The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-01-14
Farmer Wives Will
Buy Spring Finery
Country Merchants Buy More Spring
Finery Than for Many Past
Years

west is gong TO nave new spring
dress or a new neck ribbon and every
farmers daughter big enough to go to
school is going to wear something new
when spring comes on and there is go
ing to be more dressing up this spring
than ever before, if the preliminary
signs that may be seen in Minneapolis
mean anything. Nothing about the
prevailing weather would suggest it,
but it is fact nevertheless that the
biggest spring trade Minneapolis ever
handled in all the prints and calicoes
and silks and satins and fluffy stuffs
that women are going to blossom out
in when spring opens is now on. Dry
goods merchants in the country expect
liberal buying of spring material from
the farmers wives and are preparing
for it. The year 1913 is starting off
in the wholesale dry goods trade in a
manner to promise a business for the
period that will exceed the high total
of 1912.
The Wifes' Turn Now
Travelling men have it figured out
that the women are going to demand
new dresses this year and are going to
get them. Last year, after the big
grain crop was harvested, the farmers
thought first of paving up debts, buy
ing some new machinery, fixing the
leak in the water tank, painting the
barn and doing other needful things
about the place. But there are many
millions of bushels of last years grain
crop still out on the farms unsold, and
as fast as this is disposed of and the
money comes in the farmers wives are
going to begin to think about fixing
themselves up little.
Stock Up for Big Demand
This at least, is what the travelling
statesmen are telling the country mer-
chants by way of inducing them to
place liberal orders, and that the coun-
try merchants believe it and expect
such a demand is evidenced by the
way they are stocking up.
There is most lively and satisfac-
tory spring trade in dry goods" said
George H. Partridge of Wyman, Part
ridge & Co., discussing business condi-
tons here. at is the result of last
years big crop and a general feeling
of confidence. Orders now being en-
tered for spring trade are running
we'll ahead of last year and will make
the biggest spring business ever hand
led by considerable There is a gen.
eral feeling in the country that pros
perity is here to stay, and this is one
reflector of it. | have not noticed
any one line that would warrant spe-
cial mention, it is good all-around
demand.
"In the latter part of October and
in November we did not find collec-
tions very good. This was not be-
cause there was anything serious the
matter, but because of marketing con-
ditions for the crop and other causes
that we believed to be temporary.
Consequently we did not give our
selves much concern over it, as it was
general, and all the wholesale houses
felt it to some extent, and we expected
that it would change.
Collections Improve
"In the first week of December col
lections began to improve and all
through that month there was a
marked and sustained improvement.
Consequently, collections have been
brought up into good shape and are
at this time continuing good. Mel
Their do see anything now that should
again slow them down.
while my observation is princi-
pally in the wholesale dry goods trade,
in which spring business is so good,
our reports indicate general condi-
ton favorable to all wholesale lines.
The year 1913 has made most excel
lent start and there is every reason
to expect a big year in 1913 in all
lines"