Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-22
MERCHANTSSAY' GOOD
General Condition of Business
in the District.
OUTLOOK is ENCOURAGING
Assertion That Grade Is Here for
Him Who Will Go After It."
IT IS CONSTANTLY IMPROVING
No Real Reason Why Depression
IT IS CONSTANTLY IMPROVING
No Real Reason Why Depression
Elsewhere Should Be Felt at
National Capital.

eff you want to get at the truth as to
the health of a community" local mer-
chant said yesterday, you go to the peo-
pie whose duty it Is to study the condi-
tions and to report the facts not to fell
low with q sore toe or an aching TOOTH
because all the world looks dark to him.
So if you want to learn the real facts
about business in general. so far as 1t
concerns this community, go to the men
whose lives have been spent in building
up business and guiding it through all the
dangerous channels it must at one time
or another sail on it's way to the high
seas of prosperity. The unshaved citizen
with hair unkempt and rusty clothes, who
stands the public street corners and
kills time between chewing his cud of to-
bacco and the discussion of all subjects
under the sun until that shamed and sad
dened orb of light sinks into the west
but he is not always reliable"
On a mission OF inquiry among the
merchants. Star reporter visited bank
ers, brokers, butchers. bakers, dealers in
all lines of the necessarieS of life and
those who handle only the luxuries, every
class and grade of merchant in the broad
eXpanse of the District of Columbia, for
informant ton as to the general condition of
business of the merchant approached.
The general answer, almost as chorus
of unanimity was business is good. 1t
is constantly improving. The outlook is
encouraging. The trade is here for him
who will go after it
Progress at Steady Pace.
Throughout the era of doubt and dis
cussion that followed the announcements
that business elsewhere was nots what
it should be- Washington merchants found
their business going at the same
steady, reliable pace, and in many in
stances surprising That of the previous
year. Here and there merchants are
found who state that they have exceeded
their highest expectations, and that re-
suits for the past year We're better than
ever before. This is doubtless true in
many instances: but the general trend of
trade is good and the outlook has bright
aspect.
When things seemed to sag little
one business man said Il went at it
harder than ever. and | got my reward.
reasoned that conditions here were not
the same as elsewhere. Twice each month
Uncle Sam unrolls his big wallet, with
never a break and never halt. ! knew
| had what my customers wanted. l knew,
too. that prices were within their reach
and l just told them SO, not once. but
over and over again, and | got them
1t is regarded as d singular fact that
this is not more generally recognized here
Except for a sympathetic effect upon con-
lidence, that great essential to prosperous
trade there is no real reason why de-
preston elsewhere should be felt here,
except, perhaps in banking circles
I;radstraet's says: The showing made
by the Washington banks during the
financial furry throughout the country
is very creditable. There has not been
the slightest sign of weakness, and yet
they have taken care of their customers
at all times
Of Benefit to Consumer.
Among the merchants conservatism has
prevailed in buying which has greatly
operated to the advantage of the con-
sumner, because in not being at any time
overstocked they have always been in
position to quickly take advantage of
bargains in the general market, and the
weekly indeed almost daily, special sales
of bargains in nearly every line of trade
furnish ample testimony to the adVan-
tages derived by the consumer.
The wholesalers almost without eXcep-
ton report good business. OF the few
failures reported by Bradstreets there
was not among them a single merchant
whose capital rating at the time OF the
failure was more than 500. Among what
BradStreat's terms the substantial class
of merchants the financial showing is one
Of improvement and advancement. There
was some depression felt In the retail
trade in the fall. but business picked
up in December. and in January and Feb
ruary was fairly good in many respects
equal to that of the year preceding. A
late Easter. comp AIRED with an early
one last year, simply postpones activity,
but during the past two or three weeks
there has been Il very decided improve
| ment in conditions, as reported by Brad
| streets.
Building operations are not yet fairly
4 l,,t
| with preparations and plans for the
| spring, and with good weather operations
| in the building line will unquestiOnably
| become brisk and resume a normal tone
| There is renewed activity in real estate
| circles and there are many demands for
/ lots by home builders. The department
stores report that the demand for better
grades of goods is marked. Collections
especially in credit houses. where. if they
existed, hard times would first be felt
| are reported as strong and satisfactory
| Money is easier on approved collateral
| With good weather ahead and a long and
a strong pull in the right way, those who