Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-08
CONDITION OF OMAHESTRADE
Shortage Of Freight Cars RetArd.ng Both
Business and Collections,
PRICES, HOWEVER, CONTINUE VERY FIRM
JObbers Find that So Far This season
They Have sold More Goods and a
Better Glass of Goods Than
9hey Did n Year Ago.

Shey Did n Year AgO
The shortage Of freight cars is stlll hav-
ing a very Injurious eject upon the general
trade situation in the territory tributary 20
Omaha. Merchants who have been In the
city recently say that the grain elevators
are hiled with. grain and that It is inn
possible to make shipments. AS a result
there Is no chance for farmers to sell the
grain they have on hand. Merchants fear
that because OF the scarcity OF money their
spring business will be slow in starting ,ut
and that they will lose more or less OF It
entirely Collections are, of course. much
slower than they would be otherwise, for
when retailers have to carry their CUSTOM
ers the jobbers in turn have to carry the
retailers. Local jobbers say that merchants
who for many years have been discountlng
their bills have not only lost their discounts
this season, but have been obliged to ask
for extension, of time. The general opinion
been realized a short time ago the volume
of business with wholesalers would have
oeen nsveIiamy reauSed' put as II ~ mer-
goods before they realized the true state OF
affairs and now the only problem is how
bought. 1t is hoped. however. thai IL a
short time there will no longer be a scarcity
of money and trade will then proceed in its
natural course. II cannot be said that mer.
chants are exactly worried az yet. but at
the same time they are getting uneasy.
last week and quite a few advances went
into effect. 1t Is very evident hat there
is a firm undertone TO the trade and those
ever that present values will be maintained
for some time TO come.
Another Advance I'm sugar.
Wholesale grocers enjoyed a very lively
trade last week. There was no special fea.
tuEe, as the demand was for all lines Of
One of the most important changes in
the market was the advance in sugar,
amounting to &c per 100 pounds. Tho mar.
ket on raws is quoted as strong at the ad.
vance.
The coffee and tea market has NOT
changed since last report. Trading is &C.
tive, with prices strong on all grades.
There was a little easier tone to the dried
fruit market last week on the Pacific coast
but prices there are still on a parity with
eastern markets. Stocks are so small or
the coast and so concentrated that there
Is not much chance for lower. prices te
prevail. In fact, an increase In the demand
would cause an advance in prices.
The market on canned goods Is without
special feature. with the possible exception
of tomatoes, which are a little weak in
the east. With the freight rates now in
force, however, the possibility OF an easier
market in the west Is considered rather
remote.
The rice market continues very firm or
all high grade goods and stocks are be-
coming more scarce every day.
Farinaceous goods, and, in fact, prac.
about the same notches they were a weel
ago.
Dry Goods Not So Brisk.
There were not nearly as many buyers or
the dry goods market last week as arrived
the week before. That was parity owdns W
existing in the country as described above
Aside from hat, however, IL should pt
noted that most of the larger buyers nave
placed their orders and only the smaller
merchants, who buy In a hand TO moutt
way, are left. In making comparisons Wltt
have gone away ahead OF all previous rec
ords and have, sold not only more sooas
fore. owing to the great success they have
had this spring, they are counting on uolnt
a rushing business next fsli anG are pre-
even than they did a year ago;
The market for cotton goods continues
STs S Sdd best Ss I sTsSes Other 81 IEuri troWn 'G sooui
have been advanced In sympathy ana a ue
cided scarcity of these goods Is reporttS
both with wholesalers and MANUFACTURE.
Advance in Price of Copper.
The hardware market as a whole is rs
very strong position. Since last report cop
per has advanced considerably ana the de
inand is reported. brisk at the advance
The talk of the trade now Is the scarcity
OF goods and the outlook for an enormo-i
spring and summer demand. Local Jobperi
are. all advising their customers 10 buS
early so as TO be sure of getting theil
stocks at the time they are wanted, anc
from the way the orders are coming IN II
retailers are taking note of the advice given
Jobbers are calling attention TO the SLOW
movement Of freight as one OF the reasons
According to advices received from the
country, merchants as a rule had a very
satisfactory trade on winter lines ana are
we'll satisfied and in good condition toI
starting In the new season. They all seem
to be looking forward TO a good summer
demand and their orders so tar nave peer
exceptionally large.
Good b WEATHER.
TIL kind of weather that was experienced
last week Is what rubber goods tobbers like
to see. There were a good many buyers IN
the city all the week looking for prlng
their men overtime in order to meet the
demand promptly. Rubber clothing as well
as footwear was wanted, so that the trade
Merchants are also ordering fall rubbers
more freely than they were a snort time
ago and Jobbers do not look for much trou.
BILE in the future TO get retailers 70 place
There is not much to. be said Of the
leather goods t psrIod as M Ssls rs S9r' are qe sort.
ing up their stocks to some extent. but stu
even that class of orders are not very nu-
merous. Travelling men are preparing te
start out next month with next fall sam.
piles and feel confident that they will do 8
good business from the beginning.
Fruit and Produce.
There was a good brisk demand all the
week for traits and vegetables, but there
was a better supply OF green stun from
the south than there was the week be-
fore and prices were a little more reason:
supply will be much larger and that prices
will move steadily downward.
The egg market nuctuated back and forth
with receipts, but averaged about the same
as the week before. Poultry showed very
little change, the supply and demand appar.
IL quoted a little higher than II was q
week ago, hut while packing stock sold
more freely there has been no material