Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-01-07
1921 Big Year
For Merchants

(Continusd from page one)
furniture company, drug stor'
proprietor, leading automobile
dealer, the manager OF genera
merchandise store, the head OF
grocery company, a shoe store
proprietor, a prominent restauran
teur, a dealer in mems clothing
and an official of the Salem Busi
ness Mems league.
Obviously, the details secured
were many. Briefly, the conditions
during 1921 were these:
Volume Is Bigger.
The people bought, but they
bought carefully. They knew thai
prices were steadily declining
Merchants were forced to takt
their losses as they came. Depre,
citation of goods continued regular
ly throughout the year and, al
though they disposed Of thell
goods, they were forced to do Sc
at loss OF from to so per cent
Thirty per cent was held to be
the average drop in merchandise
Only two merchants, of those in
terviewed, said that their volume
OF business-that is, the amount
Of goods which passed over the
counter-was smaller than in
1921 than 1t was in 1920.
On the other hand, the mana
gers of two large clothing stores
realizing that their names were
not to be published. declared thai
their volume of business had in
creased no less lRan 20 per cent
during the last twelve months
and that their gross receipts were
virtually equal to those Of 1920
Prospects Held Bright
What does 1t mean?" one Of
the merchants said. "It means
that Salem, especially during the
last six months of 1922, will in
all probability do greater bust
ness than at any time in its his
tory. Its stores should prosper
wonderfully. Depreciation oi
goods is becoming less and less
Where we were forced to make
cuts of rs and 80 per cent in mer-
chandise, we now must take five
or seven, and these drops come
less regularly. Prices are becom-
ing more settled and we have TAX
en- our heaviest losses. In the neal
future work should open UP In
Marion county, and If we get 9
fairly decent fruit crop, people oi
this vicinity should be prosperous
Confidence is returning to eastern
manufacturers, money will be
more plentiful there and the west
can market its goods in the east
The prospects for 1922 are moth
ing short OF rosy"
Drops are Explained
Many Salem housewives are
ready to take issue with the Salem
merchant who declares that prices
have dropped 80 per cent. But
the merchant-the clothier, the
grocer, and, no doubt, the candle
stick maker, is ready on mo-
ment's notice to prove to them by
figures that the drop in prices
actually has taken place.
Here are a few articles, select
ed-so he said--at random, by a
prominent dealer in dry goods.
Muslins, one year ago, sold al
from 32 to 35 cents. Today they
can be bought for from 13 to II
cents. Percales, retailed yeal
ago at from 27 to 35 cents, now
bring from Is to 25 cents. Cling
hams, which were measured Out
at from 27 to 35 cents, now are
worth from 10 to % cents.
Other Goods Cheaper
He mentioned other articles
Overalls which, a year ago, were
sold for $2.49 now retail at from
S5c to $1.19. Work shirts which
cost the buyer $l.49 last year car
now be bought for 9S cents. I'm
derclothing which sold for from
$2.9S to $3.50 is now selling a
from $2.19 to $1.9S.
The grocer was equally positive
concerning his accomplishment
in reducing the high cost of living
1.-THE layman may insist tina
some groceries are exactly wher'
they have been for the last tw'
years." he said. Furthermore
he is right, Certain articles hav,
not dropped in price but, largely
these articles are of the type sci
dom purchased"
Future Rosy, Belief
He elaborated. A can of corr
cost 20 cents last year, he said. |
also cost 25 cents this year. A
roll OF butter, however, which
brought 60 cents last year is nov
worth As cents. The point, as EN-
phasized by the grocer, was this
Five rolls of butter are bought
where one can OF corn is purchas
ed. In other words, family pur
chasing the two articles in tn
ratio mentioned, would save abou
rs cents this year over last year
Among the merchants inter
viewed there was none who dit
not believe 1929 will be bette
than any OF the recent years.
Give the community goot
prune crop, decent crops in othe
lines, and we'll fracture a numbe
OF records" was the consensus o
oninfan