The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1915-01-08
ACTIVE SPRING EXPECTED
BY RETAIL MERCHANTS
OUTLOOK BRIGHTER
Holiday { lies Average Well With
Those of Year Ago-Low
Point Passed,

166u9 OIL JauudTy q, Sdy6 "a UuoihCoo III
the South Atlantic States that "the
but steady and an active spring is ex-
pected." The Baltimore Office reports
that the colder weather has had a
stimulating effect on the clothing. un-
derwear and shoe trade and the out
look generally, while among some
large employers of labor the situation
continues rather unsatisfactory, there
are lines In which there are indica-
tions Of renewed activities, the Baiti-
more shipyards. iron plants and rail-
road shops having restored to their
payrolls several thousand men. ES.
ports from that port Of breadstuffS
exceed all previous records The de-
presaion in the canned goods trade
has been to some extent overcome and
thCre are now indications Of progress
sive betterment. Dealers in building
supplies say trade continues dull but
collections are fair to good. The hOli-
day season has been on the whole sat
isfactory in retail lines and there ia
apparent solid confidence regarding
the future. - -'.'t' -r,'-,
Richmond's report to Dunn's is al
so optimistic. Severe weather dur
ing the last few days has stimulated
the movement cf heavier lines CO STE
pie merchandise and some country
merchants are placing ORDERS for the
replcnishment of their stocks. Re.
tailers. In casting up the results OF
holiday trade, have found that sales
average we'll with last year and in
some instances show an excess. A
number OF travelling statesmen have
not yet returned to their territories.
being engaged in changing samples
to spring lines. Several houses re.
port further Improvement in collec-
tions. Bank dividend disbursements
show an increase over 1913.
The Boterie is q Columbia firm that
has not felt ,appreciably the depres-
sion in trade. H. H. Powell, mana
ger. said last night that the trade for
1914 was in excess of that for cor
responding months In 1918. "Wetbal.
ance our books July 49," The said.
All along through the fall we COM
pared the volume OF monthly sales
with those of 1913. y.Inae each instance
the 1914 trade exceeded that. of 1913.
Since Christmas. though. there has
been q decline and January trade to
date Is, below what 1t was one year
ago." - ''':' i,
g JIG. Copeland OF the Copeland
company said that the lowest Ieys! -
the depression had been passed. He
did not look for any material im-
D-oveiuolt before early spring. but
thought 1t likely that there might be
a boom then. December trade with
this company was very encouraging.
The bulk OF business for the year
however, was not equal to that OF
1918. ,
e. p. Davis, dealer in shoes. did not
find the last half years business as
disappointing as early fall trade indi-
Gated. when we balanced the books
we were agreeably surprised to find
that our excess sales to- July practi-
cally balanced the deficit from slack
ohed trade in the fail. II was not
nearly 40 disappointing as we had ex-
pected."
Mr.. Davis has compared the vol
ume OF his firms, business IN 1914
with that Of, several years prior to
1913, which was. he thinks. one OF tho
best years Columbia merchants have
ever known. Trade In 1914 was not
below that OF 1911 and 1872, he SAYS,
and he has found travelling men maxi
Ing the same analogy. 80. 80. - = =
With Il. L. Kinard. the clothier. ex-
periences, have been similar to most
business houses: there was a gradual
recovery In November and December
from the tremendous slump early m
the fall. The years: business was
not equivalent to that Of 1913. "Since
Christmas our trade has been good.
We hope It will continue. and be-
lieye it Will. We think the extreme
limit Of the depression has been
reached and look for readjustment
through the spring." This company
does not balance its books until March
and could not give more definite In.
formation. - }Se