The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-02
FRANK R. WH|TzEL
TALKS OF BUSINESS
Superintendent of Bradstreet'S
Optimistic Concerning the
Future.
SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT
IS MADE By AN EXPERT
Excellent Advice Also Is Given
as to the Present
Year.

Frsnk r. Whitzcl, superintendent of
:he Bradssreet company, presents a
resume of business conditions during
the past year aud calls attention to
home OF tho things which might be rom
edicd during tho coming year. The
statement is significant. i'll view of the
extreme optimism of business men and
merchants gcncrally} and present some
excellent advice for the opening of
new year The statement follows:
What is true OF the country as WHOLE
Is true in p lesser degree OF local trade.
modified. Of course, by conditions
peculiar TO this section. Collections have
been backward throughout the year, but
are gradually improving as the season
progressed and farm products were mar
keted. Wholesale trade has kept sur
prls!ngly up to the mark, the only month
not coming up to expectations being Oc-
tober. when the weather was unusually
warm. During the cold spell OF the last
sixty days winter goods have moved free
ly and jobbers are sold out more COM
pletely than usual Nor have the retail
erS found II necessary TO force the mar
ket by means OF sales: the absence of
which is sure token of ready buying by
We can expect cut-price sales in Janu-
ary and February, but these Will be to
spring goods. quite different thing
from stimulation sales in mid-season.
Jobbers' Trade Good.
Jobbers of staple articles. groceries.
meats. etc, report steady and satis-
factory trade, fluctuations in volume be-
This denotes that the public is buying its
needs freely, there being little or no
forced economy through hard times. II
proves that labor as a whole is well en-
are inactive at this season. And with
the high mark Of bank cleerings. it
shows healthy business condition.
marred neither by periods OF depression
nor OF feverish activity. From all indl-
cations 1910 will carry on the work in
the same sane and even manner
No conditions are apparent locally
which would give us backset But it
is we'll to remember that local conditions
were satisfactory right up. to the panic
Of two years ago. and that a similar
scare In the country now, conditions be-
ing practically the same as in 1907. would
damage us In the same way and In about
the same degree Some good judges arc
warning the business world that It is
sweeping along the self-same rapids
which In 1907 led to the abyss.
Discouraging Feature.
One discouraging local feature is the
tendency on the part OF retailers to COM
btne Tor the purpose OF raising prices
artiicialy above their natural level
which Is high enough In all conscience
OF course. this results in increased profits
for the moment But 1t would be well IL
these same retailers would seriously ask
the question in a temporary increase IN
profits is worth while as balanced against
an outraged and angry clientele, partic-
ularly that from the country, which can
and will take Its patronage elsewhere,
The worst reputation a city can get Is
that IT habitualy takes advantage of
every stranger within its gates. and this
reputation Salt Lake City Is rapidly earn
ing. Civic and business pride Is the
thing needed 10 correct the practice.