The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-25
A GREAT WEEK.
Merchants Say That Holiday
Trade Was Wonderful.
Many Say That the Records
We're Broken.
FOR BETTER TIMES.
Prelude to Greater Activity in
All Lines.
Real Estate Sales Continue to
Be Encouraging.

Christmas is here. and the hurry and
hustle of the holiday trade is at an
end. Now that the din of business has
subsidized it is evident that the seasons
trade has eclipsed all records in the
history of the capital city There are
proofs on all hand of the substantial
growth of Topeka both from a financial
standpoint, and as regard population
Inere is no question about its being
the best Christmas season we have ever
had in Topeka" was the remark of
one OF the merchants. Our holiday
trade has been so per cent better than
year ago., he continued Other mer-
chants have placed their increase in
trade at from 10 to 30 per cent while
there were none of the merchants in
terVleWed who experienced a decrease.
although in one or. two cases it was
reported that no particular gain had
been made A conservative estimate of
the Increase of the volume of trade over
last year would be between Is and 80
per cent.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
shoppers responded fairly we'll to the
request on the part of the merchants
that they do their purchasing early, the
md rush at the last minute was. if
anything more intense than ever The
clerks in the stores as they left for
their respective abodes last night had
the appearance of being decidedly
shop worm" and great was the re-
joicing that the time had come when
they could enjoy a breathing spell. In
a number of the stores the jam was
so great that it was difficult to wend
ones way through the crowds.
The farmers for the most part waited
until this week before making their
purchases on account of the heaviness
of the roads during the preceding two
or three weeks. One feature of the
holiday trade which was noticeable was
the It that there were an unusually
large number of buyers from the out
lying towns. The grOcerS are not usually
included with those merchants who are
generally supposed to profit to large
degree by the outside trade but in re-
gard to this A. L. Green, of the firm
OF William Green & Son, had the fol-
lowing to say: 1--WE have had a very
good out of town trade. 1t IS especial
ly the fancy goods that these people
buy Continuing Mr.. Green said:
The trade has been exceptionally good
better than 1 have ever known it.
THE people have not only been buy
ing a lot of goods but they have bought
a high class of provisions.
Our holiday trade has been so per
cent better than last year although 1
do rot know that 1 would attribute it
altogether to the Christmas season. as
there are other reasons. There is no
question about its being the best
Christmas season we have ever had in
Topeka
E. H. Crosby of Crosby Brothers
Dry Goods company asserted that the
trade at his store up to Wednesday
evening was greater than for the en-
tire holiday season a year ago, and
this in spite of the fact that last
year the teachers of the state met
in Topeka during the holidays and
aided ma terially in swelling the VOL
ume of trade.
Everything points to a good finan
cial condition in Topeka" was the
statement of Mr.. Crosby 1.-The weather
III 70 do CT
year was so warm that the sale of
coats was light. This year the peo-
pie have been buying the necessary
things and also the strictly holiday
goods. We have had a fine gain in
business every month this year. In
November when the teachers were
here, the gain was especially
marked
felt at the Mills Dry Goods store.
During the fall MONTHS said Mr.
Mills, land increase in buying has
been noticeable. and an additional in
advent of the holiday season Ac-
cording to our books. there was ex-
actly % ner cent more sales last week
than one year before
w w Whitney. manager for the
Warren NJ. Crosby Dry Goods COM
pany. asserted that the season had
been 2 record breaker at the Crosby
store and that the need of more room
has been felt
Great" was the way H. A. Auer-
bach of the Palace Clothing company
put it. George Stanst1eld, the drug
gist expressed himself in somewhat
similar manner. thus: Fine; never
had a better trade in my life" w.
F. Roehr. the music lnan: I'VE have
had a steady trade for the month and
are very well satisfied" c. w. Han
chet manager of the Topeka Wool
worth Five and Ten cent store: "Our
business has been the best in the his
tory of the store"
The stationery, confectionery and
iewelrv stores were among those to
reap the benefits of the prfsk Christ
mas trade.
The fact that the receipts for the
sale of postage stamps at the Topeka
postofffce showed an increase of 80
per cent over last year speaks wei
for the prosperous condition of the
capital city.
Another thing that looks good to
those vitality interested in the prog
ress of Topeka is the fact that the
prospects are bright for really great
state fair which will be credit of
the state Some of the prominent
men of Kansas have been selected to
serve on a temporary board of direct
ors which will guide the affairs of
the Kansas State Fair association. the
reorganized company This fair Will
bring throngs of people to the city.
OF course. the lar VIII oe Sedto
institution as far as its influence is
concerned. and it will bring before
the nation the vast resources of Kan
sas. but Topeka Kan-Topeka will
show the visitors during fair week
good city.
Among those who do not expect to
benefit by the holiday trade are the
real estate dealers. Aside from the
fact that building has been for the
most part suspended on account OF
fba exceptionally cold December
weather. and that the prospects are
not good for a great deal of build
ing activity during the next month or