The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-01-04
Heads Of Local Concerns Optimistic
About New Ysar-1s15
Proved to be Sue
cessfuI.
THINGS RESPONSIBLE
Farmers Prosperity and TO some tx.
tent, the Great War Have
Helped Produce Good
BUSINESS Conditions

The year 1915. and especially the
last three or four months, was good
year indeed for the Keokuk jobbing
interests and wholesale establish
ments, according to statements made
by officials of all Of Keokuk's jobbing
houses. And not only that, but the
outlook for the year 1915 Is one of
the rosiest In years, and. according
to one local jobber, the new year
should prove the most prosperous the
country has ever seen.
Almost every Keokuk jobber inter-
viewed on the subject gave the same
reasons for the unrivaled era Of
prosperity. The war has to great
extent been cause. as it has greatly
lessened the competition which coun-
tries at war formerly gave and has
created a greater demand for the
home product. OF course those Amer
lean manufacturers who have large
export trade, have suffered through
restricted shipping as result OF the
war, but those firms VINO manufac-
ture purely for local consumption.
such as the Keokuk firms, have been
benefited through the decrease of for
eign competition.
The wealth of the farmers is also
another cause for the prosperity.
Crops have been good this year and
they have brought plenty Of money.
The farm ers. large buying class.
have had the money to spend and
they have spent 1t.
D. B. Hamill. president of the S.
Hamill company, sees prosperous
year ahead for his company. Mr.
Hamill stated that 1915 had been a
very good year. especially the last
three or four months. During the
early months Of the old year. the war
caused the markets to fluctuate and
this had a tendency to make bust
ness unstable, but now business ap-
pears to be on a firm footing and
an exceptional year Is looked for
ward to by 8. Hamill company.
Asaph Buck, president of the Buck
|Reiner company. made the following
statement: We had good volume Of
business In 1915 and everything looks
favorable for 1916.
II. c.. Brown, secretary of Kellogg
Birge company, stated that from.
present indications the year 1916
would be the most prosperous the
eountry has ever seen. THE year
l915 was good" he said, "but the war
paused such fluctuation. in the mar
ket that conditions were not ideal"
Mr.. Brown said that business was
stable now and that tffe home mar
ket had been greatly increased be-
cause of the war which, had been re-
|sponsible for limited imports.
D. A. Collier, general manager OF
Blom- Collier company, 1said that he
looked for a great business year in
1915, but felt that 1t would not be a
normal year. 1.-THE European war"
he said, has made business condi-
lions abnorma! and the sudden end
OF the conflict would be felt far and
wide in the business world, although
1t would only bring conditions back
to their normal aspect Mr.. Collier
said that there was chance for big
paper prosperity and that this might
or might not materialize.
Mr.. Collier also said that the pros
porous conditions of the farmers had
helped business. Big crops had
brought plenty of money and the |
money had circulated freely.