Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-10
CONDITION OF OMAHA'S TRADE
0ptinistiO Expressions Of All Lines Ar'
Heard from JobberS
WEATHER HAS A MATERIAL INFLUENCE
Car Shortage Bears Its weight with
Marketing, Especially ImpIe-
ments for which De-
mand t. Strong.

mAnd IL Strong.
Optimistic expressions are heard from
Jobbers In all lines of business concerning
the outlook for the advancing spring trade,
although the shortage of cars causes con-
siderable alarm in some quarters ship
count of the unusual quantities of goods
handled. While some cars for shipping are
being received, the condition as regards
the hardware and implement jobbers is de-
scrtbed as extremely acute. many shipments
being delayed for months with little pros
pect OF their immediate receipt
Weather conditions In the northwest have
had much influence on the trade in several
lines, but the last few days of pleasant
weather have resulted In the incoming OF
many buyers from eastern and central Ne
braska and adjacent Iowa and Dakota
cities The car shortage has been the chief
FACTOR in the implement trade during the
week, cars being obtained only with great
difficulty.
All implement jobbers have received no
tice from manufacturers of straight in
crease in price Of per cent on all lines,
effective at once, and the word has passed
along to the travelling statesmen to govern
the advance, which is considered perfectly
legitimate, Is given that there was no ad-
vance last fall I'm the prices on implements
when buggies and wagons were subJecte
TO the per cent raise and that the present
Increase has been merely delayed for sew
eral months: The increased cost of ma
terials, labor and of transacting business
in general is deemed the cause OF the fat
increase, which has been expected by the
Jobber and retailer alike ever since the
increase on buggies and wagons.
All implement jobbers are unusually
which have been crowded to their capacity.
All implements are selling well, as Is
usual at this period Of the year, nearly all
orders having been disposed of, but no sec
ond orders have been received or are ex-
pected early in the season. Increased
10 sl.,tIg.
planters, harrows and other strictly agri-
cultural implements. but a period Of de-
preston in these particular lines is expected
soon
Collections on implement sales could be
better as they are rather slow, but are in
fair shape, although extensions are being
quency.
Heavy Demand for shoes.
Shoe jobbers report large call for rubber
| goods on account of the moisture present
seems to be inclined to the belief that
! lower range of prices cannot be expected
as the demand for all lines of goods is
| unprecedented. Sales of rubbers in north
| ern Nebraska have been very large on ac-
| count of the climatic conditions prevailing
Larger stocks Of rubber goods are being
carried and the supply does seem to nearly
equal the steady demand.
Large quantities of all varieties OF shoes
are being shipped, although the demand is
| but normal for this season, as the spring
rush is nearly over. Sales Of Oxfords are
| about the average and high shoes continue
| TO lead the market in certain sections. Tans
are not in demand and evince plainly that
the tan shoe Is not to be popular during
Dry goods jobbers had good house trade
during the last week and order business is
good as well, both direct and from travel
| Ing statesmen. The market continues ex-
| ceptionally strong. American grays and
prints and MORNINGS. which were held at
| 81 cents, were advanced Friday u cent
| ClaretG and reds also advanced Friday
| to cents and almost everything in plain
cotton goods, printed goods of all kinds
\ made in plain cloth, has been marked up.
Jobbers are taking orders for printed
| fabrics Of all kinds at the opening prices,
on which advances are looked for In the
Collections are fairly satisfactory when
| consideration is given to the approach of
| the heavy buying season.
No Change I'm Hardware.
No change in hardware prices is reported
There is n decided scarcity of goods owing
to the car shortage, particularly on nails,
| as factories are three weeks behind on
| orders. There is a large demand for wire
nails and wire fencing. The volume OF
business in sporting goods, base ball, ten
\ and will be probably double the large trade
| or last year. The trade in sporting goods
has only begun and jobbers look for an in
| crease over the present brisk trade.
Cars remain scarce and orders are far
| behind. Few buyers called on the trade
during the last week. Collections have
| been good.
shovels spades and, in fact all kinds of
steel gardening tools are in good demand,
particularly in Colorado and Utah.
The spring trade in hardware promises to
eclipse that of previous years, but jobbers
complain of short supplies of stock, as
goods ordered I'm December have not been
| is cause for some apprehension, but better
| conditions are looked for.
| In the Grocery Line.
No change is reported in prices Of refined
| sugars at this point. New York refiners
| have advanced the list 10 cents per hun
dred and 1t is rumored that New Orleans
has followed with a similar advance The
raw market is strong and active prices
ruling 1sc higher than last week. London
also reports much better market on raws
| and some speculation has been evident, re-
suttng in higher prices ruling TOR the last
| half of March and first half of April de-
liveries, as prices at the present time are
| on a very low basis for this season of the
year. Many buyers are taking advantage
OF this fact and laying in liberal supplies.
| during the week about SsQ1sc and has been
! strong the last three days, but showing
| some evidences of weakening. The demand
! for all cofrees Is tremendous over the en-
| tire country, with a smaller available sup
! ply to select from than there was last year
although the visible supply has Increased
| 100000 bags over last year. This is due
! to the fact that the Brazilian government
has curtailed the supply by heavy pur-
| chases OF the native growth.
changed, although 1t is hard TO secure
! goods. some lines are exceedingly scarce
! and almost unavailable. 1t will probably be
only short time until all fancy october
| stock is out of the market. The general
| volume Of business for the week has been
very satisfactory.
| Fancy Goods, Fish and Fruit.
Fancy goods OF all kinds have been sold
| in large quantities during the last week
| 1t is now nearing the season when all re-
! tailers are stocking up on olives, which are
! extremely scarce on account OF a partial
| crop failure; imported sardines and other
/ lines Of fancy groceries. Prices ruling at
| the present time are low and no chance
! as far as any estimate can be given, for
| any lower range of prices in the near flu
| ture, All fancy goods are believed TO be a
! good buy at the present market which
/ rules strong.
Fish remain'in good demand. no reason be-
, ing seen why there should be any falling
on, as the end of Lent does not come until
! March 80. Prices on Holland herring
/ maCkelel and all smoked fish are higher
and II is a question OF getting goods more
] than of price. Smoked halibut is in fair
! demand and jobbers are under supplied.
/ Stocks OF all fish and fancy goods are
/ somewhat depleted,
/ Several varieties OF fresh fruits and vege-