Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-05
TRADE CONDITIONS IN OMAHA
Record Breaking Business fer April Re-
ported by Omaha JobberS
COLLECTIONS SHOW IMPROVEMENT
Cold and UnfavOrabIe weather Had
Little Eject on Most Lines of
Trade, but Implement
Business Dull.

record-breaking proportions by being the
houses. Unfavorable and backward weather
has been responsible for partial stagnation
In some lines Of trade during the spring,
but even with this unfaVorable circum-
stance the trade was larger than in many
previous years.
Collections are reported to have been bet
ter during the month just passed than at
any time during the present year, and no
financial strtngency can be ascertalned.
Discounts are the rule and not the exception
among all iobbefs and optimistic predic-
tons for continued heavy trade during the
remainder Of the year are given by heads
of all Omaha wholesale firms.
The trade of local dry goods houses has
kept up during the last week of change
able and unfavorable weather and the
larger Omaha institutions report great
increase in business over last April, the adj
vance being far in excess Of that Of last
April over the previous year, Cotton goods
retain their strength and shirting prints
have been advanced n cent during the per
iod under review There are no other quot
able changes in prices Of note, but Joobers
already are placing orders for spring goods
for 1908 Collections among dry goods
houses are reported to be very satisfactory.
The shoe market continues firm and prices
generally trend higher with no weak spots
There have been few advances in prices on
any staple products, but several minor ad-
vances of about cents per pair have been
made on a few lines and the general ten
dency Of prices is decidedly upward. The
business Of Omaha jobbers during the
month of April continued to be large ana
the volume to May / shows a large increase
over last year. Orders for fall lines are be-
ing revised into detail form and the present
prospects are for an advance on TINS line
of goods. Market indications point TO a
summer advance Of rubber gpods FOR ran
delivery, as the rubber market mas peeh
constantly going higher, but the advance
has not been made as yet, ana dealers are
uncertain as to the time when IT VIII De
made Collections continue good and are
well in hand as compared with the previous
month, when there was some appreneHsloll
as to the ability OF many shoe merchahIs 20 70
meet their obligations easily. Demand lor
tan feathers has not equalled the expecta-
lions of most jobbers, and 1t Is believed
that the tan fad will run short after pre-
liminary heavy sale. 1t is not believed that
this class of shoes will be generally worn
during the entire season. although the mi
tial demand appeared to point TOWARD tan
season. This demand has FALLEN OH ma
terially during the last few weeks, as mas
the general demand for oxfords on account
OF d e backward spring.
been the largest in the history OF the local
houses. The business of the hrst ten Gays
of April alone was thousands OF doilars IN
excess Of that of the ten days OF the cor
responding month last year. 1t was the
largest April business ever experienced
Wire nails, poultry netting ana wire Iehc-
ing are practically impossible to obtain on
account of the congested condition OF
orders in all factories which will not be
able to catch up to the present oro sn,I
until October /, when the demand for tRll
goods will be greatest, and the INDICATIONS
are for continued congestion in all wire
goods. Stocks of winter goods are pelhs
received in large quantities by local whole
sale houses and orders are being given Tor
spring goods for 1908 for November de-
livery. Unfavorable weather condiuons
have had no effect whatever upon the
trade during the last week and the de-
mand for all classes of goods have not de-
clined appreciahly. House trade during the
week has been very good and many mer-
chants took advantage of the good weather
during the first part of the week to buy
in person. Orders from travelling men con-
tinue to increase and collections are re-
ported to be In good condition. small
tools. such as spades, shovels, ralSes ana
similar articles, have been moving wen,
large quantities Many shipments OF nre-
arms are being reported in anticipation Of
and there has been continued strong de-
mand for tennis, base ball and golf goods.
The weather has been the factor OF para
mount interest in the implement and
vehicle trade and business has been largely
at q complete standstill, awaiting normal
conditions when II can be determined what
damage II any, has been sustained. The
extreme cold and changeable weather has
made business very dull, rs farmers are
delaying purchases Of implements until
prospects for crops can be definitely de-
termined The trade in buggies and light
vehicles has been very good and about
normal for this season of the year, al
though 1t was much larger than last year.
Collections have improved, owing to many
payments on account May /. There has
been no change In prices and no indications
of any immediate change in this respect,
although the tendency as in most other
lines OF trade, is toward a higher level.
Mail orders, travelling mems orders and
local house orders have been small during
the week and shipments OF implements are
not expected to be as heavy as they have
been for the last few weeks This is
condition which has been generally antici-
The outlook for future trade Is regarded
as favorable II crop conditions take turn
for the better, and II is believed that the
reported injuries to the wheat crop have
been greatly exaggerated
Freezing temperatures, frost and con-
tinued cold weather has had great effect
very, plentiful, however, as the Arkansas
berries are only selling at 12h cents a box
at retail but the berries are of poorer
quality and have not thoroughly ripened,
owing to the extreme cold weather re-
Gently experienced. There are plenty of
string beans and wax beans on the market
and sweet potatoes have again made their
appearance after an absence OF three weeks.
been out of the market for two or three
weeks, and eucumbers are becoming more
plentiful and retailing at greatly reduced
prices. The first California cabbage OF the
season has been received and 10 meeting
with ready sale on account of its superior
quality over that formerly received from
Louisiana and South Carolina. The po-
tato market is much higher and asparagus
Is very scarce on account Of the cold
Weatner retardlng It's growth. The last
apples OF the season have been sold by
commission houses, but local pie plant,
spinach and green onions are very plenti-
full New beets and carrots have been
received from Louisiana, but are high Ia
price, as are green peas. The orange and
lemon market continues to hold firm and
there has been no material change in
prices. Prospects for a good crop of
apples locally and in New York are good.
Notwithstanding the frOsts and bad weather
prevalent. Currants, cherries and small
fruit have been damaged by frosts and the
future supply will be light of the home
grown stun New potatoes are more plenti-
full and most home grown fruits and
vegetables are coming into the market as
well as could be expected, but outside
crops have been retarded by the unfavor-
able weather generally prevailing through
out the southwest
The sugar market has been very firm,
but no advances in price have been made
at Missouri valley points, although there
was a sensational advance at San Fran
cisco of 80 cents per hundredweight, which
affects all points in the Pacific coast terri
tory. The tendency on both raws and re-
fined Is higher, but no effects have become
noticeable at this point
Cheese continues to rule firm to slightly
higher, as the cold spring has retarded
pasturage. The coffee market has been
without feature but the demand for the
better grades continues good and prices
are steadier on these lines. Poorer qualities