Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-02-26
WEATHER AFFECTS
ALL TRADE LINES
Bankers Join Anvil Chorus and
Wait Patiently for
Blue Skies.
COLLECTIONS RATHER SLOW.
Delayed Crop Deliveries Cause of Short
Settlements-Wholcs Re-
port Slow Business.

The local banking SITUATION mas
been quiet this week. with a better
money supply, but with the demand
slackening, doubtless due to the unpro-
pitious weather. II unfavorable cli-
matte conditions continue during the
coming week, another uneventful week
may be anticipated. A feature of the
week. however, was the visit to this
city of Editor Edwards of the Coast
Banker of San Francisco, who called
on tho local banks during his short
sotourn here, en- route TO Boston. An
other feature in the personal line was
the arrival OF the new cashier of the
National Copper bank from Ely, New,
to assume his new duties here.
Henry Clews in his last circular let
ter says. 1.-THE question of high mer-
chandise prices is still a vexed one.
In January there was a moderate re-
cession In merchandise values. Brad
streets figures showing a drop of IL
per cent. due partly to popular agita-
ton against high costs OF food and
partly to the break in cotton. The
true remedy for present high prices is
a general increase of production, es-
peclally OF food products and raw
materials, of which the supplies gen.
orally are moderate, IL not actually
deficient. This country is pre-emincnt-
ly in need of a great increase In agri-
cultural products. Our farmers do not
begin TO turn out the product per acre
that is done In Europe. In many cases
their product could be doubled upon
the present area by better and more
scientific systems OF agriculture. This
is the only solution for tho present
problem OF cheaper food In all prob
ability 1t will solve itself by natural
means. The great profits which farm
ers are now making will immensely
stimulate agricultural activity. Doubt
less 1t will attract to the
agricultural classes a higher or
der OF intelligence and result in the
one necessary thing OF increasing the
product per acre. BY this method the
farmer will not only maintain his pres
ent profits. but will at the same time
considerably enlarge them: meanwhile
giving the consumer the benefit of a
larger and cheaper supply of food.
Should the weather prove favorable
during the coming season there is
every reason to look for large hnr-
vest; the one thing above everything
else which the country needs to main
tain the present course of prosperity"
HARDWARE.
The hardware trade reports local
conditions somewhat stationary on
account of unpropitious climatic con-
ditions, although it is in excess OF
February of 1909. There is consider
able speculative buying in builders
material, but there can be no rush
expected until there Is some approxi-
nation to settled weather. However,
household Sundries. such as kltcheN
and table ware and utensils are In
very fair demand. Collections are not
what might be desired. particularly
from points where 1t Is reported large
quantities of potatoes, and grain of
last seasons crops could not be moved
because of the great depth Of snow
which Is claimed to be the deepest In
40 years. Being unable to ship all of
their products, farmers could not real
ize on them, and hence are necesSar-
lily slow in paying bills. The paint and
glass section of the hardware trade is
reported very satisfactory, and the
saddlcry part has nothing to complain
Of. Sporting goods for tennis. base
ball. croquet, golf. etc, are proving
good sellers.
LUMBER.
The lumber trade reports a general
condition of quietude. The weather in
the northwest is unfavorable for out
of door operations there as here-per-
haps a little more so, as there Is con-
siderably more snow there than here.
Then unfavorable strike conditions
still obtain on the railroads in the
northwest, and cars are hard to get on
the Hill lines. Prices remain un-
changed. remaining at a range not
likely to be disturbed Immediately.
The retail yards are not doing much.
for climatically obvious reasons. The
cement trade is all that can be de-
sired, the new mill in the north send
ing out n steady product which is
quickly absorbed by the trade.
DRY GOODS.
The wholesale dry goods trade re-
ports being affected by the weather
which is something unusual for tho
wholesale trade to complain of as gen.
orally climatic conditions do not af-
feet that branch of business. Then to
this may be added the claims of man.
ufacturcrs that present prices hardly
cover the cost OF manufacture, while
buyers allegc that these same prices
arc higher than trade conditions war
rant. Fall prices are liable to b'
based on the supposition that cottol
will bring higher prices later in th
year. Local trade Is fair, with M
special features for the week Jobber
say that the general wholesale markc
is strained, with margin of profit TOT
narrow in some lines. as on mapped
-attons. printed and heavy BROW
goods. The duck market Is irregular
with price concessions offered by small
mills, the demand for fancy dres
Guck improving in some quarters
There has been a furry In denims
owing to price reduction by an east
ern factory man. There has bee
close buying on colored fabrics, Wit
business on a close margin Of prof
Prints and bleachcd cotton goods al
dull. Ginghams arc In demand. RI
tailers being desirous of washed fat
rIcs to sell at popular PRICES The-
are complaints OF delayed deliveries
particularly in the west.
Fall ginghams have been selling we
Fine, plain cottons do not sell freel
and In the gray tend to lower quots
tIons Prices on many fancy cloti
have now reached a point where son
part OF the product ran not he handle
by the wholesale trade. Rough e
fects in fabrics move we'll Nobby c
fects in all kinds OF flnc cloths a
wanted, and some fair orders ha'
been received by first hands. The kn