The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-12-29
MERCHANTS DID BIG
CHRISTMAS BUSINESS
In Palatka Despite the IN
clement Weather of
Two Days.


country as the best trading season of
the year, despite the two days of al
most incessant rain, was evidently the
best season for business Palatka mer-
chants ever experienced. On Friday
and Saturday the crowds on the
streets were record breakers and trad
ing was sharp and brisk. The same
may be said of Tuesday, when the air
had tinge Of frost and to many was
an ideal day for the pref Christmas
season.
Wednesday the rain came down
early in the afternoon and kept COM
ing until after dark. Thursday all af-
ternoon there was a regular cloud
burst. The rain started soon after 2
o'clock and fell in a continuous tor
rent until long after ten o'clock at
night. Water several inches deep
flowed down the brick paved streets
from curb to curb and it was impos-
sible for people to get out.
The roads between here and Hast
Ifngs and other points on the east side
of the river were in places impassi-
BILE and word was sent out which put
"the kibosh" on any hoped for trade
from that section. Not over half a
dozen automobiles were in the city
from points on the peninsula, Pomona,
Crescent City, etc, section that
usually contributes much to Palatka's
Christmas trade in ordinary times.
Yet despite these embarrassing con-
ditions, business was better than ever
before known. The News man inter
viewed few of the leading merchants
and here is what they had to say:
J. H. Haughton-We had a splen-
did business all the week and our
sales will go way ahead of any pre-
vious year. On Saturday there was
a rush.
Ackerman-Ste was a
steady business all the week and our
clerks were kept busy. The sales
went way ahead of former years. but
we attributed it to the natural in
crease.
L. A. Smith-We were rushed to
death, especially on Friday and Sat
urday; business was way ahead of for
mer years.
NJ. S. Brown-We had splendid
business all the week, and despite the
inclerent weather the daily average
was good. Friday and Saturday We're
splendid days; yes, | think much bet
ter than last year. In addition, busi-
ness has been good all this week, our
daily sales going way ahead of the
after Christmas days last year.
Tilghman Hardware Co.-Yes, we
had a fine business, better than last
year, expect we lost some small
trade in Christmas specialties because
of the removal of the postoftice,
though that will not make any diff
feernce in the years business, not to
US, though the transients do not pass
our door now as formerly.
Fearnside Clothing Cove had a
tremendous trade, the biggest in the
history of the business; even on We'd
nesday during the rain our force was
kept busy. On Tuesday and Friday
and Saturday we were simply swamp
ed-this in spite of the fact that ma
ny of our best out-of-town customers
found it impossible to get to Palat-
ka over the bad roads.
The Earnest Company-Yes, our
business was great; way ahead of last
year; during the rainy days of the
week we ran way ahead in sales Ct
our ordinary business days. But dur
ing the clear days we were simply
driven to exhaustion waiting on the
trade. 1t was the biggest pre-
Christmas business we ever had-ful-
ly so per cent ahead of any previous
year We certainly have reason to
feel gratified; we are gratifed.
C. E. Rowton-Biggest business we
ever had; will go 100 per cent ahead
of last year. Business began two or
three weeks ago with us and piled in
on US in increasing quantities every
day; even the rain didn't seem to in
terfere with our trade.
"The Fashion"-Of course this was
our first year in Palatka and there is
nothing we can use for a business
comparison, but we made our estimate
we were liberal. but the actual re-
suits went way ahead of our estimate.
Satisfied? Well, we should say so.
Palatka Stationery Cove had
splendid business all through the
week, especially during the clear days.
We practically sold out everything of
a character designed for holiday gifts
We HAD made an estimate Hs our
! rohable Christmas business, but we
went 50 far ahead of the estimate
that we are ashamed of our ,;;t'e
faith, krcng the surprises was the
way the neople are ordering Edison
rhonograpt.-th these machines are roc
ogTized as being way ahead # any
thinC il tho line They are Edison's
latest contribution to the worlds
pleasure.
J. H. Yelverton, Jr., furniture-We
had a good business, especially on
Friday and Saturday, but as | left {
home the following day and only re-
turned. I have not been able to figure
no and say how much, if any, it eX-
reeds thot of last year. But we had {
, very satisfactory business.
c. Y. Smith. ieweler-We had a fine {
NrS'rnSS, much better than last year;
Fact is it is getting better every year,