Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-04
JANUARY TRADE STORY
TOLD BY RICHMOND MEN
Weather Handicap Partially Over
come, and First Month OF New
Year Rounded o. We'll.
GOOD CASH SALES ALL ARoU Nd
Some OF the Effects OF Euellcss Holt
days Once n Wceil-JObberS Have
No Complaints to Mako as hank
ers See II.


Although tHey had 10 struggle uu-
der the handicap Of the worst winter
weather this city has experienced in
any January fer hfty years past, Rich
mond merchants made very satistac-
tory progress in the first month OF
tho year 1918. The January sales. ac-
cording TO the books as far as heard
from were really better than the most
optimistic among the merchants fig
urcd on wnen the month was haif
gone.
While the fuellcs3 holidays have re-
suited in the loss % wages TO thou
sands OF employees, necessarily cut
tinE some figures in the matter OF
buying. the volume OF January bust.
ness for Richmond generally Is. in the
main. on the right side OF the ledger.
One remarkable feature Of tho bust :
ness OF the month. REFEREED TO rs inc!-
chanta IN al lines, has been tho lar4
amount OF spot cash tran3acti ons.
This IL noticeable even in the face OF
n desire on tho part Of many mcr-
chants TO open accounts for new GUS
toner; and. Of course, TO continue ac-
COUNTS with old ones. This is taken
70 mean that much larger number
Of people than were expected 10 do 90
adopted as a new year resolve the
cash and carry" system. SO much dis
cursed in the newspapers and in go"-
eminent literature OF la,c. The MGR
chants are not complaining OF this fci-
ture Of the January buS.ncss--they
arc really hoping II may not prove TO
be like many other new year resolves
made, but TO be broken in Il short
while.
The weather prophets have gone al,
wrong OF late in their predictions, and
while tho retail merchants have no
in no, of Tt pl
tncy have settled dorm L. the idea
tina. after such cHces.iTc winter
weather. tho frost pro luccrs and the
snow clouds have .bou; exhausted
;hc!r supply and an carly spring is
bound to follow and FOR these aud
perhaps better reasons thu" arc put
Ting in rush orders ,y- spring me-.
chandisc. Win continued car short
age. transportation delays on account,
OF weather aud other conditions. the
Richmond retailers arc taking no
chances. bur arc ordering for in'nne-
date shipments.
Tho Wholesale merchants .. Rlcb
mord generally. according TO state
nents made b. a. least Il half dozen
{: them. arc well satisfied with tie
lions made for goods previously sold
and ord"rg booked 20. future ship-
r"nta. Thc% arc also highly pleas ii
wiki the reports ;hat have been com :
I'M VI IRON tI"iF fEhNet12 ibe's. It u
OF which arc II tho rosy Kind. "h.n
they haze reference 10 tho outiool. for
big years business al Over The
southland.
The Richmond banks h y. been busy.
All tho month in all DEPARTMENTS. al
though the Monday HOLIDAYS 10. other
business institutions male one du.i
d. every week. The demand 70.
money IS good and tn. rcfec. 5
healthy business cond!tiora generally
and the bankers Sa% thcy have anp,e
funds for al legitimate business needs.
While tho thrift and war savings
stamp campaign is still! on ard is
craving man" dollars out or the
mailer banks ~ well a. the larger
ones. the rush for money TO be invested
- thc stamps ~ not 50 great 10
'nahe any material change In tho cash
salancCs Of The h;,lks Ccnn..L H..