THE COUEIER
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summary of the busi
is preparctl for Tiik
Omaha oflice'of Snow,
The following:
ness situation
Coukikk at the
Church fc Co. :
There is no material change in the
business situation so far this week.
Rainy weather has, of course, effected re
tail trade to some extent, hut less than might
be supposed. In wholesale lines, things con
tinue improving; there seems to be no cessation in the increasing
amount of trade with most jobbers. Collections are fair. Clearing?
at Omaha for last week show a decided increase over the correspond
ing week of last month. There is no apparent increased demand for
loans, but bankers are more hopeful than they have lwen for some
time, feeling that with the continued improvement of trade, the de
mand for money will naturally follow.
Railroads report an increased local business. The March business
in most branches of trade, if it continues as good as It has begun,
will show a decided increase over the business of the corresponding
month of last year. Thi3 only means, however, that merchants
have held l)ack, and are making many purchases now, which would,
under ordinary circumstances, have been made earlier in the season.
It is curious to note that the same conditions exist in retail business
In clothing, dry goods, and boots and shoes, a very satisfactory
trade is reported here. Far from discouraging merchants, the rain
in the early part of the week which undoubtedly improved crop
prospects, has made them feci much s.iore confident of tins future.
An indication for better business is the fact that merchants are pay
ing more attention to selling goods, than to collecting old accounts.
This is so, to a greater extent, than at any time since the pa'iie.
Manv of the old bills have been settled in some way or other. Dur
ing the last few months, credit men have been more careful, and
more ready to turn down orders, than to run any risk. The result,
of course, is that most bills sold have been paid fairly promptly,
leaving only the old balances in arrears.
At Chicago an extensive building season is looked for. In dry
goods, notions and boots and shoes, at the same place, business is
improving. Many visitors from the country are reported from this
and other centers. Conservative buying is the rule. In clothing,
at this point, business is light. Some concerns handling coarser
goods have fair orders. Great difficulty is experienced in getting
satisfactory material from eastern mills.
In store and building trade, the expected renewal of the building
interest, has led to slight activity. An increase in building in the
large centers means an employment of labor, and an increased de
mand for western products, with better prices, and a revival of bus
iness in western jobbing centers.
In reviewing the situation, I feel free in saying that business is
decidely better, and the increase noted during the last few weeks,
seems to be healthy and staple. There is no sign of a falling off in
trade in any line, where a previous improvement has been noted,
and there is every indication of the continuation of better business,
The tone of trade is firmer, and merchants are more confident than
they have been for months, and unless some decided reverse is ex
perienced, affairs may safely be said to be on an upward grade. This
is a decidely conservative view, which I have not felt free to express
until it has been fully corrobrated by the evidence of steadily in
creasing business, with no indications of a cesation in activity.
Aliskrt Axijuiaso.
Duncan, IfoIIinger & Co., furnish the following special market
summary to The Coukikr:
The past has been a very uneventful week as regards prices of
wheat. It has been marked, however, by a pretty good demand for
wheat from millers and exporters and sales of good round amounts
have been reported from Rullalo and Chicago. It is reported also
considerable wheat will move out of Duluth by lake on opening of
navigation, which is liable to give another impetus to priced in the
northwest as stocks there are expected to be insufficient to keep up
milling supplies until new crop is lit for grinding. The prices paid
continue to attract good receipts to Minneapolis, so that our visible
supply does not show large decreases. Tht. weather so far has
generally leen very favorable for the growing crop and there ha-s
been a partial raiutall in Kanas which has improved a portion of
the area where niin was badly -vanted. There are no full estimates
so far of the area which will be sown to spring wheat, although all
reports point to decreased acreage. We are inclined to look on
wheat as a purchase on breaks.
Corn has been alternately weak and strong as receipts have been
large or small. We look for light movement for some time to come.
Oats are evidently to some extent manipulated for .May We
think they are too high now. but there is some risk to run in selling
them. We expect to see them sell :V.. cents lower in May.
Provisions. The severe fail in the price of hogs last week has
caused a lessened run of hogs for the time which has also influenced
the provision market. General conditions are not changed, how
ever, anil we think that on anv fair bulge lard and rib will-do to
sell.
Frank M. Blish, manager of R. G. Dun k Co., summarizes the
business situation as follows:
"There has been some increase in the movement of merchandise,
and a gradually improving tone in trade. This has been true more
esjecially of the wholesale trade, stormy weather interfering to
some extent in retail lines. Contractors and builders report the
outlook more favorable in their business than for some time and
collections are genenlly pretty good. The number of idle men is
thought to be growing sm ller steadily and farmers are reported to
have their spring work well advanced. We- have had two local
failures during the week: A. Sanders it Co. in liquors and Clark
R. Byruin in groceries. In the former, attachment suits have been
commenced, representing quite a sum in the aggregate and the case
will probably run through considerable litigation. The wholesale
butter, egg and produce house, formerly known as the Kirscbraum
Haskell Produce Co., has been succeeded by Haskell, Bos worth !fc
Co. and will continue under the management of Morris Friend, the
company of he firm."
K. Rosewater at the annual banquet or the Omaha Commercial
club, said: "Omaha has proudly passed through the recent financial
depression more satisfactorily than any other city of its size in the
United States. During the trying times of the recent financial
distress, Omaha has stood with financial solidity and met its obliga
tions with comaratively few failures- Other cities were not so
fortunate. I am not going to dwell ujon any statistics of onr
wonderful resources, because thev have been published time and
again. Omaha is the center of a great agricultural belt. What
Omaha needs to assist in its developement is more factories and
increased jobbing facilities. The growth of Omahr to its present
poqiortions has been a gratifying one. Within receipt years there
have been many public improvements, including many miles of
paved streets. Omaha busines men should cultivate the Iowa trade,
because Iowa territory, from a commercial standpoint, belongs to
Omaha. Council Bluffs is only a suburb of Omaha ami ir the proper
effort of capital and energy is made Plattsmouth and other adjacent
town will be suburban inabilities of the near future."
Dr. W. A. Clark, who has purchased a thiid interest in the West
ern Normal College, has arrived in the city with his family. Dr.
Clark's active connection with the college will late from April .'id.
"What's in a name?" Well, that depends. For instance, the name
of "Ayer" is sufficient guarantee that Ayer "s Sarsaparilla is a genu
ine, scientific blood-purifier, and not a sham, likeso much that" goes
by the name of "sarsaparilla." Avers Sarsaparilla is the standard.
