Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-31
CONDITION OF OMAHAS TRADE
Unfavorable Weather Last Week Interfere'
with Business % Some Extent
ADVANCE or FIVE PER CENT IN RUBsERS
with the Exception of a Few Changes
in Groceries other staple Lines
Have Not FIuctuated Much
During the Week.

very favorable for an active snot bvsI,insw'
me rains and bad roads kept farmers from
going TO town and doing their usual
amount Of buying, and besides that Tho
weather was not warm enough TO create a
9eI1and Tor summer goods even II buyers
however. Omaha jobbers and manufactur,
ors report a very fair volume Of business
ana account for it by saying that mer-
chants are anticipating an enormous de-
mana as soon as the weather does clear.
ana they want to have their stocks in shape
70 meet the requirements or their custom
ers Retailers as a rule have not sold as
much stock so far this spring as they an
aged and are very confident thar they viii
make up for lost time. "
Advance business with wholesalers was
very brisk last week. the same as II has
been all this spring. Merchants are show
ing a greater disposition than ever to place
Their fall orders early and consequently
Jobbers now have the best line Of future
orders on, their books that they have ever
had at this season OF the year.
While there have been no very startling
fluctuations In prices during the week under
review there Is a good, firm tone to the
market on practically all lines, and with
Few exceptions either summer or fall goods
at present prices are considered good prop
Collections have been very fair, but un-
doubtedly will show some Improvement
%hen retail trade in the country picks up,
but jobbers are doing no complaining.
Sugar steady, but in Heavy Demand.
Wholesale grocers report business for last
wee Us DeluB very heaNV and far ahead of
Two weeks ago. In fact several of them say
they have had about all the business they
could comfortably handle. There have been
a rev, changes In ruling prices since last re-
port, but still hardly as many as usual.
sugar is In practically the same position
II was a week ago, no change having taken
mand In the east and south has improved
considerably and rehners report withdraw
ais heaVy ana are oVersOld on some grades.
For that reason It is thought deliveries will
be more or less delayed.
The cheese market is considerably lower
than II was a week ago. The demand con-
7 tinues very heavy. but nearly all factories
throughout the country are in full opera
ton and are In a position to fill orders
There has been no change in the quota.
lions on beans since last report, but at tho
same time the market is very strong and
stocks light, with the demand heavy.
Reports recently received by local job
bers from Japan show that the tea market
is very active at strong prices, so there is
better reason than ever for predicting
higher prices in the future.
Tho dried fruit market has not changed
materially. but at the same time there is an
active demand and especially is that true
Of a%pricots and peaches, both Of which
have stittened under this demand. The
market on currents is also in n very strong
position. with an advancing tendency.
Owing to the fact that the drouth in
Maryland was broken last week the canned
goods market is much easier and especially
is that true of small fruits. Considerable
damage, however, has been done to toma-
toes, and all reports Indicate that the aero
age VIII be restricted. Just now much
short II will be of the early estimates can
not be told at the present time.
Spot corn is being held with great conf
dence and holders are only letting go at
full prices. Those best posted say there is
every reason for thinking that all the avail
able stock will be cleaned up at present
prices before the new crop will arrive on
the market.
Cotton Goods still Advancing.
The cotton goods market is still in a very
strong position and goods are not only adj
xancing.. but are very difficult to obtain
now in New York report great difficulty in
getting desirable lines. and II is almost i'm
9eU SplIostd tGr t9 %Rer TO f fSey the dr. e sSesaeS orders err
manufacturers do not as a rule guaranteed
delivery and accept the orders only at q
sharp advance. An advance went into eff
feet last week amounting to A91lc on four,
yard brown cottons and also on other line:
OF brown and bleached cottons.
The trade situation locally was very salts
There were quite a few buyers in the city
and while they reported business in tn,
country a little dull owing to the unfavor
aole weather stnl they placed quite 'Ilhera
orders in a%nticipa ton of a brisk trade
little later on. There has not, however
been as much sorting up business SO IA
this season as jobbers would naturally ex
pect, but they look for a brisk trade of tina
kind in June.
Market Steady.
Tho hardware market Is in Just about IN,
SAND position II was a week ago, no i'm
! pOrtanI changes having taken place. Price
nre firm and goods scarce Just the same a
they have been for many months past.
Trade last week was not exactly brisk
owing no doubt to the weather, which pre-
vented much Out-of-door work. There was
however, a brisk demand for lawn mower
and more OF them were shipped out las
week than during the same length of tim
In a long while.
Rush Orders for Rubber Goods.
Rubber goods jobber5 did an enormou
business last week In both footwear an,
clothing. The orders came in by telephon
and telegraph principally. Travelling me,
did q good business also, but they were de
layed a great deal owing to the cripple
condition OF the railroads, Stocks of rubbe
goods In Omaha are liberal at the presen
time. so that tobbers were able TO Civ
their customers good service. Mackintoshe
rubber boots and sandals were the lines 4
greatest demand, but still anything tina
would shed water sold freely.
Advance orders for fall goods also cam
in very freely owing to the fact that tn
advance OF 5 Der cent Will go into efec
June !. Retailers all over the country ha
been notified Of this advance. so that thos
who put on ordering until the last minut
got under cover last week. II may safel
be said that every jobber has a better lin
Of fall orders than ever before. This ad
vance OF z per cent affects rubber boots an
sandals, but does not AFFECT tennis shoe
nor rubber clothing. These lines will re
There was also a brisk demand for leathe
goods last week for the same reason tina
rubbcrs sold so freely. The demand. how
ever, was confined largely to high shoes, a
ItAtANI6 oANNhE - wv NAARtN AhNt ilNA =
broken 10 any great extent as yet. Jobberi
though, are looking for a good sizing u
business on them to follow the FIRST perio
OF warm weather.
Fruits and Produce.
There was not a very brisk demand "a
fruits and vegetables last week. The SUI
ply OF strawberries was very light and WIFI
some stock was extra choice "a good de;
was not 81 good. The Missouri crop wa
rather disappointing this season, as Ii we
damaged by cold weather a few weeks as
and recent rains have done still more dan
age. Homegrown berries are expected
arrive on the market this week. Goo
stock is being held at 3.b.
Old potatoes are getting very scarce al
the price has advanced To 50d65c per bushe
New stock, however, is becoming moi
plentiful and in a short time Il Is though
the price win take quite a tumble.
The butter market has been very firm a
the week, as the demand has been suficiel
10 care FOR the increased receipts. POultI
has also sold in about the same notches q
the week, hut receipts OF spring CHECKER
Increased considerably the last OF the We,
and with liberal supplies this week Il
thought the price will break.
The egg market weakened toward q
close Of the week owing TO a break in prtc'
at other points.
OMAHA WHOLESALE MARKET.