Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-25
BUSY WEEK IN
BUSINESS CIRCLES
Bank TelIers on the Jump Receiv-
ing Heavy Deposits From
The Merchants.
CLOSING WITH A FLOURISH.
Year, Taken All in All, Has Been
Good One for Various Lines OF
Business Endcavor.

The local banks report the money
market strong the current week, with
the rush usual during Christmas week.
while Friday was hummer" at tho
windows of the tcllers. patrons deposit
Ing profits of the week. while others
drew for immediate use. After Jan. l.
there promises to be plenty OF money.
This seems to be assured by the fact
that so much of the money paid by the
Hartman interests to the holders of re-
deemed bonds VIII then be finding its
way TO Salt Lake. or course the banks
are all closed today, 1t being Christmas
and legal holiday. AS appropriate
to the occasion. the directors OF most
OF the banks have handsomely remem-
bered their employees, the Deseret Ma
tional bank making Its special remem-
brance $40 to each. Provo CONNER
cial & Savings banks checks from the
recently declared dividend have been
received In this city, as welcome souv-
cnirs of the festnl occasion.
OUTLOOK UNSETTLED.
Henry Clews in his last circular let
ter says:
The business outlook Is somewhat
unsettled by prospects of labor agita-
tion. There are signs OF unrest. not
only among railroad employees, but in
the steel and several other industries.
In many cases the present high cost
of living Is the basis for increased de-
mands. but a determination to secure
as large returns as possible Is probably
an equal motive for these demands.
The general trend of values of COM
moditieS is upwards, and the necessary
process of adjustment to the higher
cost of doing business and living Is
perplexing and uncomfortable. Food
and clothing arc now very high, with
little prospect of declining until the
next harvest brings relief as 1t prob
ably will. The present high prices for
cotton, grain and other products should
induce very large crops during 1910.
assuming that no disasters interfere.
The acreage of winter wheat already
shows large increase, and every acre
capable of growing cotton will be
brought into requiSition next spring.
OF corn also the acreage in 1910 is sure
to be heavy; and the meat supply
must soon increase. Farmers both west
and south arc now enjoying prosperity
to a degree which they never antici-
pated. and the effect of this is already
being felt in an excellent demand for
all classes of merchandise. The Christ
mas trade thus far surpasses all rec
, -
factory degree of industrial and mer-
camille activity created by our agri-
cultural prosperity The outlook for
1910 is, therefore. distinctly encourag-
ing.
HARDWARE INCREASE.
The hardware trade is jubilant over
the rs per cent increase of this years
business over that of 1905 and the
l,sx 60,
Business conditions are reported
healthier as time progresses. with
losses minimized, and the effects of the
1907-S panic entirely recovered from.
There have been constant advances
along the line of prices which is salts
factory to the jobbers who placed their
orders to cover the advances. They
have on hand many thousand dol
lars worth of future orders taken for
the spring trade, showing q very sub
stantial increase of business in the
country, and a growth of needs. Es-
pecially have the agricultural sections
of the country been liberal purchasers
in future delivery of goods. Collections
have frightened up OF late months re-
markably. During the last few days.
trade has become little slack on ac-
count of the close proximity of Christ
mas. and the taking account of stock
However, there Is good output of cut
lery and skates, and holiday goods
generally, with a substantial trade In
staples. sheet iron. nails, and building
material. Pocatello recently sent
down for thousand dollars worth of
hardware, and promises to call on
Salt Lake for $1,000 more. The output
of builders hardware still keeps up.
Notwithstanding the advent of winter
and continuous unpropitious weather.
The trade believes the success of the
copper merger would be a good thing
for the hardware business and, in fact,
for the consumer generally.
LUMBER OUTLOOK.
The lumber trades opinion is that
the lumber business for 1909 has proven
10 per cent better than that for 1908,
The local situation is about the same
as last week. with the car scarcity
continuing the same as 1t has been.
Owing to the approach of Christmas,
business has dropped Off a little, but
promises to brighten up Immediately
after the first of the year. The gem
eral range of prices is advancing The
railroads are having strenuous time
Of 1t in securing ties. and the switch
mems strike has complicated things for
the trade. In the last 10 days. prices
have advanced from 81 to 81 per thou
sand feet on common stuff.
WHOLESALE DRY GOODS.
The wholesale dry goods trade locally
reports business at a standsttn for the
Immediate present, as inventory Is be-
Ing taken. and samples are being pre-
pared for salesmen to take out on the
road after the first of the year. Jobbers
report steady demand for quilts
and blankets. The outlook for heavy
goods is fair. There s no lack of de-
mand for hose and betting duck, avn
ings and other heavy cloths. but prices
rendered have not been UP to the high
er cost of cotton. There is an active
trading in gray goods. Bleached goods
have been toned up as consequence