JIAll HMWCAL SOCierv
THE COURIER
II. R. Nissley it Co. have leased the buildings '.Oil and 102fi O
street, which will le remodeled and made ready for occupancy alwxit.
April Si.
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The following summary of the business
situation is prepared for Tick. Col'kiku
at tho Omaha office of Snow, Church it
Co.:
The rough and decidedly cold and
disagreeable weather which has recent
ly prevailed, has, of course been felt to a
greater or less extent in retail lines. Whole
sale business has also suffered some as a
natural result, but this of course, is only temporary, and a change
for the better will sot in as soon as the weather becomes good. It
is gratifying to note the merchants do not feel depressed, even in
retail lines where business has been dull for the last few days, being
confident, as they are, that affairs are on the upward grade, and can
only be checked for a short period by rough weather.
Reports from the east go far towards corroborating my predict
ions of the last few weeks, and every indication seems to point
towards an upward tendency in affairs, commercial and financial.
Collection are reported slightly better. The clearings at Omaha
for last week showed a decided increase over the corresponding
week in the previous month.
In dry goods and boots and shoes business continues reasonably
fair, and many visitors are reported in from the country. The
clothing trade shows signs of reviving. In hardware and groceries,
business is fairly good: the same may be said of harness and heavy
hardware. Implement dealers express much confidence in the gen
end outlook, and have hopes of good second order trade.
Tho tendency to purchase at the nearest market is developing in
the retail trade, and the day is not far distant when wholesale
houses in most lines of general business, will experience a natural
limitation of territory. This applies most directly to large eastern
houses controlling an immense territory. There was a time when
every retailer seemed to think it necessary to purchase the bulk of
hh goods in the east, using Lincoln. Omaha and other local Jobbing
centers to fill in on short orders; jobbers in the smaller centers were
timid, and made no bid for larger business, limiting themselves, in
many instances, to small country trade. A general reaction in this
condition of affairs seems to have taken place; retailers arc more in
clined to buy at Lincoln and Omaha, where they can do as well,
with regard to price, and have the opportunity of choosing from a
large assortment at a neighboring market, a decided advantage in
more ways than one. Thus it may lie seen that the retailer and the
jobber in these part6, are coming closer together, with the natural
result that both will be much benefitted.
There is much interest displayed here in the Platte canal scheme,
and a lively canvass for subscriptions is going on.
A review of the situation leads to the conclusion that business is
established on a reasonably firm basis, taking into consideration the
decidedly unstable condition of affairs hitherto prevailing.
It is encouraging in the extreme to note that a few" days of bad
'weather does not seem to have the same deadening effect as was the
case some weeks since. Merchants seem to think that business is
getting better, and will continue to do so, unless very adverse cir
cumstances prevail. While I have predicted from week to week,
for some time past, a gradual increase of business, I now feel safe in
saying that unless some unforeeen circumstance turns up to depress
business, a continuation in tho revival will continue from week to
week, until affairs are once more on a solid basis.
Aliikkt Anijjcia.no.
The annual meeting of the Lincoln Packing company was held
Tuesday. The following officers were elected: I. M. Raymond,
president; C.G. Dawes, vice-president; T. J. Gardner, secretary and
manager; I. M. Raymond, C. G. Dawes, W. W.Mills, Geo. A. Crancer,
C. A. Hanna. E. Finney and E. E. Brown, directors. It was shown
that 01,327 hogs were slaughtered during the year; the sales were
over 81,000.000.
A. G. Billmoyorit Co., under tho name of A. G. Billmoyer it Co..
will open up a carriage repository at 11:13-35 M streot, April 1, carry
ing the Columbus Buggy company's carriages, Biirreys, phaetons,
buggies and traps; Staver Jt Abbott's carriages, surreys, phaetons,
park wagons, buggies, spring wagons and carts;)!. A. Wagner's road
wagons and speeding carts; also u lino oj harness, whips, roleB, etc.
Henry Clews enumerates nino reasons for taking a cheerful posi
tion regarding the future of tho stock market and business generally,
as follows:
1. Confidence is certainly reviving. Business is slowly but sure
ly emerging from tho distress brought on by the silver crisis and
grievously prolonged by tariff agitation. Stocks of merchandise
have become se exhausted, with few exceptions, by prolonged cur
tailment of production that universal resumption at the mills will
be imperative as soon as tho tariff fright iB over. Outside of tho
tariff question, the manufacturing situation is exceptionally favor
able, because wages and materials aro lower than usual, and tho
consumptive abilities of the country have not been impaired in any
such degree as its productive abilities. 2. Easy money is assured
for months to come. Rates aro extraordinarily low, and there aro
no immediate prospects of better rates. 3. There is a scarcity of
good railroad investments in Europe, distrust of our currency system
having caused a heavy return of lxith stocks and bonds. When this
distrust is removed, as doubtless it soon will be, a marked revival in
the Euroiwan demand for "Americans' will inevitably follow. 1.
In event of any pronounced revival at home or abroad in tho demand
for railroad investments, the supply would be found inadequate to
the demand; for railroad building in tho United States has not, for
five years past, kept pace with the growth of industry and popula
tion. In the east our railroad system is alone fully developed, but
this is far from true in some sections of tho west. ."). The Indust
rials have not been a success as investments. Unquestionably re
cent experiences with th.. class of investments will lead to a reaction
in favor of railroad stoc':s and ltonds. 0. Several immense proper
ties are still undergoing the process of reorganization, tho first effect
of which will be to greatly strengthen the railroad situation. 7.
Decreases in earnings are steadily growing smaller, and tho earning
power of the roads soon promises to expand from the revival of
trade. By great economies, chiefly for renewals and improvements,
net earnings have been remarkably well sustained; and the fears of
reduced dividends, which warrant tho earlier decline in vr.iues, are
slowly disappearing. 8. Small gold shipments have occurred thus
far; and at the moment no heavy outflow seems probable. This will
le assuring to those who are apprehensive on the subject; though
as a matter of fact our banks could readily spare round amounts
without any inconvenience. 9. The veto of tho Bland bill will
probably settle tho silver question for good so far as this Adminis
tration is concerned. This is not only the most important but the
most encouraging feature of the whole situation.
Duncan, Hollinger it Co.. furnish the following market summary
to Thk Courier:
Wheat- The trade in wheat has been more lively this week than
for a long time. The very cold weather started a crop scarce which
found the market in a peculiar position. The gpneral trade had no
long wheat as the market had for bo long a time been a declining
one that they had got tired of waiting for an advance. The wheat
therefore, was in comparatively few handB and when shorts began
covering there was not the usual supply from miscellaneous longs
taking small profits, and a 3 cent advance was quickly established.
There was large liquidating, however, near the top. ihe market
has lost a cent of the advance and its course now depends largely on
confirmation of damage reports. In the more southerly states
where wheat was jointed no doubt damage was done. From other
sections reports are very contacting. The weather in western Kansas
continues dry and windy. Receipts aredown again to very moderate
figures and larger weekly drcreases in the visible supply seem like
ly. The foreign markets continue very dull and respond very feebly
to our advances.
Corn has ruled generally strong and advanced in sympathy with
wheat and declined readily when wheat got weak. There has been
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