Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-06
EXPECT NORMAL TRADE
Confidence Entertained by
New York Merchants.
SALES SHOW INCREASE
Buying Resumed at the Big Depart
ment Stores.
RICH THE CHIEF SUFFERERS
RICH THE CHIEF SUFFERERS
Fewer Patrons at the Hotels Than
Usual at This Time of the Year.
Deaths From Heart Disease.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

By WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
NEW YORK, December 4, 1907
Although the prices of stocks and bonds
remain remarkably low, and the market
is practically stagnant except for the pa
tronage of small investors throughout the
country, who are buying five, ten and
twenty shares at a time there is a more
hopeful feeling among mercantile circles
in New York and the commercial Their
mometer is rising rapidly. 1 have talked
with several of the most prominent mer-
chants in town and they all agree that
the scare Is over and expect a normal
Christmas trade. The banks are full Of
money everywhere and when confidence
is restored and currency is released from
the vaults and the tin boxes it is predict
ed that then there will be flood of
money. in such volume that the banks
won't know what to do with it.
AS an example of what nearly every
body has done, one of the safe deposit
companies on Wall street rented 81 boxes
during the last week in October, and the
cashier tells me that every one is filled
with currency. At Wanamaker's big store
l was told that the daily reports of sales
already show a marked increase and are
getting back to normal figures. During
the first three weeks of November they
sagged down to minimum. Low-water
mark was touched about the 10th of the
month. when nearly everybody stopped
buying but since the 18th of November
there has been decided change. particu-
larly in clothing, dry goods. hosiery and
other necessaries of life The improve
ment has not been so noticeable in the
other departments, which Is especially g.
nificant 1t shows that people are only
buying what they need.
At McCreerys, Mays. Saks' and other
departme mt stores the same reports are
made: That buying has been resumed,
and the aisles are beginning to fill up
again. Everybody seems more cheerful
and it is perfectly evident that the people
who have been boarding money are letting
it out again. All of the big department
stores seem to share in the improvement
and all expect to recover normal condi-
lions for the Christmas trade.
A few days ago there was conference
of advertising men from the newspapers
and the big stores. at which 1t was agreed
to make a1oint effort to stimulate buying.
The consequence was a series of articles
in the editorial columns and other parts
of the papers, urging people to do their
Christmas shopping now; telling them
that the stores are filled with Christmas
goods and that it is wise for everybody
to take advantage of the slack in trade
to make their sele ctions carefully without
being crowded or hustled. Almost every
paper in New York has contained similar
advice to the public and it seems to have
been received with favor. have no
doubt that the effect Will be conunuous'
| for without regard to the financial situa-
| ton it's always a good thing to take ad-
vantage of the days when the stores are
not crowded and the stocks have not beer
depleted by rush sales.
| Fewer Hotel Visitors Than Usual.
The hotels have been hard hit. They
have suffered more than the shops. becaus'
their out-of-town patrons have stayed al
home and saved the money they have
usually spent on pleasure and bushes:
excursions to New York at this time Of
wear. The local patronage has fallen of
in the same degree. Usually, during horsi
show week in New York. it is difficult fol
a stranger to fird place to lay his head
but this year he could have his choice OF
| rooms at any of the big hotels, and
noticed that the dining rooms at Sherry:
and the Waldorf were only partially fill
ed whereas in previous years 1t has beer
necessary to engage tables several days
ahead After the theater and the opera
| it is customary for rich people to go tt
the Waldorf. Sherry's. Delmonico's. Mar
tins and similar places for supper. ant
| the dining rooms are usually crowded a
midnight This fall it is not so. Hall
| the tables are vacant.
The latest wonder of hotel, which ir
many respect surpasses everything of the
kind in the world for the convenience
and sumptuousness of it's apartments, ha.
suffered severely. Long before it wa.
opened sufficient number of suites were
rented by the year to pay the interes
upon the bonds issued for construction
which, of course, was very encouraging
And the prices were fabc!ous. John Gate!
was advertised, as always, when eXtrava
gance is being discussed. and was credited
with paying $4,000 a year for his suite
/ He had been living at the Waldorf wher
he paid $4,000 a year. Other rich mel
had taken similar suites at less prices, ant
4 the most desirable apartments were lease,
by the year. I am told that many o
these contracts have been Cancelled dur
!. ing the last thirty days by people who's
. wealth has shrunken in the panic. Yer,
. little is said about it, however, and at tn
office of the hotel the stories are indig
nantly denied. With a revival of activity
however, it is probable that the contract
will be renewed.
piob Peon1e EconomizinC