TO know say that present pros
poets point to continued firm markets for
several months 70 come and that prices on
they will go lower.
sugar May Go Higher.
The sugar market is in practically the
same position II was a week ago so far as
quotations go. Raws are being firmly held,
however, and those well informed are Of the
opinion that the sugar market is in a very
strong position, with prospects favorable
for higher prices In the future. One of the
reasons given for looking for a higher sugar
several days ago, of the California &
Hawaii Sugar Refining company of
filming company. AS an Indication of the
effect that this sale will have on the market
that since the sale took place sugar has adj
vanced on the cost n cent. This advance
effects the price in all the territory from
Cheyenne west. This sale is also taken as
an indication of the fact that the sugar in
t%erests are constantly becoming more
closely allied, which means a more staple
market than has been experienced for many
years. Without these differences that rave
existed In the past refners will, Of course,
have a better opportunity of securing a
good margin of profit over and above the
cost of production, SO that the general opin-
In the future than it has in the, past.
There has not been much change In the
view except a little advance on New York
STATE CHEESE stocks are getting very light
and II Will be the middle of May before new
grass cheese will be on the market.
TIL situation in canned corn is very much
the same as It was a week ago. Rival can
sell future stock. In tomatoes, however,
there Is a slightly easier feeling. Baltimore
and Maryland Gamers are. offering futures
at slightly lower figures than they were a
week ago and in spot tomatoes there is
al Tbe SseiiSSsafnlSS f fSS gri fssli frs,t, D.. shown
some Improvement during the last few
days, but still stock is not moving very
rapidly.
The rice market is firm and unchanged.
The market on syrups is also very strong at
the advance recently reported. Factories
cepting orders subject to two or three
weeks delay. Jobbers are freely predict
taInly will come If the demand continues.
Cereals, soap and tobacco are all selling In
practically the same notches they were a
Good Demand for Dry Goods.
Omaha dry goods jobbers were very
amount OF stock they sold. They thought
that practically all of the heavy buyers
since found that they were mistaken. They
advices that several more will be here
this coming week. so they are looking for a
fairly good demand for another week or ten
bulk of the spring stun has been sold and
crease from this on. Wholesalers, however,
have no cause for complaint, as they have
DTOkSn all previous records IN the amount
OF goods sold, and in fact their trade so far
has been the best I'm every respect that they
have ever experienced.
Travelling statesmen are now on the road
with fall samples and are meeting with
good success. Merchants seem to be aware
of the fact that everything points to higher
prices in the future and as a resulc are
anxious to get under cover. Another reason
fear of a shortage in desirable lines. 4
great many of the dealers who have been
n the city recently buying spring goods
so as TO make sure of getting what they
want at the proper time.
There is no special market news this
week. as what has been previously reported
about the upward tendency of the cotton
goods market is still applicable. Every one
seems to be confdent that higher prices
Will rule on a number of staple lines.
Good Rubber Goods weather.
business last week. The combination OF
high water. snow and rain and mud, so
general IN the territory tributary to this
demand for rubber goods OF all kinds the
best experience, in a long time. Rubber
boots In particular have been In big de-
mand and in fact q number Of Omaha job
bers have sold out their entire stocks and
have telegraphed for more 20 be sent by ex-
press. Rubber clothing. particularly mack
intoshes. have been good sellers and iobbers
say that II the remainder Of the season. s
have no trouble In breaking all previous
The demand for leather goods is fully az
heavy as could be expected at this season,
The only complaint local houses have to
make is the slow delivery Of goods from
the factories. They say that at this time
last year they had a good many orders
filled that they are unable TO ship this sea-
son because they have not yet received the
goods. They are beginning to fear that
they will have considerable trouble from
this source all the season.
No Change I'm Hardware.
The hardware market is in practically thu
same position II was n week ago. There
OF course, been a few minor fuctua.
lions, but no changes worthy of mention
been reported. Trade, however. IN
spring lines Is starting out I'm very salts
factory manner and jobbers EXPECT to do a
rushing business from this time on. Indi-
cations are that there will be a good deal
of building and repairing out through the
country as we'll as in the towns, which will.
of course, create a big demand for hard
ware.
Fruits and Produce.
The demand for fruits and vegetables was
just about normal last week. Whenever the
weather warns up a little the demand for
green stun shows a marked Improvement.
The supply has been better of late than Il
was a short time ago, but as the demand Is
also increasing there has not been much re.
duction In prices.
The market on butter and poultry Is tust
about the same as II was a week ago, the
demand and supply apparently running
Just about even. The egg market has