Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-17
CONDITION OF OMAHIS TRADE
Great Activity Prevails in Local Jobbing
Houses
BUSINESS ASSUMES HOLIDAY cHARACTtF
single Exception il shoe Trade. for
which Weather Has been Too
warm--Dctails of Gem
crnl situation.


lue weather, with the exception Of a few
days has been too warm for the best in
terests Of shoe JObbers, and the trade,
though larger than in 1904, is not what
they were expecting. GrOCers, dry goods
men and hardware dealers, however, have
dh me work they can dc 20 I'LL orders for
tns christ mas trade. Things to wear, hOl-
lday articles in hardware, and in groceries
suCn things as figs, nuts, dates raisins and
al fancy goods, are in large demand.
About twenty-five travelling statesmen for
eastern shoe factories have called on
Omaha junhcrs within the last week, and
every one OF them is Dullish over the shoe
outlook. They say that stocks bought at
lower prices have been entirely used up
and manufacturers are up against the
present basis of prices for leather. While
no advances IN shoes have been quoted
the last week, every department of the
trade is firm and advances at any time
would not be surprising. Not only is
coWhide and calf high, but sheepskin,
which is used for inside trimmings, COM
mands an enormous price. Stocks are
will not grow better soon for sheepmen
will kill and ship no more sheep than
absolutely necessary, as they are being
offered in advance as high as q cents a
pound for next summer clip Of lambs
Wool and very high prices for all grades.
Warm weather has been demOraliZing to
the wholesale trade, but of course big sales
viii come when snow falls. Beginning
Thursday, the statesmen will be of the road
until January ..
with Dry Goods Houses.
Retail dry goods trade of Omaha ana
the tributary country mas evidently con-
uuugd very good, because the jODoers are
Hooded with orders OF all sizes Tor goods
OF all descriptions. The advance in prices
does not seem to check sales and cotton
continues at about the high water mark.
general advance in staple prints is
looked Tor, though no change is noted for
the last week. with the exception of
shorter discounts for some lines Checked
ginghams are l4c higher for certain makes
ana Preached and brown cOttons continue
very strong. Omaha Jobbers are making
extensive preparations for spring business
and Will begin filling advance orders at
once. COLLECTIONS have been good.
The New York Commercial says of cot
ton: with regard TO prices for next
year, all cotton goods buyers seem to feel
that the governments crop report under
estimated what the actual production will
be. They are not inclined to commit them
selves any further than they have already,
and are Of the opinion that the market
Will take change in their favor when
further information regarding the cotton
crop comes to light. II is also claimed
tnAt cotton goods are now at a point
where further advance would inJure the
trade, for after prices pass a certain point
cotton goods cannot be sold 1t can be
stated however, that this point has been
exceeded 70 some extent during the last
year, and, in spite Of all predictions to the
contrary, has not stopped the demand"
Expect Advance In Rice.
There IS feeling prevalent among
dealers that rice, particularly Japan, is
good for a sharp advance soon alter the
first of the year. They say that on the
basis of statistics rice should be &c higher
than it is today. For the last week the
market has been of iitful character, days
of activity being succeeded by days of dull
ness AssOrtments are satisfactory for the
time Oh year ana IN general prices have
been well sustained on Japan and the Hon
duras sorts. ON the Atlantic coast there
has been fair movement At New Or
leans the market is strong, with a good
demand. Cables and correspondence nom
abroad note firm market on all transac-
tions for immediate use and future de-
livery.
In cereals there has been no change A
good demand is felt in oats and kindred
No change has taken place in the Omaha
market in syrups. OF the situation the
n. w. Taussig branch of the American
Molasses company at New York says:
During the last week the arrivals of New
Orleans moasses have increased at this
point, but the market has again been
cleaned up, and II Will be very difficult
matter to supply the demand before Christ
mas. The receipts at New orleans have
decreased and the market has assumed II
hrmer tone, especially on cane juice and
Kettles. Cane juice now ranges from to .
cents per gallon higher than it did last
week. There is good demand for black
strap AT an advance or fully cent per gal
lon and large sales have been made. For
eign molasses remains unchanged. There
is larger demand"
There was a big liquidation in coffee the
first of the week and the last two days OF
the week before, holders becoming tired
the market has Quoted down. Sevens are
quoted at Sc. The statistical position re-
mains the same as week ago. Receipts
are running a little larger than at the same
time last year.
Wnlett d Gray OF New York say of
The market has undergone fluctuations
caused by influences outside of the actual
good position Of coffee. The changes in the
statistics for the month are not important,
but, as the experts in Europe figure out a
decrease and the New York Coffee eX-
change figures show slight increase this
proves that discrepancies will occur as
much as 10000 bags in the monthly figures,
according to the system adopted. But from
! this time forward the world 5 visible will
! show a steady decrease, and the deliveries
! in Europe and the United States plainly
| indicate that invisible stocks are down to
! the minimum. However, the market has
been disappointing TO many who expected
an immediate advance after the December
liquidation, and this not coming at once.
they desired to sell. Brazil receipts so far
are about equal TO the same time last
season, pointing to the result of this crop
being about the me as the last-l0, 100
bags.
! Dried Fruit Cleaned Up.
/ Never in the history Of the trade has the
I California dried fruit market been so
closely cleaned up in December as today.
There Is practical cleanup in everything
except prunes and raisins, and shippers an
ucipate a material advance after the first
Of the year. In some quarters holders are
pressing pruues and Taisins for sale. The
Growers and Packers association has a
meeting December 10 and the result may
be to put its members on basis with other
sellers. So far outsiders have had control
of the market. Coast adVices note a strong
and advancing prune market there, with
stocks In small compass. The market is
firm on aplicots and peaches, but no un-
usual features are presented.
In some quarters is a somewhat more
confident feeling in canned corn, with really
desirable offerings on a low basis more
difficult TO secure. Stocks Of corn in pack
ers' hands in New York and Maine are
10 ha all In, he
steady 70 hrm, II is anticipated that by
the end Of the year there will be a ma
tertal Improvement II is thought that the
position of the heavy tomato holders is so
strong that they could force an advance
! at any time. on canned fruits the market
! throughout is steady TO firm.
! There is moderate interest in canned
/ salmon, with the situation practically IN
| changed. Sardines are firm and a fair
| movement is noted at the recent advance
/ in a oils.
Herring is in good supply and the market
/ is a little easier. The tone Is firm on salt
| mackercl. Goldfish is strong, but quiet.
! Gloucester advices note a moderate supply
| and an advancing tendency there.
! Quotations on refined sugal remain prac-
| ucally the same as those Of last week
/ Raws are firm and active and conditions
I are favorable for ruling Of higher prices,
which naturally will affect the market on
refined. Spot stocks are reported as being
exceedingly light and the new crop will
not be available before January. The de-
mand for refined throughout the country
is reported good for this season OF the
year.
October-made cheese Is strong and active,
? but November and December are extremely
dull and values uncertain, with prices i.aIC