The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-25
AND THIS IS PANIC
Topeka Merchants Beat All
Christmas Trade Record,
Even the Banner Year of 1906
Was ExceIled.
A SURPRISE TO ALL.
Was the Shadowy Character of
the Depression.
Lit Melted Away Before Bargains
Well Advertised.
Customers Had the Hard Cash
and Bought Literally.
We do not fear
The Christmas Cheer
Or Santa Claus.
For why? Because
We've got the money
Was the Shadowy Character Of
the Depression.
Lit Melted Away Before Bargains
Well Advertised.
Customers Had the Hard Cash
and Bought Literally.
We do not fear
The Christmas Cheer
Or Santa Claus.
For why? Because
We've got the money.


1t was something like this that To-
peka Christmas shoppers chanted this
year. They didn't sing out of tune,
either, as they dug down into their
pocketbooks and paid out cash. real
money.
On, how the sight of good hard cash
cured the money stringency that some
merchants may have experienced. for
there wasn't a business man in To-
peka but what did a rafting good
trade. From the vendor of peanuts to
the owner Of the big department store
they all went happy to bed last night,
and though tired and worn out from
exertions to meet the insistent demands
Of customers, they grunted with deep
content as they pulled the ''kivers" of
the bed over them.
Better than last year. Is the SYM
postum of the expressions heard on all
sides as the merchants were asked this
morning to get up and speak their
piece on how good business was. None
Of them acted as If they were unwilling
but graciously offered to tell just what
in the way of trade.
Topeka is prosperous and there is
plenty of cash on hand. This is what
tanned in the interviews. Christmas
presents are more of the useful vskriety
and the grade of the goods bought is
with few exceptions up to what it
was last year and the good years be-
fore In the east it has been just the
other way this season.
BEST we have had in dollars and
cents said E. H. Crosby of Crosby
Brothers. I'VE have beat the cash
sales for last year by 40 per cent
The charge sales were corresponding
" less. On Saturday, Monday and
Tuesday we made our record breaking
sales. Last Saturday broke all our
store records for business and the
amount of cash paid in exceeded the
corresponding day last year. In some
of the departments such as the ready
to wear. toys and furs the records
WerA not as good as last year butsin.
the furnishing goods and fancy wear,
and furniture. too, the records were
better than ever. The out of town
trade was about as usual. We have all
reason to be GRATEFUL
Better than ever said H. A. Auer- |
bach of the Palace Clothing company. |
Our cash sales were about 5 per cent |
to 20 per cent better than last year.
The Christmas trade is going more |
and more towards useful furnishings |
and our sales were heavy i'll furnish |
ings. suits and overcoats. We sold |
more overcoats this Christmas than
we did suits and it seems to be going
1T was better than we anticipated
and better than last year" said Arthur
Mills, of the Mills Dry Goods company.
There was about the same proportion
of cash sales to charge and / don't
think that the present condition of the
money market has effected the retail |
business in Topeka up to the present
at least. Our Christmas trade was more
than we expected under the existing |
conditions. 1 don't think that they
bought a cheaper grade of goods but
Just about the same as they have in
previous years."
"AlI right" concisely put in this form
was the satisfaction expressed by w. |
W. Whitney of Warren NJ. Crosby &
Co 1T was better than last year. We |
were surprised in the results as under |
the conditions we didn't expect to do |
as much this season as last. 1t is the |
greatest increase made during the last |
four years. The sales were not so |
heavy but they were more numerous |
so 1 conclude that not so much of the |
expensive goods was purchased. 1t was
more largely of the stable character, |
however"
The customers made such an on
slaught that, as he laughingly put it, |
they would have taken the counters if |
they had not been fastened down, was |
Marshall & Co. expressed it. 1T was
away ahead of last year" he stated. |
I'VE are practically even right now
with the month and have still five more
Gays IN WHICH 10 10 BUSINESS. IT1lIh
our Christmas business was fully 20 per
cent better than last year. A little ear
lier we were apprehensive about the
trade but IL came up with rush in
the last week. We had more cash sales
than ever and I don't think we saw a
500 worth of scrip in all that time.
The sales went heavy on holiday goods
and as a result we have been practically
all sold out in that line"
Right up with last year" said w. N.
Hall of the Hall Stationery company.
II don't think that you would notice
any difference either in the volume of
business or in the amount of cash sales.