The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-03

Buyers of spring and summer stock are
in town in great numbers. They have been
coming and going for the last three weeks.
This week finds them arriving in swarms
daily. They Will continue to come Tor an
other month.
Hotels. especially the Lindell, are crowd
ed with merchants, who are here to replen-
ish their stocks.
Manager Waiter Eckles declares that the
arrivals at the hosiery at this early period
have exceeded those of preceding years
He declares IL the present influx keeps up
the mouse RECORDS Tor spring business Will
De broken.
Managers in every branch of business
along Washington avenue are congTa suldt l.
Ing themselves on the business Already
done. and all agree that the spring or lSJJ
will be the banner one in the history of the
houses along that business thorougnfare.
All agree that merchants from the coun-
try are buying conServatiyely, owing 10 the
Indictment weather. but say that the influx
or trade more than compensates for the
light bills of old customers
Inc spring mIlliner very much in evil
dence. one Iirm has prOvioed for the &C
commodatIon or Lao miliiners on one OF its
floors. where they may select trimmings
and shapes. and copy the styles from tine
latest London and Partisan designs.
BUSINESS BRANCHING OUT.
The present year finds the St. Louis travel
ing man entering the Eastern territory
more than was customary in former years,
especially IN the hardware ana DOOt anu
shoe lines Many firms have put on extra
statesmen throughout their districts to han.
die the vastly growing trade of the Mound
City.
from Iowa and Indiana, which in former
years went to Chicago. Is coming this year
to st. Louis.
w G. Sloan vice president of the Rosen-
thal-Soan Millinery Company. could not
say enough in praise Of the spring bust-
ness in the millinery line, I'VE are ex-
history Of our house, said he. Il think
all the houses are doing likewise. We
can hardly handle the milliners that have
come to US this year. We have accommo-
dalton for 100 at one time. and we have
been taxed to the utmost since the begin
ming Of the season, three weeks ago
making great strides. This year the travel
ing men are entering Iowa and Nebraska.
well as the Northwest. more than in
previous years. and are meeting with great
success. We have two men in Indiana this
year also, State heretofore unworked, and
the results are f1attering'
MORE MEN ON ROAD.
The business increase has also been felt
in other lines Of trade. especially in hard
were r. w. Shapleigh. vice president Of the
Norveli -Shapleigh Hardware Company, de-
clares the business of his concern has so
far Increased g lS per cent over "a. GORE ORE
placed twenty-five more men on the road
this year to handle the vastly increasing
John c. Roberts vice president OF the
Roberts johnson & Rand Shoe Company.
business showed an increase of si23.33l. "a
over the corresponding month, and from the
way March has started in 1 can safely say
we will easily beat all previous records. in
spite Of the fact that the year 1902 was a
record-breaker." !!
Jonathan Rice. vice president of the Rice
Silk Dry Goods Company, said: The bust
ness this year has been beyond all expecta-
lions. 1t has exceeded our most sanguine
hopes The buyers. II seems. are not buy
ing as heavily this year of spring goods ow-
ing to the weather conditions which have
proved very unpleasant throughout the
Southwest. but in spite Of that our business
has gone far and away above the business
done for a corresponding period of any
previous year"
Max stern. secretary Of the Rothschild
Bros Hat Company. said: Regardless of
the conditions prevailing throughout the
Southern territory, where trade has been
affected by the weather conditions. the bus
mess from this section Of the country is
largely in excess of the business of last
year This clearly shows that the business
Of st. Louis is expanding greatly this year.