Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-14
TRADE CONDITIONS IN OMAHA
No Material Change in Prices, but Business
Very Heavy.
MUCH IMPROVEMENT IN COLLECTIONS
Handicapped I'm spring Trade
by Congestion I'm Factory Orders
and Many Lines Badly
Depleted.

Depleted.
Few features are to be noted In the trade
during the last week. Few country buyers
have called on the trade, but the volume
OF orders Of travelling statesmen continues
TO be very large. There has been no change
in prices on staple articles, but the gem
eral tendency In nearly all lines is toward
Strengthening, and advances are looked for
in several lines. The greatest dlmculty
confronting local iobbers Is the inability to
secure stocks on account OF the congestion
in factory orders and delayed railroad ship
ments. The car shortage has been aided
materially during the last week by the
railroads and shipments are moving easier
In this respect. A marked Improvement Is
reported I'm collections which was expected
after the first OF April and predictions
Of Jobbers In this respect have been con-
There has been no material change in the
prices Of dry goods but trade has been
very satisfactory, and statesmen carrying
advance lines are sending in large orders
for fall goods, The prospects for a contin-
uatiOn Of the present substantial trade en-
joyed are deemed good and fall business
promises to eclipse that of previous years.
Dress goods, outing fiannels, blankets, UNI
derwear and manufactured goods are NOV
ing well and advance orders have been OF
large volume. outside merchants have not
called on 1obbers to great extent during
the last week on account of unfavorable
weather conditions and the spring activity
displayed In all sections of the country.
Merchants are unable to leave their bust
ness and orders to statesmen have increased
on that account Jobbers hold out little
hope for lower prices In any lines of COM
modities, as staples are strong and an
other advance is anticipated in American
prints Collections have been very salts
factory and have improved immeasureably
over last spring,
Probably no jobbers have enjoyed as large
trade during the week those dealing In
hardware. The jobbers in this class Of
goods have discontinued accepting orders
for wire netting and screens of standard
q hnf Tna 90 Hefa
for this unusual condition of AFFAIRS Is
given as the unprecedented demand and
the failure of factories to keep up with
orders. Factories are from one to six
months behind. Country buyers have not
visited the market to any extent, but or
ders Of travelling statesmen continue OF I'M
usual quantity. The business Of this
month will be many thousands Of dollars
In excess Of that of last year and jobbers
and feeling prevailing. Collections are bet
ter than at any time this year. and this is
peculiar contrast to the conditions in the
east and south. Eastern and southern ac-
counts are very slow and all large eastern
Jobbers complain of the stringency of
money. The west has been free from such
conditions and accounts were never in bet
ter shape than at present. No reason is
assigned by eastern jobbers for the strin-
gency in their accounts unless the wealth
OF the west is increasing in advance Of the
east Nails are stronger and the supply
very light Nail factories are thirty DAYS
behind in orders. Garden tools have been
Yious years, although the spring orders
have all been shipped, but the many orders
now coming into the market are seconds
and imperative demands for Immediate
shipment The demand for spades and
shovels is larger than was expected on ac-
count Of the extension of railroad lines in
The trade in implements has decreased
In most lines, but the demand for plows
and ouggies is larger than usual. The
dry weather experienced has caused many
sales Of light vehicles, but the trade in
wagons has fallen on considerably
Prices have not changed, although the
general feeling is hrmer, and no declines
are expected. Jobbers have experienced
some difficulty In securing shipments on
but the greatest obstacle to spring business
is the shortage Of factory supplies Many
lines are depleted on account OF the failure
or factories to fill rush orders with any
degree OF facility and this condition is ag-
gravated In some instances. The spring
demand for drills harrows cultivators and
like implements has reached its greatest
proportions and the trade will be light for
some time in these lines. other implements
ders.
Orders for shoes have been large and
tobbers report steady market, with no
change in prices, although a lower range
is not thought possible in view Of the pres
ent high leather market.
No second orders for shoes have been
received, as the season has not advanced
far enough for such a condition to become
I
market cannot be determined with any de-
gre of accuracy. Shoe Jobbers, in common
With most other 1obbers, are having much
difhculty In securing stocks from factories
and shipments are several weeks in arrears
in this respect. Manufacturers did not pro-
trade ana jobbers' stocks are very 'n muchR
depleted in several staple lines. Oxfordse
continue In good demand but the rubber
business has decreased on account of the
very dry weather in the territory supplied
by Omaha houses. Collections have i'm
proved, to an extremely gratifying extent,
the stringency of the last few weeks in this
respect having been removed almost in its
entirety.
Dealers in fresh produce complain OF the
! recent week Of bad weather, as trade has
been considerably affected for this reason
Vegetables and strawberries have been
! tion I'm price. The quality of strawberries
in the market has not been OF the best but
better berries, win be in the market this
week from Arkansas. The first car of new
srystal wax and yellow Bermuda onions
has arrived and is Of good quality. Apples
are plentiful and potatoes mostly from
/ Wisconsin,. are slightly higher Head cab
( bage is very scarce and is retailing much
| higher. The cabbage crop in California,
plies, has been seriously damaged and new
/ prices.
The sugar market is practically the same
| as last week.. No change OF note has taken
| place in prices on the refined although
raws are slightly hrmer. The volume of
are good prospects for a good crop of
J small fruit which will materially increase
/ the consumption OF sugar.
| Cheese is Arm, with the fancy October
stock ruling slightly higher Fancy brick
and limburger hold steady and the demand
| continues about normal.
The coffee market has been steady until
| the last few days when II has grown
weaker. Strength is maintained In the bet
/ ter grades, but the offerings are mostly
trashy and OF undesirable qualities, so the
prices have eased of. Jobbers look for
| good trade, as the dullness evident for sew
I eral weeks has passed. II Is practically
impossible to secure options on any Of the
best qualities and prices promise to go
] higher
Prices on cereals and syrups are I'M
changed, with the demand only fair for
/ this season OF the year. The rush period
! has passed for several months and little
| Improvement Is anticipated until the close
! Of the season Of warm weather.
! No change Is reported In corn or toma-
toes for the last week. Some very in
Inherently packed western corn has been