Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-01-01
INDUSTRIAL ANNAPOLIS
THIS YEAR AND NEXT


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benefits every branch Of business here.
John W. Martin. who for so many
years has conducted every phase of it,
is in position to tell what has been
accomplished, and what the new year
should bring. He says that the in
dustry was hard hit at the opening of
the oyster season as so many former
watermen and schuckers were in the
service or were employed at the Naval
Academy. or elsewhere, but that a
great deal has been done to meet the
extraordinary conditions.
Oyster Industry FlOIrishing
Mr.. Martin said that about 800 tong
ers, half the normal number, and
about the same number of shuckers
are now at work The catches are
very large, three men often getting
from fifty to seventy-fiye bushels
day. while the primes vary from forty
five cents to seventy-five cents per
bushel. Thus. tongers are getting quite
tidy sum. Shuckers are making
more than ever before, a days pay
having been known TO exceed ten dol
lars. Orders are abundant, Mr. Mar
tin said. and the packers are straining
every nerve to fill them.
As Merchants View Outlook
The merchants of Annapolis, with
out an exception, speak of 1918, as the
H.. .;.A sNH, Of hrtc fsln &C
was the greatest in the history of their
storekeeping OF course. lack of help,
particularly in those branches where
dependence has to be put in man
clerks, has been a serious handicap.
Also, the high prices of goods in many
lines and difficulty in getting them at
times, has been a difficulty. but these
have been overcome, and the dawn of
1919 finds the storekeeper of Annapolis
encouraged and confident.
/ Edward Jewell, for instance, the
Main street grocer, points to the great
est volume of business in the history
of his merchandising, notwithstand-
ing that four of his clerks are with
the colors He has worked at a ire
mendous pace, and has had to con-
tend with exceedingly high prices for
many of the things which he buys and
sells, but he states his business has
been far larger than ever before, and
the outlook for the coming year is en-
couraging.
Frank t. Stromeyer the grocery
man of West street gives similar testi-
mony. He says that there has been
plenty of work for the people of An
napolis, both white and colored, at high
wages, and the amount spent for gro
ceries is larger than ever before. He
points to the great program of work at
at the Naval Academy as proof of a
continuance of this condition for many
years.
Mr.. Stronger sees both good and
bad to business from the closing of
the saloons. He states that there can
be no question that far greater sum
of money is being spent for the neces-
stiles and comforts of life. However,
he sees some tendency to divert GER
tain trade, particularly in the country,
to Baltimore There are people of the
county, he thinks, who determine to go
to Baltimore TO buy intoxicants and
while there spend money for things
that they maght have bought in An
napolis.
Year Shows Huge Increase
No man in a keener observer of con-
ditions in Annapolis or more qualified
to speak than George c.. Barton, the
shoe merchant of Main street More
over, Mr.. Barton is president of the
Annapolis and Eastport Building As
ISOLATION, an important and prosperous
financial institution of the city. Mr.
Barton estimates that the general vol
ume of merchandising in Annapolis
during 1918 was at least fifty per cent
ahead of that of any other year. He
says that Annapolitans are becoming
purchasers of higher quality of goods
than ever before, and now have the
money to buy them.
Mr.. Barton believes that conditions
will remain as good or better while
the great construction work continues
at the Academy However, he is in
cllneQ 10 SOuuu UOle Vi warning. ne
thinks that Annapolis should constant
ly be on the lookout for something that
will insure employment and an influx
of money whether the source from the
Naval Academy continues to supply
work and money to the same degree.
Frank A. Munroe, dry goods merch-
ant on Main street, is really enthusiast
tice about the business which has been
done in the past year. Recognizing
that there was more money in Annap-
oils than ever before, Mr.. Munroe has
taken particular pains to see that the
public had the opportunity in his store
of buying goods of high class, and
the biggest business in the history OF
the store is the result Mr.. Munroe
looks for a continuance of business on
the same scale
An interesting development of the
last few years has been the develop
ment of number of fine stores in vari-
Gus lines on Maryland avenue, between
State Circle and King George street