Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-26
CONDITION OF OMAHASTRADE
Volume Of Business Very Satisfactory to
Both Jobbers and Retailers
SUGAR ADVANCED TEN CENTS HUNDRED
Prices on All Glasses of Goods Very
Firm aud General Tendency of
vaIues Decidedly In Favor
OF Higher Prices.

turers was OF very satisfactory proportions
last week. There were fully as many, coun-
try buyers on the market as could be eN-
pected and mail orders. both direct and
through travelling statesmen, were up TO ex-
pectations. Trade In the ountry so far
has been good, though warmer weather
would undoubtedly Increase the demand for
spring and summer lines very materially.
Retailers are doing no complaining, how
ever, as they say prospects for the future
are very favorable and they have no fear
but what their spring business will come
up to their earlier estimates. Farmers are
making rapid progress with their spring
work; so they are in good spirits.
deal of attention TO future business and so
far their statesmen have taken more orders
early iI in the u season. ! There e is no Oq mistakins
the fact that retailers are generally anxious
to buy early, as they. have had some ex-
be caught on an advancing market, espe-
cially when desirable goods were most Inn
seems to be that fall goods this season will
be harder than ever to obtain and as q
result MERCHANTS are all buying early and
conditions merchandise at present prices
looks like good property to them.
during the week, but comparatively few OF
much Importance. There is, however, a
very marked tendency toward higher prices
and in fact practically all classes Of goods
are quoted very firm, with prospects favor
able for higher prices In the future.
Collections are reported as being In very
satisfactory condition and in this respect
there is a big Improvement over the situa-
ton a few weeks ago. Jobbers report very
trouble, as business conditions out through
the country are very satisfactory.
Another Advance I'm Sugar.
The sugar market is reported as being in
to be scarce and higher in New York. Re
fined grades have advanced 10 cents per
100 pounds during the week under review,
and as the demand is increasing rapidly,
prospects are considered favorable for a
continued strong market.
position and fancy stock is in exception
ally light supply. New grass cheese is ex-
pected to arrive on the market I'm about two
offered stock on the Wisconsin boards last
week. The prices realized were equal to
ent conditions would Indicate that the
prices now in force will be maintained for
three or four weeks at least.
The market on beans eased on a little last
week, but the reduced quotations apply
more particularly to the inferior and dis
are very scarce and command a premium.
The rice market has also been advancing
since last report, owing to the fact that the
during the last ten days. which has caused
heavy buying, resulting In an advance OF
Choice G to- fancy Sst P TSose Who "a are st best posted
say that there Is not enough rice in the
country to supply the demand until the
There Is no change In the canned goods
market to report so far as prices are con-
picking up considerably and goods are now
moving out in good shape. There Is also
little change in the dried fruit market:
Aprfcots are a little more firmly held. and
particularly is that true of bright stock.
The demand is better for almost every line
time ago and in fact jobbers say trade is
showing something. of its old-time vigor.
Owing to a scarcity Of milling grades Of
quite sharply. Barrels have been marked
up IS cents and hye-pound packages about
vSnced proportionately. The general opin-
ion Is that lower prices Will not prevail for
The market on wooden ware Is stil very
firm and the tendency of prices undoubtedly
inward. In fact, jobbers say that 1t is diff
is the time OF year when butter dishes are
in the biggest demand and II Is reported
that manufacturers are over sold three to
Prices on nsh are about the same as they
were a week ago. Trade has been very large
in view of the fact that the Denten sea-
son is past. The supply of macKerel is be-
coming more scarce every day and the new
catch is not expected to arrive until June.
market.
No Change in Dry Goods.
Trade with dry goods jobbers last week
was about as good as could be expected at
few buyers in the city and, while It is a
little early for much recorder business, mer-
CnantS say tnAI as soon as WdTIHtE WtdNueT
arrives there will be a big Improvement in
the country demand. Travelling statesmen
are devoting. most of their time to advance
business and so far have met with phe-
nomcnal success. Merchants seem to be
more anxious than ever before to place
orders early and besides that they are buy
NV unusually heavy. They sold out their
last winters stocks in good shape, so that
little was carried over.
strong and, while there have been no
changes in cotton goods during the week
vances on leading staples would cause no
surprise to anyon in the trade. The high
price, Of cotton. the active consuming de,
to advance the price of the manufactured
goods and to make manufacturers very in
dependent.
Active Demand for Hardware.
The demand for seasonabie lines of hard
ware was very active last week and In
fact jobbers had hard work TO keep up
with their orders. There was no special
for all lines that could be called season.
able. The shortage of staple lines. which
ing a great deal of trouble and the situa-
ton seems to grow worse every day.
"a T tioSs' b pSs b Tsee n are eN Werg arm m I and ev eTV-
one looks for a continued strong market
for some time TO some.
Leather Goods Rather quiet.
Trade with leather goods jobbers Is a
little quiet at present so far as immediate
9AAAN - bAA11 - z mas -
been enough warm weather as yet TO make
the demand very brisk, so that retailers
are not sizing up to any great extent. No
one, though, Is complaining, as this is the
usual situation at this season OF the year.
AS soon as warm weather sets In no one
fears but what trade Will be up to eX-
pectations.
Travelling statesmen for local houses are
after fall orders and. as the trade generally
is looking for higher prices. merchants are
placing their orders very freely and sales
men hope to break all previous records.
Immediate business with rubber goods
tobbers is also quiet. as would naturally
be expected, but advance orders are COM
ing in very freely. Most Jobbers report
that they have sold fully as many fall
goods as usual up 10 this time, 90 they are
doing no complaining.
There was a very brisk demand for fruits
last week and especially for Strawberries,
which arrived freely from Texas. They are
now quoted at S.25GabO, which enables
Omaha grocers 20 retail them at 15c a box.
This is unusually cheap for this early in
the season, but unless something happens
to the crop there will be a large supply OF
berries throughout the season. Arkansas
berries are expected on the market this
week and II is reported that they are eX-
ceptionally fine. There was also quite a de-
mand for oranges and lemons last week.
Apples are selling to some extent. but
stocks are getting pretty well cleaned up.
Green vegetables were In better supply
last week than they have been at any time
so far and as a result prices eased off a
little.