Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-03
CONDITION OF OMAHA'STRADE
Business Receivers After the Usual NOvem-
Der Lull.
AND COLD SNAP RESPONSIBLE
Farmers Exhaust stocks of Retailers
In some Lines-Dry Goods Job
bers Cleaning Up winter
Goods by Price Reduction.

NVohH ny AEAct
The Thanksgiving holiday and the 40
companying cold snap have caused re-
vival OF trade after the lull OF the last two
or three weeks. Farmers stopped husking
corn day or two and came to the towns
In such numbers that they exhausted the
stocks Of the retailers in many lines OF
were very busy people Friday and SAtur-
day. A large business was done in whole
sale dry goods and shoe houses and one OF
the grocery firms had the largest mail in
its history Friday. Most Of the corn is out
Of the field now and trade Is expected to
continue uniformly good for the first half
of this month, after which 1t will be brisk
until Christmas.
Receipts of coffee are falling of all the
time, but so far this has had no apprecla-
BILE effect on the market. The United States
now practically controls the cofee trade
Of the world. All the surplus Of the Bra
lillian crop is in this country and the big
dealers have secured II at their own price.
This country has much more than In
former years and all other countries have
less. II now remains to see what the big
holders will do. There is no reason for
higher prices unless the question of duty
on coffee should come before congress, and
this Is considered very probable.
Jellies and jams, both Of fancy and me-
dunn grades, have advanced materially In
the last three or four weeks and higher
prices are looked for. The trade Is advis-
ing retailers to carry liberal stocks.
The price OF cranoerries is higher than -,
I Omaha are entirely exhausted, but new
supplies are expected In two or three days,
though dealers cannot name prices.
stinening Prices of Fish.
Holland herring are stiffenlng up and
there has been an advance of &c a keg on
imported orders in the last few days, Tho
catch is about over and It Is about 10000
barrels less than last year. In Irish mack
erel there has been an advance Of 5OQ10c
a barrel in the last week. There is every
| indication that heavy trade will begin In
| dry and salt fish Oftpr the first of the
year and higher prices are looked for along
the whole line
place on bulk olives. This makes an
actual advance of 35c a gallon over the low
point of few months ago: As stated in
! recent crop report, the entire crop is about
one-twenty-fifth of the usual output, and
there is no telling where prices will go be
/ fore another crop is on the market.
| Nothing is changed in the sugar situa-
| ton, prices being practically the same as
last week on both raws and refined. On
, account of the Thanksgiving holiday there
were no quotations on sugar the latter part
Of the week. There is nothing to indicate
may be a considerable decrease in price
| about January or February.
| Lower quotations are ruling for Noven1-
! ber-made cheese, which is Inferior in quail
! ity TO the fancy October-made. So far this
has had no effect on the cheese market in
general. Stocks are said to be extremely
| light. Jobbers say it looks as though lower
prices would prevail before long for fancy
Canned and Dried FruIt,
There are no radical changes to report IN
the canned goods situation. Canned peas
are one of the articles attracting consider
able attention, because of the shortness OF
the pack and because of the fact that good
quality of standard goods have been adj
grades are in more plentiful supply and
there is not so much interest in these
grades.
No change is reported in either corn or
| tomatoes. The buyers are going az far east
as New York state to get kraut, while
ordinarily nothing is brought In except
continues to harden en- gallon apples, and
IN tact most everything In the way OF
gallon pie fruit. There has been a slight
ADVANCE IN quarter oil sardines, these goods
being marked up 10 to Is cents by the pack
ers No change is yet to report in
The market still shows an advancing
tendency on evaporated apples, as II does
also on peaches and apricots. Many lines
OF california dried fruits are so small that
II is hardly possible to quote the market
Inc supply OF pears is practically ex-
hausted; so also Is the supply of nectarines
ana pltted plums. Not in many years has
the supply Of California dried fruits at
this time of the season been so small as IL
is at the present time. California operators
dieting 4h-cent basis for prunes, which
is cent per pound above prices that can
based upon the supposition that / cent per
pound advance Will not materially curtail
the consumption of these goods. This
basis OF price would still make the medium
size sell three pounds for 25 cents, while the
large size would sen for Is cents or two
pounds for Is cents.
Men of the trade expect higher prices for
certain lines OF dried fruit, particularly
peaches and apples. than have been seen
however, probably will not be effective
until along in the latter part of May or
Best posted operators say the supplv OF
rice in the south is not much more than
half OF what II was this time last season:
that the crop is about 100000 bags, against
correct the trade must look for cons dera Div
higher prices in rice. Add to this informa-
s si0n me vel known fact that Jap rices
Is a preponderance OF head rices and II Is
readily seen that Jap rices must continue
TO advance to nearly a parity with head
rices before the end OF the season.
With Dry Goods Houses.
Trade with dry goods jobbers has been
good, althoug interrupted by the Thanks
s Trsve1nR eoaay orders S direct ana from
ana a good house trade has been done.
All effort is being maze to clean w the
and many good sales have been made The
ADVANCE order business on spring goods
has been much larger than last year. and
me distribution extends 10 all lines In
Guiding dress goods, underwear. factory
goods and hosiery. Cotton goods are very
strong in first hands and the advance ON
some makes has been A95kc In the last
few days. A number of large retailers
who are well-informed, are placing liberal
orders for staples, in order to secure deliV-
cry and favorable prices. Collections have
been light. but they are expected TO improve
in December.
Brisk Trade in shoes.
II Is the same old story with shoes The
manufacturers are becoming frmer in their
ideas each day, as they get down 10 the
basis of present prices for hides. few of
them having any considerable quantity
on hides which we're bought at lower hg-
ures No advances have been quoted dur
ing the week by Omaha jobbers. Trade
has been Stacker than usual during NoVem-
Der, on account Of the unusually fine
wather With the first snap of cold Il Is
beginning to pick up again now. and mail
orders have bee- coming in In considerable
numbers, indicating that the retailers have
| disposed of large quantities Of shoes In the
last few days.
Activity in Sporting Goods.
Hardware dealers have enjoyed a week
OF enormous trade. Business has been
good in all lines, but especially In sporting
goods. Guns and ammunition and hunting
suits have had run seldom equalled. Snow
/ shovels and stove pipe have also been In
good demand. Prices remain the same
except in the item OF solder. which, more
| on account Of speculation than anything
/ else. has advanced cents pound.
Houaa