Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-11
CONDITION OF OMAHASTRADE
Jobbers and Manufacturer Now DevOting
Their Time to Spring Business.
EARLY BUYERS BEGINNING TO ARRIVE
Prices on Most Lines About the same
rs They Were a week Ago, but
sugar Advanced Ten TO
Fifteen Points.

Omaha jobbers and manufacturers arc
d~evotlng practically all of their attention
to spring business. A few small orders Tor
winter lines occasionally arrive, but they
are of minor Importance as compared with
the advance orders for spring lines. Buy
market. so there is more activity to the
trade than has been noted In several weeks,
on January Is the transportation bureau
thought that the number OF. visiting mer-
chants from that time on Will increase az
a rapid rate. Retailers In the territory
tributary to Omaha are now posted on the
conditions necessary for their receiving free
transportation to Omaha and return anu
OF the opportunity offered % visit their
home market. Everyone seems to feel
is going to be unusually large and that 1t
will come earlier than ever before. job
bers have been predicting that for some
time past and as a result their stocks are
larger and more complete than they were
a year ago. In fact, a good many lines OF
Omaha before are now ready for dis
tribution. There are, in fact, very few
thst c ca sotp be n SoSsht OF Omaha io6Sers.
So far as the markets are concerned
there is not much news to report this week.
they were a week ago. but as a general
thing it may be said that the tendency is
upward. rather than downward. in view OF
the large consumption predicted for the
future. Those who are best posted on
general conditions say with a good deal
Va EAAh AAAaN AANAN ~ - 1-o -
buying their supplies at present prices.
Sugar Up 10 to 10 Points.
One of the most important market
changes during the week under review was
points. The bean market is also quoted a
little higher than 1t was a week ago I'm
Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as on the
coast. The market may be quoted as strong
at the advance, and higher prices in the
future are looked for.
The cheese market is also steadily FIRM
ing up and stocks of October made goods
are now exceptionally light. 1t is claimed
that. there is not to exceed 40 per cent as
much on hand as there was a year ago
at this time The advance during the
week on fancy marks ranges from 4Rc to
&c.
In the line of dried fruits there has not
been much change, with the exception of
fancy California peaches and pears, which
are. quoted a little higher. and stocks OF
desirable goods are very hard to obtain. A
good deal of interest is now being taken
In canned corn. The wise ones predict
higher prices for the future. as stocks are
practically out of first hands and goods
Of extra quality q premium m csr
market more carefully than of late. Lent
commences February % and jobbers are
fact that the early buyers will secure the.
best selections of mackerel, salmon, her
LIS ara eDS ~ preSictadd fnE he near
future, as stocks are not large and the
demand is expected to be unusually brisk.
Spring Business Now Under Way.
Dry goods jobbers report spring BUSINESS
as opening In very satisfactory manner.
Several large buyers arrived last week and
placed very nice orders and still more are
expected this coming week. After the mid
die of the month, when the transportation
bureau will open, Jobbers expect trade to
begin In earnest. Travelling statesmen report
lions for visiting Omaha in the next few
weeks. Not only that, but new merchants,
nave expressed their intention of Coming
here this season to Investigate the mar
ket. Every year Omaha tobbers get a
this city and they say the tendency is
more noticeable than ever before for mer-
chants to buy at their nearest market.
and in that way they do not have to lay in
more frequently and keep their lines
strictly up to date. The effect of that, of
market gets the bulk of the business in its
own territory.
In speaking Of the general situation, a
ers this season will get by far the best
assortment Of goods. An enormous spring
demand has gone far ahead of expectations.
The advance orders that were taken be-
fore the holidays were so far beyond ali
calculations that many lines of goods have
already been sold up. In some cases more
OF the same kind Of goods can be secured
and in others manufacturer are unable to
I'LL the orders. If business keeps up at
the rate it has commenced the late buyers
Will nave n 6mhll dSSOElulGul ~ CHOOSb
from, as compared with those who come
early.
fluctuations during the last several days:
Prices are firm all along the line, as would
naturally be expected when the outlook
for business is as favorable as at the
present time. When manufacturers find
a ready market for all the goods they can
turn out they are not likely to cut Prices.
Rubber Prices Good and Firm.
The situation in rubber goods has taken
a much mora fQVnrahla fnrn than tho out
look a week ago promised. The way things
look now merchants will buy their goods at
year. AS mentioned a week ago, some
prices have been marked W a little, while
are Of minor Importance The feature fee IHat that
worried the trade was the announcement
that prices would be unrestricted so far
which simply meant a demoralized MARI
ket. that would work injury on both whole
salers and retailers. Local JobbeFs now
state. however. that distributors will hold
prices stationary, the same as mPnufactur-
ers have done in the past and tnat every
price as his neighbor. Wholesalers are
very confident that there will be no devia-
are safe in placing their orders In the
same way they have done in the past. In
bers are doing il Instead Of manufacturers,
In leather goods there is no particular
change from a week ago. Travelling men
are taking spring orders and are meeting
with as good success as could be ex-
pected at this time OF the year. Every
thing at present seems to point to a very
season.
Hardware Remains Unchanged.
Hardware jobbers are not being exactly
rushed with orders, but still business Is
better than usual in January. Reports
indicate that there will be a good deal OF
building as soon as spring arrives, both
in the country and in the towns. That will.
of course, make a brisk demand for build
ers' hardware and tools.
The outlook for other lines Is equally
good, 50 that Wholesalers are confident
they will enjoy a very liberal patronage.
There is no market news to report. A
practically all lines are in the same posi-
don they were a week ago. The tendency.
however. OF the market is toward hrmer
prices.
Fruits and Produce.
The demand for fruits and vegetables has
been OF limited proportions during the
week. Merchants evidently have not re-
covered from the dullness following the
holiday rush. An Improvement. however.
Is looked for this week. The market has
also been featureless. prac 4cally ali lines
being quoted the same as they were a week
ago.
The receipts of poultry have been light
all the week and so also has the demand.
so that prices are about steady. The sun,
ply OF fresh eggs has been short and tbe
market Is good and firm. The butter mar
ket u quoted about the same as IL was "A
week ago, but the feeling seems to be a