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

issue of January q. says Of business In
the South Atlantic States that "the
trend towards Improvement Ia slow
but steady and an active spring is ex-
pected." The baltimore Office reports
that the colder weather has had u
stimulating effect on the clothing. unT
derwear and shoe trade and the out
look generally. while among some
large employers of labor the situation
continues rather unsatisfactory. there
ara lines in which there are indica-
tiops Of renewed activities. the Balti-
more shipyards, iron plants and rail
: road shops having restored to their
payrolls several thousand men. Elk
! ports from that port of breadstuffa
exoesd all previous records, The de,
: preston in the canned goods trade
has been to some extent overcome and
there are now Indications of progres-
F, stve bettsrment, Dealers In building
supplies say trade continuea dull but
! collections are fair to good. The holt
day season has been on the whole sat-
isfaetoFy in retail lines and there Ia
apparent solid confidence regarding
the future.
Richmond's reneet to Dunl's Ia al
so optimistic. Severe weather dur
ing the last few days has stimulated
the movement of heavier lines of sta.
pie merchandise and some country
merchants are placing orders for the
replenishment Of their stoeks. Re
holiday trade, have found that sales
average we'll with last year and in
some instances show an excess. A
number Of travelling salesmen huye
not yet returned to their territories
being engaged In changing sanpies
to spring lines. Several houtes re-
port further Improvement In collec-
tiens. Bank dividend disbursements
show an increase over 1913.
The Roterie ia a Cnlumh!s Arm Ass;;m that
has not felt appreciably the tepres.
sion in trade. H. II, Powell, mana
ger, said last night that the trade for
1914 was In excess of that for cor
responding months In 191S. "We bal,
ance our booka July l5,n he said
"Ail along Through the fall We com,
with those Of 1918. Ia each, tnstance
the 1es4 trade exceeded that Of 1913.
Sipce Christmass though. there has
been a decline and january trade 10
Qate is below what 1t ,wss one year
ago" ";
# &c. Copeland Of the Copeland
company said that the 1owest level -
the depression had been passed. He
did not look for any material Inn
provement before early spring, but
thought 1t likely that there might be-
q boom then December trade with
thfa company Yves very encouEaging
The bulk Of business. for the year.
however. was not equal to that Of
1913,
q; p Davis. dealer in shoes. did not
los hot 49,,
dfRRppQint ting as early fall trade ipli-.
Gated. When we balanced the books
We were. .agreeahly surprised TO- find
thht onF excess sales to. July pTaeti,
callN balanced the deficit from slack
oned trade. In the fHlh It, wes not
nearly so disappointing as we had ex-
1ectad,".
MI. DaylH has compared the vol
,lplai of biR flTTm's businesa in 1914
with that Of, several years prior to-
19Ba. whiahi was, be Thinks. one or the
heRt years Columbia merchants have
oyeI' known, Trade In t9t4 was not
belpW that Of 191it and 1919. he, SAYS,
and 4a has found travelling men max
Ing: the same analogy. Z y
With MI. L., Knagdi: the elothier eSt
qoEllan9ast have, been e'mtiar to- most
lhR4RineAs, houses; there .taa o. gradual
from thu tremendous sInmp early in
tho fall The years buRipasa was
not EQUIVALENT to, that Of 1918. "Sinee
Christmas our trade, aas been. good.
We. hone. II Will continue. and. ba--
MaEe, II will Wo. think the extreme
link Of the, dapTessIph haa; been
reached and look for g. TeadjHstapent
thEQughl tho sREings". ThiH; oonnaHN
Does not BALANCE It's hooks until March
anai could not glya. more definite inr.
formation.