Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-11
Local Financiers Report Few
Features, but Strong De-
mand for Money.
SHOP. KEEPERS ON THE JUMP
Holiday Trade Is British With Promise
or Greater Volume With Nearer
Approach OF Christmas.

General trade Is beginning 10 get busy
with Christmas as the holiday season
approaches and storekecpers every
where are assuming the qui v!ve in eN-
pcctation of big rush. Purchasers are
apparently giving some attention to the
feryid invitation of the retail business
community to shop early, thus avoid
ing q rush and crush at the last mo-
mcnts. and making 1t easier on the
clerks.
The banks report steady and grow
ing business, but no special features
for the week. The cleaTings for the
last two days have taken a drop as
compared with the figures of year
ngo; but there were specially heavy
receipts for n couple of days at that
time, which ran up the figures TO alb
normal dimensions. The sheepmcn are
applicants for loans, to help them carry
their stock through the winter. so are
business men who are branching out
for the holidays. 1t Is interesting to
note that the years clearfngs TO date
are slightly over S77. 200, 900 ahead of the
totals OF 1908
THE CLEWS LETTER.
Henry CIews in his last circular let
ter says:
General trade continues largo in vol
Ume. especially in the interior. Bank
clearings demonstrate this. Railroad
earnings are very satisfactory and the
extraordinary activity In steel MS yet
shows no signs of abatIng. Textiles are
also In good demand. Secretary Will
sons annual report emphasizes anew
the phenomenal prosperity of the agri-
cultural classes, showing that the crops
OF the current year arc valued on the
At limo faI.
or 100000 more than year ago,
This is an increase OF more than 10 per
cent In value in II months, which is
considerably greater than the increase
Of quantity In farm products and goes
far towards explaining the present high
cost OF living, about which complaint
Is so universal. This prosperity of the
farmer. the largest factor in our IN
dustrial llfe Is the bedrock of the pres
ent general activity In business He Is
probably making larger profits than are
his due. and at the expense of the tenn
porarily helpless consumer. But no one
begrudges him his good fortune, for lie
must use 1T either In getting out OF
debt. building up his bank deposit or
spending more or less In luxurIes, the
production of which Keeps others well
employed.
HARDWARE.
Inc harware trade reports good busl-
ness. with an increase in holiday wares.
including sleds. skates. silver plated
ware, cutlery etc The demand for
stoves and heaters continues without
any indication OF cessation, and not
withstanding the advent of steady win
try weather. the outgoing of builders
hardware has scarcely diminished.
There is Il tendency TO place orders for
February and March delivery. showing
that the manufacturers and jobbers
are behind In their orders. and want to
be prepared for further possible delays.
In fact some manufacturers are four
months behind In their orders.
LUMBER.
The lumber trade reports shipments
from the northwest as still badly tied
up. both by the weather and by the
switchmen's strike. Indications are that
fir lumber Will be advcSlced in cost the
first of the year. as the loggers want
more money for their logs, which they
are likely to get There Is no change
I'm shingles. but higher quotations are
expected IL the strike is not settled.
There is no more trouble about cement.
for there is plenty of IT, and the fac
tories are all running m full. An un-
precedented amount Will be used dur
ing the coming year.
WHOLESALE DRY GOODS.
The Wholesale dry goods trade re-
ports 1t Is between seasons now with
them and business for the time being
IS not particularly brisk. Preparations
for the most part is being made for
the spring trips of travelling men, who
are expected then to do a lively bust
ness. A good demand Is reported for
blankets. horse blankets. dress goods,
serges and Panamas. The cold weather
has stimulated some the 1obbing trade.
Jobbcrs report the goods market slow,
with not much progress In new busi-
ness, high cotton merchandising prov
Ing difficulty. There is a far call for
prints at higher ranges of prices,
sales on gray goods are small
Fancy cottons are In good de-
mand. with mercerized goods, pop
Inns and similar lines being well
taken Trade in white goods has been
fair, but not specially active. though
On the best styled novelties some manu-
facturcrs are oversold. While certain
rough goods are popular, some OF tbs
plain fabrics. mercerized and printed IL
pastel shades are being bought to the
exclusion of many other silks The
struggle between silk and cotton manu-
facturers Is bound to be interesting
this season. There are low prices for
underwear, some OF the mills changing
over to sweater manufacture. as tbt
demand for this class of goods has beer
phcnomcnally heavy. and 1t is founc
there is more money In them than II
cottons.