Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-01

-
The year of 1902 has passed into history
as one of the most satisfactory years, taken
altogether, Omaha has ever experienced,
With one or two exceptions there has not
been a line Of industry or business which
has not shown a decided advance and these
exceptional cases have been due to ex-
traordinary conditions, which now promise
to change.
The retail trade Of the city has been in
jured to a considerable extent by the
Union Pacific strike, which prevailed dur
ing the last six months of the year, and
this strike also has had a bad effect upon
real estate, both as an investment and a
moving commodity, a rumber of former
residents of the city having moved from the
town, and the purchasing power of more
than 1000 men having been materially re-
duced. This has had to a certain extent
a reflex action upon the jobbing trade, but
the growth in other directions has reduced
this shortage to a point where 1t has had
little effect upon the business houses. as,
with one exception, every jobbing line OF
the city shows a paterial advance, the
general average app; cximating 20 per cent
increase over the year 1901, which was
the highest point reached previous to last
year.
With the exception OF the Union Pacific
strike there have been no serious troubles
between employers and employees In the
city and labor has been employed In all
of the trades more regularly and at a
higher average of wages than In any
previous year in the city's history. In
the building trades this has been true
to a degree, and although the value Of
building permits issued show a slight
reduction below last year this cannot be
taken as a positive evidence OF the rela-
tive condition Of affairs in the building
trades, as much Of the work that has been
done has been in the way Of improvements
and repairs which have not required q per-
nit to carry out.
Balance of Tree Turns.
One OF the nose satisfactory evidences
Of the city's gr3wth is the showing OF the
money order ranch OF the local postofice.
Here the difference between the receipts
and expenditure, that is, the money re-
cived for orders and that paid out upon
orders has been greater than ever before
in the city's history, the difference APP
proximating 81, 300, 900. showing that Omaha
is receiving from outside towns that much
more than it is sending abroad. In other
words, the balance OF trade has come
around until 1t is that much in favor Of
Omaha through the postoflce transactions.
and as these transactions generally repre-
sent completed business and transactions
in comparatively small amounts, 1t is safe
to conclude that this difference is positive
gain to the city, while bank balances may
be in the nature Of speculative money sent
here for investment.
with the bankers Of the city the year has
been eminently satisfactory. While there
has been a shortage OF money in New
York and a corresponding st%ringSncy in
other centers Omaha bankers have had no
shortage. The deposits have been reduced
somewhat on the whole and the loans and
discounts reduced. but the reserve is higher
than 1t was last year and the demand for
money is healthy, the demand being easily
met at rates but slightly In advance OF this
time last year.
As shown by Debts.
The tendency OF the year is shown by the
record of real estate mortgages filed and
released. There were filed this year mort
cages amounting to $3.03s. 275, an increase
over 1901 OF approximately $500, 900. while
the mortgages released show a decrease
from last year Of approximately $4lO, 900.
This does not indicate that the people had
less power to reduce debts. but that they
felt that the investment of the money il
better than paying the debt. This 10 shown
by the fact that with the relative showing
compared with last year. the actual debts
Of the community. in the form Of real es-
tate mortgages. were reduced by about
$3.50 900.
The real estate transfers, in spite Of what
has been considered a slow market, show
a small increase over last year on ordinary
business, but a large increase in the aggre-
gate. caused by the transfer Of the property
Of the Omaha Street Railway company. rep.
resenting $40, OOO. 900. In the last month o.
the year. Leaving out this transfer. which
was a practical reorganization movement
the increase over last year is approximately
$500. 900. or about 4 per cent over the tota
OF last year, which is something not antiei
pated by the dealers. who expected 70 see
slight reduction In the volume Of business
as there was considerable activity in rea
estate circles early in 1901. which was no.
repeated last year.