Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-09
CONDITION |OFOMAHASTRADE
Volume Of Business Last Week Rather
Light Owing to the Storm.
SUGAR MARKET A TRIFLE LOWER
now Movement Of Farm odu Said
60 he He%tardinE collections 60
auite an Extent. but No seri-
Gus trouble f. Expected.
OMAHA. Feb. :

Unfavorable weather last week caused
both wholeGale and retail trade to slacken
all f bFsnches' but 5att' taking G9 into consideTatl0 IN
taken out OF the week the total volume Of
sales was fully as large as could be ex-
sSe eGSeIf ne f Gnei it hi is expected that uTt'Itfh the dHes-
hciency OF last week Will be more than
made up this week; Adyicee from the
Der OF merchants will be in the city this
week and that large orders for spring lines
will be placed. Special railroad rates Will
be in force, which always brings a crowd
of buyers.
situation seems to be the slow movement
Of farm produce. Very little grain IL being
shipped out Of the country and as a result
money. That has a tendency TO cut down
the volume Of retail trade out through the
country and also TO retard collections rms
no viewer, is only a temporary condition ana
within a very short time II is thought
grain will be moving eastward at a rapid
rate and that collections will show a big
Improvement. The outlook for the tutute ~
considered very encouraging and Jobbers
spring trade that has ever been expert
snced and. unless there. should be a crop
Aailure fall business will also be a record
The markets have not huctuated to any
been very few auotable changes worthy of
mention. Prices are firm all along the line
facturers. That is partly due to freight
congestion, but more especially to the fact
that manufacturers have more orders than
they can hll.
Sugar Market n Little Lower.
The grocery market as a whole may be
said to be In a very strong position, but
this is the season of the year When the
consumption Of sugar shows a marked de-
crease This year is no exception to the
general rule, and as a result prices nave
eased OF a little. The decline for the week
are also lower. Several Of the New York
refneries have closed down for the annual
clean up.
The bean market is also a little easier
and may be quoted. 5Q7lsc lower than a
week ago. The cold snap, however, may
have a tendency to advance prices.
The cheese market Is very firm and fancy
October made goods are rapidly growing
Trade in canned goods was rather
limited last week, as buyers only bought in
small quantities to supply their immediate
wants. The market, however, is firm and
any important increase in consumption
would doubtless advance prices.
Dried fruits are also without material
change SO tar as geSt% on iSe are I1cTeasei neu
The rice market showed new additional
strength last week and prices have been
Rope, both sisal and Manila, is a little
lower than II was n week ago.
Other staple lines of groceries carried
by Omaha jobbers are selling in just about
the same notches they were a week ago.
Dry Goods Market Very Firm.
There was not any great rush of buyers
on the dry goods market last week, owing
probably 10 the severe Storm. With any
Thing like good weather this week, how
ever, the city will be full Of buyers and
jobbers expect to do a rushing business
The market situation has not changed
materially since last report, but at the
same time as the season advances II be-
comes more and more evident. that there
ton, wooden and silk goods. Buyers who
have recently returned from New York say
sold up, and that they cannot be bought
at any price. Even the orCers that were
glazed early In the season are not being
q hard time filling their orders. This Is
true particularly of such lines as fancy
Singhams- Jobbers fear, however, that the
shortage next fall Will be even more pro-
nouncSd than this year II good crops are
harvested. When such conditions exist
prices are naturally very firm. The cost of
raw material has also been steadily ad-
yancing. so that the outlook for continued
nrm markets for some time to come is
considered very favorable.
Hardware Not as Active.
The hardware market was not partic-
ularly active last week. but jobbers think
which put a stop to all out-of-door work
In a short time, however. spring business
will be in full swing and the general i'm
preston is that there will be a demand for
all the goods that jobbers can secure. The
difficulty that they are having in getting
goods Is the only thing that is causing
them any great amount OF worry, but all
other markets are In the same fix. 1t looks
now as though there would be considerable
building done in the territory tributary to
this market, and II so there Will be a big
demand for builders tools and supplies;
prices during the week under review and no
important changes are predicted for the
Is in a good, strong position, with the de-
mand fully equal to the supply.
No Change I'm
There has been no material change in the
rubber situation. SO far as local jobbers
have heard there has been no price-cutting
going on. Retailers, however, are still in
clined TO hold back their orders in the hope
that there Will be some reductions later on.
Those who are best posted on tue situation
say. however, that retailers will be disap-
pointed, as the rubber goods market is in
q more secure position than II ever was be-
fore and that the chances of lower prices
Th leather goods trade was also a little
quiet last week, Very, few merchants were
In the city and travelling, men also sent in
favorable weather. however, a more lively
market is expected. Wholesalers are be-
ginning To send out a few OF their advance
orders, but It is stin a little early for them
to ship any great amount.
Fruits and Produce.
There was quite a brisk city demand last
week for fruits and vegetables. but the
\ country demand was rather limited. IL
was OF course, most too cold to make shi1.
ments OF perishable goods. Green stun Is
now beginning to arrive on the market
parsley and lettuce. The quotations will
Be found in another column.
There was quite a demand last week for
apples. but there was no material change
in process. Oranges are I'm better supply
than they were a short time ago and prices
are lower. The quality is also said to be
better.
The receipts of Eggs were quite liberal
last week, but prices did not show much
change. Poultry, however, was I'm mod,
crate supply and as the demand was quite
liberal prices hrmed up consi terribly. ThC
butter market was very quiet. the demand
being rather light for even this time of the
gear. and as a result, prices are weak.
wEARE COMMISSION COMPANY.