The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-28
Retail Trade Shows Large H.
crease Over Previous Years
MERCHANTS ALL BUOYANT
Not Only Satisfied, But Most Mer-
chants Are Free to Say That the
Holiday Business Has Been
Exceptionally Large.

With the closing year Birmingham
merchants are more buoyant than ever
before
The volume of the retail trade has been
larger than ever and the holiday business
has broken the records.
The First National bank which kept
| open Saturday night for the benefit Of
It's depositors, received from merchants
something like $4,000 and this amount
did not include the deposits made dur
ing the regular banking hours Saturday.
As the First National has only a share
Of the retail trade deposits 1t may be
assumed that the cash handled by the
retail merchants Saturday totalied fully
100000.
The Age-Herald's interviews with a
large number of Birmingham merchants
show that business conditions are not
only sound and active, but that mercan-
tile interests here are phenomenally sue
cessful. Not a. single merchant croaks.
| Not a single merchant had the least
ground for complaint. On the other
hand, 90 per cent admit that the year
1904 has been an exceptionally prosperous
year.
Several firms report an increase In
trade equal to % per cent. One at least
estimates an increase of 100 per cent.
There has been nothing like 1t in this
part of the country.
And the best of it is the merchants, al
most to a man, predict still greater in
crease in business next year.
The fact is the retail trade of Birming-
ham is marked by wonderful enterprise,
and this city Is known throughout Ala
bama, Mississippi and most OF the other
southern states as a great shopping CEN
ter The merchants carry immense and
up-to-date stocks and they are satisfied
with moderate profits.
The price of iron Is the barometer In
this district and In the thrift OF the retail
merchant is found the reflex OF prosper
ity in the Industrial world. With sl4 Iron
every furnace company is making big
nrohts and the wage workers are getting
good pay for their toll. Iron will not de-
cline In the near future, but conservative
oninion Ia that 1t will advance. At any
rate the new year Is full Of cheer.
Here is what the merchants says:
The Largest Trade.
B. L. wertheimer: Our Christmas
trade was very much better than last
wear. II was the largest trade we ever
| enjoyed"
w. T. Fox of Fox Sons & Smith Co.;
"our Christmas business was excellent
the best we ever had"
DIR. H. NJ. Reese of the Housman Phar-
macy: "Our Christmas trade was entirely
satisfactory; was the largest and incest
trade that recall
H. C. Abbott of H. C. Abbot q Bro''
1--WE had splendid trade; much better
than last year
Herman Rosenbaum of L. Pizitz: Our
Christmas trade was the greatest we ever
had; was far beyond our expectations.
Plano Trade.
]. E. Shelby of the Cable Piano CO.:
"Our Birmingham store had been prao-
tically' closed since October by reason OF
removing and remodeling, but we openeu
In time to get in four or five days ousi-
ness before the books were closed LOT
the year. Our books for the past tWeiVe
months show the largest business since
our opening In this city. | think since
combating this, the largest and most
e,aborately fitted music house to be
found south of New York, our business
OF 1905 will exceed our expectations. "A.
least we feel very much enthusec from
the present outlook. I believe thae the
citizens of Birmingham appreciate the ei-
fort we have made in making this music
house second to none In the United
States.
I'VE appreciate the many congratula-
lions that nave been rendered us with
in the past few days. We have great
faith in the future of Birmingham and
have demonstrated this belief by going to
an enormous expense in fitting up our
present quarters. We do not think there
is any merchant In any line OF business
that has any doubt as to his securing
greater amount of business In ls6 than
in any preceding year. The present con-
ditions certainly warrant us IN preolct-
ing that 1905 will be the greatest and
most progressive year that Birmingham
and the state of Alabama has ever ex-
perienced."
r. N. Wheeler of Hood q Wheeler, fur
niture: This was the best Christmas
trade we ever had.
r. A. Gilbert of Gilbert Trunk factory;
"Our Christmas trade was very salts
factory. The outlook for business in 1905
Is good"
s. Spiro hardware, stoves and tinware
Our Christmas trade was excellent; re-
tail trade a good deal better than last
year.
More Cash.
company: "Our trade was very satisfac-
tory 1t was an Improvement over a
year ago. There was a larger proportion
of cash than usual. I have great conf
dence that next year Will be an unusually
prosperous one. We never have had
December before In which we did SO
much decorative work"
Andrew Colias, confectioner: MY trade
was very good. / manufacture high
grade of CONNECTIONS and bon-bons and
find ready sale for my product"
w. II. Faulkner, advertising manager
for r. D. Burnett Cigar company: "Our
Christmas trade was good; best we ever
had. The outlook for 1905 is fiattering."
w. F. Williams of FAC Smith Stationery
company: "Our business was good; sold
everything we had in the way Of holiday
goods"