THE COURIER
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Tho following summary of the busi
ness situation is prepared for The
Courier at the Omaha office of Snow,
Church & Co.:
The month of March marie an ex
ceedingly good showing in all lines of
business, and the clearings were considerably
above those of the previous month. April
has opened up with a fair amount of orders
coming in, and collections thus far are reasonably good. During the
latter part of last week retail business was necessarily dull, owing to
the inclement weather. Merc hants feel, however, that the season
is too far advanced to fear an extended spell of bad weather, and the
hopeful feeling of tho last few weeks has not abated to any appre
ciable extent. The vetoing of the seigniorage bill received much
comment from bankers and business men, and they generally ex
press their unqualified gratification at the final disposition of this
measure. The opinion is general that this question is, to all intents
and purposes, finally settled, and more firmness in the money market
will undoubtedly result. A review of the last month must forcibly
impress the careful observer, and thoroughly convince those who
still doubt, that affairs are on the upward grade.
Dry goods and boot and shoe houses report continued fair trade;
in hardware and harness business is also very fair; implement men
are filling orders, and although their first orders are practically
done, they all seem to expect a large second order trade, which will
keep matters lively in. this line far into the season.
Furniture dealers seem to be having a good trade; this would
apply almost entirely, however, to the regular line of low and medium
grade goods. Dealers in lounges and other specialties of that class
complain of little business. This is no doubt true, however, of all
lines which may not be considered necessities, in the strictest sense
of the term. Luxuries and high grade goods generally do not find a
very ready market this spring. With the improving conditions of
affairs there will, however, be an increased demand for this class of
goods.
Omaha merchants place- much faith in the Platte canal scheme
and it is said that $125,000 have already been subscribed. This
makes about one-half tho amount, and it is proposed to raise the
balance at a mass meeting to be held some time during the week.
It is to be hoped, and many retail merchants freely predict, that
business this month will show a decided improvement in all lines.
Albert Andkiano.
Frank M. Blish, manager of R. G. Dun & Co., makes the following
business summary for The Courier:
There is nothing specially new in the local trade situation. Busi
ness continues rather small in volume, with some little improvement,
however, since the first of the month as compared with the last two
weeks in March. Farming work has been retarded considerably by
the return of wintry and windy weather, as has also building. As a
direct consequeece, sales in harness, hardware, implements and
kindred lines have fallen off materially, although dealers anticipate
fair business with the return of better weather. There has been
some improvement in groceries, and there is not much complaint of
collections. Liquors are very quiet and will remain so until after
the new licenses are issued this month. Retail business continues
pretty dull in nearly all lines. The general situation from a national
standpoint seems to show slow but steady improvement, hardly per
ceptible from day to day, but an improvement nevertheless, more
clearly noted as one glances back to conditions as they prevailed
several months ago.
Duncan, Hollinger fc Co., furnish the following market summary
to Thk Courier:
Wheat has been under the influence of crop damage reports for a
week, while news of less or more injury has come from almost every
winter wheat state. The condition of tho crop in western KansaB
has attracted most attention. In that section tho dry weather has
continued and it is undoubted that every day without rain is reduc
ing tho crop outlook. It seems to be no longer a question of a large
crop there and only a change in conditions soon will enable them to
escape disaster. News of this complexion was supplemented yester
day by word from California that tho Sun Joaquin valley wheat was
gone past redemption and that tho .'hole state needed rain badly.
It is apparent that we shall not have any radically weak markets
until wo have rain and not then unless rain comes soon. When one
censiders that we shall not go into the now crop with any large
reserves it is clear that no very great amount of damage to the
decreased acreage of wheat is required to raise values from their
present very low plane to a considerably higher price. We have had
a 7-cent advance, but 7 cents more would still bo cheap wheat.
Corn has sympathized to some extent with wheat and has scored
a 2-eent advance. It has become apparent that every fall in price
in corn checks the western movement and that many country hold
ers now are standing out for an advanco and that a good deal of
corn will be kept until something is seen of prospects for a new crop.
Oats have advanced a little without special features.
Provisions The indications are that Armour is under
provisions and has been manipulating them upwards. As his ulti
mate object is, we think, to sell, we consider that although the price
may be put up further it is very dangerous to buy. There is also
danger in selling, but we should rather sell on further bulges than
buy. Hog receipts at packing centers keep up well.
W. S. Huffman has retired from the management of the Baldwin
company. Mattson H. Baldwin will in future havo the sole manage
ment of the business.
W. R. Dennis will make extensive improvements in his store.
F. C. Zehrung has moved his drug store to the corner of Twelfth
and O streets, and has made extensive improvements.
Sanderson, Schureman & Davis, boots and shoes, will move into
larger quarters at 1213 O street, next week.
W. J. Lamb is converting the unfinished stone building at Four
teenth and L streets into tenements.
The president's veto of the Bland bill is an invaluable gain towards
the recovery of confidence, says Henry Claws. It is not only a
reaffirmation of tho conservative monetary policy written large on
the face of the repeal act, but it is an assurance that the policy is
safe for the remaining three years of the president's tenure of office.
And that is an immense assurance; for, if the silver craze can be
held in restraint for three years, ways will be found for neutralizing
it subsequently, if indeed it does not expire from its own inherent
weakness. Senator Stewart's introduction of a free coinage bill,
though annoying, is not to be regarded as threatening in a monetary
sense. It may run into causing obstructive confusion of other pend.
ing legislation, for the completion of which the business interests
are impatiently waiting; but no one better knows than Senator
Stewart that his scheme would be quashed by the president, and
that it cannot be carried over his veto. It is simply a new display of
the reckless and exasperating tactics by which the silver faction
seeks to worry the country into concessions which it is resolved
never to grant. Whatever annoyance therefore tho senator may in
flict he can only score another failure.
Nations and sparrows feed from the same hand. Cheaper foods;
dollars and men put new premiums on intelligence, conscience and
will. New soil under hats and feet is producing more than usurers
or idlers desire. The three Americas should co-operate before they
compete. A vigorous north and south, east and west can create a
new era for the western hemisphere. From Clapp &. Company's
Weekly Letter.
The verdict was handed in yesterday that Herpoleheimer fc Co.'s
millinery is the choicest line ever shown in Lincoln.