WESTERN NEW YORK.

Buffalo Druggists in an Apprehensive Mood-Happenings Throughout the State.

(From our Regular Correspondent.)

Buffalo, January 6.-Buffalo druggists are not boasting of business this winter, but they are finding quite commonly that last year was a good one. Some of them say that it brought them more business and profit than did the PanAmerican year. There is always some cause for anxiety, though, as the business is an easy one to take up and is held to be more desirable than other callings generally. So when the report came of the prospective establishment of the Lyon drug store on Main street there was naturally apprehension. Still there have been reassuring reports of late. It is said that the new store has a line of trade that will not interfere much with the older stores. Some remark has been made on the fact that the store rented for occupation is only 25 feet wide, but it is reported that the one of the same management in Providence is some feet narrower and yet it does a $300,000 business annually.

EVERYDAY HAPPENINGS IN BUFFALO AND OTHER WESTERN NEW YORK PHARMACIES.

Z. Z. Kielawa has moved his pharmacy from Peckham street, Buffalo, to Broadway.

Dr. C. R. Clarke, of Ransonville, has bought the pharmacy of A. J. Barry, of that village.

Dr. Clothier, for some time in charge of the Buffalo pharmacy of J. A. W. Garzynski, has retired on account of ill health, and W. E. Thrall, a licensed pharmacist, has been chosen to the place.

B. B. & H. W. Slade, of Whitesville, have bought the pharmacy of J. A. Anderson, of that place, and will conduct it as a firm in connection with the one already owned by them at the neighboring village of Belmont, one remaining in each store.

There was a dangerous fire in the pharmacy of George Reimann, Buffalo, during New Year's week. It took from a stove and was eating out the floor when the department arrived. It was extinguished before reaching the drug stock, so that the damage will be only about $50.

Charles Stoddart, of the Buffalo firm of Stoddart Bros., has gone to North Carolina for a season of rest. Thomas Stoddart, being a member of the Common Council of the city, has been very busy of late, during the annual reorganization of that body.

There is a movement on foot to close up all retail drug stores in Rochester on Sundays. One of the old standbys, J. K. Post & Co., never open on Sunday. The Dake Drug Company, we understand, will close for the entire day, commencing January 1. Others will probably follow suit. The poor druggist needs a rest one day in the week.

B. F. Wineager and Albert B. Hopp, both prescription clerks at the B. M. Hyde Drug Company, have decided to embark on the road of trouble, Mr. Wineager to represent Adolph Spiehler, of Rochester, and Mr. Hopp the well known firm of Frederick Stearns & Co., of Detroit. We wish them success in their new undertaking. F. W. Fleming, of Auburn, succeeds Mr. Wineager as prescription clerk at Hyde's.

DOINGS OF THE SALESMEN.

L. E. Treat begins the year early by taking in his home town, selling the hospital supplies and digestive tablets of the red cross house of Johnson & Johnson.

The Syracuse house of Charles Hubbard & Son continue to cover the Buffalo drug trade in the person of Edgar P. Reynolds. who is usually to be found on the same part of his round the same time every week.

George C. Gildersleeve, representing the Philadelphia house of John Wyeth & Brother, was in the city late in November with an eye to the best interest of the business.

Joseph V. Gartland reached this city December 1 with the usual good things in the Ed. Pinaud perfumery line, which he sells for the American house of Victor Klotz.

Henry Leerburger, the regular standby when any one is in need of the perfumes, essential oils, etc., of Leerburger Brothers, comes this month on his accustomed round.

E. C. Stanley, with a full list of indigo, mustard, extracts and essences for the New York house of D. R. James & Brother, is with us for the holiday trade, as active as ever.

E. T. Green, who sells the specialties of the St. Louis and New York Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, went over the Buffalo territory early in December with satisfactory results.

The Thomsen Chemical Company, of Baltimore, send us their accomplished salesman, B. J. Smith, who was able to distribute a goodly amount of their specialties to the satisfaction of everybody.

E. H. Powell, distributing drugs and chemicals for the good of mankind and incidentally for the benefit of the New York house of Lehn & Fink, reaches Buffalo before the winter holidays.

W. L. Baker, who takes care of the trade in August Flower and the other specialties of G. G. Green, of Woodbury, N. J., came this way from Rochester early in the month and drove the usual good trade.

Arthur E. Westervelt sold a satisfactory amount of the soaps, etc., of Colgate & Co. here lately, and is due again soon," always covering the retail as well as the wholesale druggists in his trips.

The Career of Joseph A. Hays.

The suit brought by Dr. W. S. Barclay, of Pittsburgh, against the Charles Roome Parmele Company, of New York, to recover royalties, has developed some unsavory facts regarding the career of Joseph A. Hays, who acted as chemist for the Charles Roome Parmele Company when they commenced to manufacture arsenauro, mercauro and manganauro. Hays was discharged from the employ of the company about seven years ago for stealing some of the gold placed in his custody for chemical use, and on prosecution was sent to the State Reformatory, where he served five years. During his connection with the Charles Roome Parmele Company he attracted attention to himself through his proclivity for joining pharmaceutical associations and registering himself as a pharmacist in the different States where his college or New York Board certificate would be accepted in lieu of examination. On his liberation from the State Reformatory he went to Brooklyn, where he secured a position in a manufacturing house as chemist, but within a few months he was again in prison, charged this time with burglary and felonious assault. He was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment and spent several months of this term at Sing Sing. He was then brought to the Kings County Penitentiary on an appeal, and is now there awaiting trial. Hays was dropped from membership in the New York State Pharmaceutical Association shortly after his commitment to the reformatory.

The Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy. The State Board of Pharmacy held four examinations last month, at which the following successful candidates received certificates: Matthew J. Dailey Lawrence; Timothy J. Murphy, Boston; Harry E. Noble, Lawrence; Edwin L. Pert, Beverly; J. Bennett Vogel, Quincy; Edson B. Whitney, Charlestown; T. Franklin Mayo, Medford; Arthur T. Milles, Salem; Braz C. F. DeSouza, Providence, R. I.; James L. Halloran, South Boston; William E. McCann, Jr., Hopedale; Jesse F. Morse, Middleboro; Alfred J. H. Paquette, Boston; Willian C. Welsh, Lynn; Frederick S. Lovis, Boston, and Roy B. Nutter, Boston. Messrs. Mayo and Morse were members of the class of 1903, M. C. P.

THE NEW ENGLAND STATES.

Boston Druggists Meet-A Pharmacist on the State Board of Health -A Newton Druggist Loses His License-Another Local Organization Formed.

(From our Regular Correspondent.)

Boston, January 6.-The December meeting of the Boston Druggists' Association was held at Young's Hotel on the 29th instant. The guest of the evening was Prof. Oskar Eckstein, of the department of Organic Chemistry of Tufts College, who spoke on The Prostitution of Woman from a Scientific Standpoint." William C. Maginnes, Ralph P. Hoagland, and Edward C. W. Wilson were elected members; and Orvis W. Nelson, treasurer and manager of Nimandi Liniment Mfg. Co., applied for membership. It was voted to deposit in trust $3000 of the association funds with the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company, for a term of 25 years, the interest only to be used by the association. In the event of the association disbanding before the expiration of the 25 year period, the fund is to go to the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, the income to be used for scholarships. The president appointed the following committees: On Annual Dinner, Reuben L. Richardson, George H. Ingraham, and James O. Jordan; On Nomination of Officers, Hon. Gorham D. Gillman, Fred A. Hubbard, and Joel S. Omer. The annual meeting will be held at The Parker House on January 26.

DRUGGISTS WANT REPRESENTATION

ON THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

A delegation from the M. S. P. A., headed by President Flynn, called on the Governor on December 28. President Flynn was the first of the committee to address Gov. Bates, and explained that the members had been instructed to advovocate the desirability and need of a practicing pharmacist upon the State Board of Health. The other speakers, who advocated the appointment of a druggist to succeed the retiring member of the board were: Senator Bullock, Henry Canning, Freeman H. Butler, Amos K. Tilden, L. G. Heinritz, and William W. Bartlet. The Governor acknowledged the force of the request, and President Flynn is to confer with him later upon this subject.

ADULTERATION DETECTED BY THE BOARD OF HEALTH.

The board has had a number of cases of adulteration requiring attention recently. One of these involved the sale of caramels containing 5 per cent of paraffin. Two specimens of lemon extract were tested, one of these contained 0.6 per cent. of lemon oil and 60 per cent. of alcohol. The other had 1.4 per cent of lemon oil and 51.8 per cent. of alcohol. Two samples of borax were spurious; one was wholly sodium bicarbonate, and the other an admixture of the latter salt. A report has been made in Liquozone," "Simply Liquid Oxygen," from the Liquid Ozone Company, Chicago. It is stated to be a solution of 1.35 per cent. sulphurous and 1.08 per cent. sulphuric acids, in water. With this combination of acids, the board is of the opinion that the teeth are liable to injury, unless the preparation is quite largely diluted.

66

A DRUGGIST'S LICENSE REVOKED FOR THE ILLEGAL SALE OF LIQUOR. The Board of Aldermen of Newton recently considered the revocation of the license of P. J. E. Lacroix, of Nonantum, whose clerk was fined last fall for an illegal sale of liquor. The matter was investigated by a committee from the board, which sustained a majority of the charges, which included sales to minors and persons known to be drunkards. Alderman Hubbard, a member of the Pharmacy Board, spoke upon the question, declaring that he was opposed to the granting of sixth-class licenses to any druggist. The city votes no license annually, and yet sixth class licenses are granted, so that the people can get liquor, and the odium falls on the druggist. He did not think the board should bear too heavily on Lacroix, as sixth-class licenses had been granted free rein for 16 years. He alleged that painters, holders of seventh-class licenses, allowing the sale of alcohol, were selling large amounts, and gave it as his opinion that they should be required to register

these sales. The license was revoked by a vote of 17 to 3, Alderman Hubbard being excused from voting. The board adopted an order authorizing the mayor to petition for legislation to require druggists to label every bottle of liquor sold under a sixth-class license, with their name and address.

NORTH WORCESTER COUNTY DRUGGISTS CELEBRATE. The North Worcester County Retail Druggists' Association held their first year banquet at the Windsor House, Gardner, on December 31. A unique menu was issued in honor of the event. The members derived much enjoyment from the outing. The officers are as follows: President, R. E. Mayo, Gardner; vice-president, Converse Ward, Athol; treasurer, F. W. Lord, Athol, and secretary, R. D. Judd, Gardner.

WAKEFIELD, READING, AND STONEHAM ORGANIZED.

The druggists of Wakefield, Reading and Stoneham have formed an association. Officers: President, S. E. Ryder, Wakefield; vice-president, A. W. Danforth, Reading; treasurer, H. L. Emerson, Stoneham; secretary, Josiah S. Bonney, Wakefield.

PENNSYLVANIA.

Proprietors to Meet in Philadelphia so as to Carry Out Anti-Cutting Plan-The Close of a Prosperous Year-A Shorter Working Day-Fire Tragedy in a Drug Store.

(From our Regular Correspondent.) Philadelphia, January 8.-There will shortly be a meeting held in this city of the manufacturers of proprietary medicines, and the question of regulating the retail price of their goods will receive much attention. It is understood that they will adopt a schedule of minimum prices and form an association, each contributing $100 per month to see that the schedule is made effective. They will, of course, receive much aid from the local association of the N. A. R. D. in establishing their prices, and it is sincerely hoped that the few aggressive cutters of this city will be brought into line either by persuasion or by sterner measures should this become necessary.

A PROSPEROUS YEAR IN THE TRADE.

The year just closed has been a fairly prosperous one for both the wholesale and retail druggists. Business, with a few exceptions, has been good all the year. There have been many increases in prices and the working of the new schedule that the P. R. D. A. put into effect last April has been exceedingly successful. A new schedule of prices is to be issued shortly. The committee is at work and it is understood that there will be a general advance over the prices that are now in effect.

A SHORTER WORKING DAY IN A WHOLESALE HOUSE. When the employees of the Smith, Kline & French Company opened their envelopes recently each one received the following notice:

The officers of the corporation desire to call the attention of our employees to the system inaugurated some time ago by which half a day on Saturday was given to the employees all the year round, and other days closing as near five o'clock as is possible, giving an hour extra five days in the week to very much the larger number of them. This is equivalent to ten hours a week, or five hundred and twenty hours a year, which, on the basis of ten hours' work a day, is equivalent to nearly nine weeks, and adding the week we give to every one of our employees this makes nearly ten weeks' holiday. All of this extra time we have the right to demand of our employees without any increase of salary. We have made this concession because we are inter ested in the happiness and welfare of our employees, and because we believe it to be our duty to make the conditions under which they work as advantageous as possible. Our employees, however, must bear in mind that the president and vice-president of this corporation are directly responsible to the stockholders for their conduct of our business and for the obtaining of a fair net return on the money invested. The justification of our reduction in time must depend solely on the results obtained. If injurious to the business it will be impossible for your officers to continue this privilege. You will see, therefore, that this matter rests entirely with our employees. We believe that you appreciate the shortening of your hours of labor, and that you will show this appreciation by working industriously and intelligently for the interest of the corporation. If every employee will during business hours use his best efforts for the interests of the corporation, there is no doubt but that our business will be made sufficiently successful to justify the shortening of the hours of labor. We commend this matter to your earnest consideration, and take this opportunity to wish you all collectively, and each of you individually, our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year, and to express our appreciation of the cordial feelings that exist throughout all the departments, between all the employees, from the president of the corporation down.

CAMPBELL'S STORE BURNED IN OVERBROOK.

A fire within a stone's throw of the residences of several wealthy families of Overbrook destroyed the drug store and dwelling of Theodore Campbell, at Sixty-third street and Overbrook avenue, a colored maid losing her life in the flames. The Campbell family, as well as R. C. Strode, the druggist's clerk, had a narrow escape. The loss amounts to about $5,000.

About 4 a.m. Mr. Campbell awoke from sleep in his room on the second floor and noticed the odor of smoke. Rushing out into the hall he gave the alarm. Strode heard the call in his room on the third floor and hastily threw on his clothes. Then he dashed into the hall past the colored maid's door and shouted to her to get out of the house.

The two men wrapped Mrs. Campbell and a baby boy, 20 months old, in blankets and carried them down the smoke-filled stairway and out onto the lawn. A second child, Helen, a girl of eight years, was able to get out of the house unassisted. No one, except the men, however, had time to done any clothes, and so in their sleeping robes the mother and two children were carried across the street into the house of T. M. Andrews.

THE MAID SUFFOCATED.

All this time it was supposed that the colored maid, whose name was Rebecca Lackman, 28 years old, whose home was in the neighborhood of Fifteenth and South streets, had made good her escape and, fear stricken, had fled from the scene and hidden somewhere. As a matter of fact, she was still up in her room putting on some clothing and tying the rest of her possessions into a bundle.

The firemen were finally able to extinguish the blaze, after it had gutted the first floor and part of the second, but before it had reached the third. When the flames were out the firemen entered the building, and one of the first things they discovered was a dead body lying at the foot of the stairs on the first floor. This proved to be that of the colored maid, and beside her lay her bundle of clothing. She had been suffocated by the smoke while trying to escape.

The fire started in the cellar, where drugs and rubbish were stored. It is possible that the electric wires may have done the mischief or that spontaneous combustion may have been the cause.

PHILADELPHIA NEWS NOTES.

A. H. Bolton, jr., the drug sundryman, has been passing a few days at Ocean City. He says the bathing is fine and mosquitoes few.

D. E. Bransome, the genial representative of Johnson & Johnson, has been doing some good bowling recently. Mr. Bransome practices regularly and has become very proficient in consequence.

D. George Kocher, who owns the store at 1021 Girard avenue, has opened his new store at Fifty-seventh street and Girard avenue, which he will run in conjunction with the old stand.

W. L. Cliffe is one of the hardest worked druggists in this city. There is no movement of interest to the drug trade that he is not sought after. Since he became a member of the State Pharmaceutical Examining Board he has been compelled to resign from some of the associations which he belonged to.

Dr. George E. Dahis, the owner of the drug store at Fortyninth and Woodland avenue, has been nominated for School Director of his ward, The doctor is well and favorably known in his neighborhood, and there is little or no doubt but what he will be elected.

There is a decided scarcity of drug clerks, and judging from the few that are successful in passing the examinations of the State Board of Pharmacy this scarcity is likely to be maintained. It seems very peculiar that so few clerks are able to successfully pass this ordeal. The questions are certainly very practical, and the present board is composed of gentlemen who are thoroughly conscientious in the performance of their duties.

THE WEST.

The Iroquois Fire Casts a Damper on Festivities-No Bill by Grand Jury in Sage Case-The Year's Trade Reviewed.

(From our Regular Correspondent.)

Chicago, January 4.-Although the city is in mourning, the Iroquois Theater horror having struck almost every home, either directly or indirectly, comparatively few druggists seem to have suffered personal affliction through the loss of members of their families. The Veterans' Society had planned to give a big New Year's reception, which it was expected would be attended by all the old timers. As a result, however, of the pall which has fallen over everything, the idea was given up. Drug stores near the theater were stripped of everything which could be of use in caring for the hundreds of suffering ones who were laid in rows in seed stores, restaurants and dry goods houses in the neighborhood. There was a rush for oxygen apparatus at the supply houses and many lives were saved by its use. Lots of the victims were carried out of the theater almost dead from suffocation. The use of oxygen revived them, and had it been possible to get enough at the few houses where this apparatus is handled it is believed many names would not have appeared on the list of the dead.

RELIEF FROM A PHARMACIST.

William A. Dyche, business manager of the Northwestern University Medical College, and who is well known in the drug trade as a former member of the Board of Pharmacy, when he heard the cries of alarm in the theater and saw the actresses fleeing through the rear, mustered a relief corps of the faculty and surgeons in the vicinity, who were on hand almost at the time when the climax of the panic was reached.

MR. SAGE NOT INDICTED.

The Grand Jury has voted a "no bill " in the case of William H. Sage, who was charged by the "cocaine syndicate" with selling abortifacients. It was represented that the evidence was insufficient and that it was a case of malicious persecution.

THE COCAINE STRIFE

is still going on, although it has been somewhat less spectacular of late. Walter H. Cramer, a druggist living at 479 Fullerton avenue, has been sent to the hospital for the insane at Dunning. It is said that Cramer lost his mind through the use of cocaine. He had a store at Randolph and Halsted streets and is 35 years old.

THE YEAR IN THE DRUG TRADE.

The following review of the year's business in Chicago was written by Joseph G. Peters, vice-president of the Fuller & Fuller Company:

"The year 1903 will be remembered by the wholesale drug trade of Chicago as one that crowded the capacity of all the houses to care for the business offering from all points of the extended territory. It has been a year of strenuous effort to keep up with the modern demands of the retail trade-prompt shipments, no omissions and reliable prices.

"That success has come to a reasonable extent is found in the result in volume of sales, which is a little over 10 per cent. increase. Values have been steadily maintained throughout the year, with but few fluctuations, the most pronounced being in codliver oil (Norwegian), which advanced from $25 to $150 per barrel. This increase was caused by the large falling off in the quantity of cod taken off the coast of Norway, said to be due to destruction of the fish by the presence of great numbers of seal off the fishing banks.

"Collections have been well sustained throughout the year, and failures in the retail drug trade at the minimum.

"With a Presidential year before us there will undoubtedly be a disposition to more careful buying, which always operates in favor of Chicago, as compared with the smaller jobbing points.

"The wise merchant is always an investigator, and particularly in times of conservative management.

JAMES E. BARTLETT, CHICAGO,
Superintendent of Branches for Parke, Davis & Co.

James E. Bartlett, who is superintendent of branches for the firm of Parke, Davis & Co., of Detroit, and manager of their Chicago house, is a fine type of the successful Western business man, having all the energy, animation and aggressiveness which have gone toward making that type distinctive. Mr. Bartlett was born in Chicago thirty-seven years ago, and practically his first business training began with his conection with the house of Parke, Davis & Co. in 1889, when he spent a year on the road for them. He then took a course at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, and from there went direct to the great laboratories of Parke, Davis & Co. He acted as superintendent in Detroit for three years and as buyer for the house for five years. In 1896, when the Chicago office was opened, Mr. Bartlett was sent to manage it, and the success of that office, resulting in the opening of a branch house there in 1901, is an index of his capacity and his executive ability. Having a thorough technical knowledge of pharmacy and at the same time being perfectly familiar with the commercial aspects of the business, Mr. Bartlett is unusually well equipped for his work. In addition he has a happy faculty of eliciting the best efforts of the men associated with him and at the same time retaining their good-will and esteem, so that his most ardent admirers are those men who are working under his direction.

"An eminently satisfactory year has been passed by the wholesale distributers of drugs and manufacturers of chemicals and pharmaceutical preparations. In the latter respect this city is fast assuming vast importance. There are a number of large establishments here devoted to the turning out of standard pharmaceutical preparations, and their output will equal in value the sales of the wholesale drug houses handling in that line products from the ends of the earth.

"Firm prices for the general drug and chemical line have prevailed throughout the year. The changes in prices were relatively few, but their general tendency was higher. Nevertheless the net gain in this respect was trifling. One of the large wholesale drug houses failed during the year, but this was due to the embarking in enterprises outside of the drug trade.

The annual trade of about $1,400,000 done by the disappearing firm has been divided mainly by other large houses here, but a portion of it has nevertheless gone to small jobbers at interior centers."

WESTERN NEWS.

George Schreinek's store at 1072 Lincoln avenue has been purchased by A. M. Reis.

The Nevada Drug Company have opened a new store in the Gillespie Building at Nevada, Ia.

Considerable counterfeit money has been passed in Evanston recently, several druggists being among the victims.

J. G. Kaplan has purchased the Phoenix drug store, at Luverne, Minn.

Frank Broadgate, of Spencer, Iowa, has bought a half interest in the business of A. W. Larson & Co., at Peterson, Iowa. Mr. Larson has gone to Fort Dodge.

Charles Vaughn has disposed of the controlling interest in the Richmond Drug Company, Richmond, Mo.. to James A. Stamper, of Camden.

Ira J. Reame, a druggist at Oswego, Kan., has been sued for $20,000 damages by Susanna Dyer, who charges the druggist with selling her husband liquor.

John Stewart has closed his store at Marion, Ind., under peculiar circumstances. Mrs. Stewart wrote a play, "The War of the Roses," and the druggist is said to have been crippled financially by the expense of staging it.

Henry Cook, in charge of the sundries department of the Yahr-Lange Company, of Milwaukee, and formerly with Morrisson, Plummer & Co., has become buyer for the Houston Drug Company, at Houston, Tex.

The Chicago Wholesale Drug House Employees' Association have elected the following: President, Ray W. Kingsley; vicepresident, Philip Mee; recording secretary, Charles Metzger ; financial secretary, Fred Luther; treasurer, W. D. Valey.

Reports from Winnipeg tell of the discovery of immense beds of what appears to be iron pyrites, carrying from 40 to 45 per cent. of sulphur. The beds are in the Steep Rock Lake district, near the Atikoka Iron range.

C. J. Chapman, of Duluth, who travels for one of the drug houses there, was chased by five wolves while driving from Pine River to Backus, 12 miles. Chapman's companions threw their lunch to the wolves piece by piece and thus kept them from the sleigh for a time. One of the horses died from the effects of the hard drive.

E. A. Seck & Co., of Alton, Ill., have opened a new drug store in that city with a very complete stock and unusually handsome fittings, the soda fountain alone costing $2,500, while the stock invoices $5,000. Mr. Seck is a graduate of the Northwestern University and, until last November, was manager for W. E. Barnes, Chicago.

The Charles H. Jones Pharmacy, which was recently opened at Beloit, Wis., is fitted up in a thorougly up-to-date manner by the M. Winter Lumber Company, of Sheboygan. Mr. Jones is a graduate of the Northwestern College of Pharmacy, class of 1898. He has an excellent business record, and, with the handsome surroundings which he has secured through the M. Winter Lumber Company, there is no doubt but that his new venture will prove a great success.

An exhibit of antique bell metal mortars will be made at the St. Louis World's Fair by Daniel Davidson, of Cromer, England. Mr. Davidson, who is a pharmacist, has the largest private collection of these mortars in England, and he has been asked by the British Royal Commission to allow his collection to be sent to St. Louis for exhibition at the World's Fair as bearing on the historical and, to some extent, the artistic side of pharmacy. Mr. Davidson has consented, and 37 mortars have been sent to London for dispatch to St. Louis.

avenue.

The Voegeli Bros. Drug Company, of Minneapolis, who already conduct a prosperous pharmacy at 2 and 4 Washington avenue, corner of Hennepin, have purchased and taken possession of the drug store of Charles E. Leigh, at the corner of Nicollet avenue and Seventh street. For a number of years Voegeli Bros. have been urged to open a store on Nicollet The ever increasing area of the business district of Minneapolis has made the consummation of the plan necessary. The opportunity came in the willingness of Mr. Leigh to dispose of his store. The corner of Nicollet and Seventh street is now one of the most important corners in the city, and the progressiveness of Voegeli Bros. will tend to make it even more important from a business standpoint. The new store will be refitted and newly stocked, and will soon be recognized as the leading drug store on Nicollet avenue. Thomas Voegeli, of the firm, is widely and favorably known to the retail trade of the country through his connection with the N. A. R. D.

The Maine Board's Annual Report.

The annual report of the State Commissioners of Pharmacy of Maine, just issued, shows that during the past year 91 persons took the examination for registered pharmacists and five for qualified assistants, and of this number 45 certificates were granted as registered apothecaries and two as qualified assistants.

Condition of Trade.

NEW YORK, January 9, 1904. Although business in drugs and chemicals has not been marked by any special animation during the past fortnight, the volume of trade has, on the whole, been very satisfactory, the inquiry covering a wide variety of goods, netting a business of considerable proportions in the aggregate. The new year gives promise of considerable activity, annual stock inventories having shown rather small supplies in the hands of interior dealers, and supplies in the hands of local dealers cannot be said to be burdensome. There are few features of special interest calling for notice at this time, most of the leading staples being quiet and unchanged, with prices firmly sustained as a rule. The expected advance in alcohol was announced on the first of the year, and few were taken unawares by it. Camphor has been again advanced, and a decidedly firmer feeling is evident in this article owing to the disturbed condition of affairs in the East. Japan controls the world's supply of camphor, and this substance being an essential ingredient in the manufacture of smokeless powder, it is believed that no more will be exported until the possibility of war between Japan and Russia is averted. Meanwhile, the synthetic production of camphor is an assured fact, the article being now produced on a large scale by a new process at Port Chester in this State, and most of the output is being taken by the manufacturers of celluloid and gunpowder. This is a significant development which is attracting much attention. Some samples of the synthetic gum now in the possession of the editor of this journal have all the gross physical characteristics of the natural gum, from which, indeed, it cannot be distinguished. Menthol shares in the firmness which characterizes all Japanese and Chinese goods. An advancing market for crude material has sent up the price of Rochelle salt and seidlitz mixture, and increased cost of manufacture is responsible for fractional advances in other chemical products, which are referred to in the detailed report below. Clove oil is attracting marked attention, and some holders anticipate higher prices, but a wide range of values still prevails and the market is unsettled. Opium continues dull and featureless, and quinine, while reported in better demand, reflects the influence of pressure to realize on the part of second-hand dealers, and the market is inactive, though prices, as a rule, are well sustained in the face of the statistical position of the article.

Alcohol has been in fair average request during the interval and the quotations fixed by the principal distributors appear well sustained at $2.46 to $2.48, as to quantity, less the usual rebate for cash in 10 days. The long expected advance in the price of wood alcohol took place on the first instant, the new prices being 55c for 95 per cent., and 60c for 97 per cent., a rise of 5c. Discounts remain the same, and the refined varieties of spirit are without change.

Balsams.-Copabia, Central American, is selling freely in a jobbing way, with former quotations still current. Fir, Canada, continues scarce and in demand; only small lots are offered at the quoted range of $3.25 to $3.50. Peru is not taken with any spirit and values show an easier tendency, though $1.07% to $1.10 is yet named. Tolu is slow of sale and the market is more or less easy at 25c to 28c. Storax is meeting with more inquiry and sales are making at 13c to 14c.

Barks.-Cascara sagrada has developed increased activity and the market has taken on a firmer tone, with quotations marked up to 16c to 18c. Buckthorn is in good demand and holders are firmer in their views at 5c to 52c. Cherry is scarce and firm and some holders decline to shade 7c, though 5c to 7c is generally named. Elm, select in bundles, has marked another advance, being now quoted at 40c. Cramp is in light supply and firm at 6c to 7c. Prickly ash is jobbing fairly and is sustained at 14c to 20c. Sassafras is yet scarce and values are maintained at 72c to 10c. Cottonroot is easier, in view of the near arrival of new bark, and 12c to 13c is named.

Buchu leaves, short, are in moderately active demand, and quotations are steadily maintained at 18c to 20c, as to quality and quantity.

Cacao butter went at a decline at the last auctions, but spot quotations show no change, 281⁄2c to 29c being yet named for bulk and 33c to 34c for 12-lb. boxes.

Caffeine is a trifle unsettled as the result of a decline in European markets. Competition is somewhat keen among local holders, but open quotations show no variation from $2.50 to $2.65, as to quantity.

Cantharides continue held and selling at the range of 37c to 39c for Chinese and 722c to 75c for Russian.

Cocaine is unsettled by competition. While leading manufacturers quote $3.50 to $3.70 for bulk, one foreign maker is offering at $3.40.

Chloral hydrate is held by leading importers at 88c to 90c for crystals and 86c to 88c for crusts. Although it is held that prices should be higher, in view of the recent tariff decision, rumors are prevalent of shading in some quarters.

Codliver oil, Norwegian, is again firmer under the influence of unfavorable reports from Norway, the fishing thus far being reported a failure. Newfoundland continues in demand and the sales have been at $2.50 to $3.25, as to quality and quantity. Advices to the London Chemist and Druggist under date of Bergen, December 19, indicate no improvement in the winter's fishing, and buyers are holding off to await the developments of the fishing before coming on the market again. The exports from Bergen up to date amount to 2,308 barrels against 9,163 barrels at the corresponding date of last year. In London prices are unaltered, and for finest Norwegian on the spot 425s to 430s per barrel would have to be paid, and for Newfoundland 425s.

Cuttlefish bone, Trieste, is still the subject of some competition and prime of regular pack is obtainable at 15c, and French at 13c. Jewelers' is held at the wide range of 32c to 65c for large, and 54c to 57c for small.

Damiana leaves continue in active request and prices are firm at 8c to 10c, as to quality and quantity. Unfavorable reports continue to be received as to the new crop.

Ergot is maintained generally at 37c to 40c for Russian and Spanish, but there are lots offering at a shade under this, and some holders decline to entertain any bid under 40c.

Formaldehyde is still affected by keen competition and prices are very irregular, down to 10c being named in some instances, though nothing is openly quoted below 12c.

Glycerin, refined, is firmer, in sympathy with the foreign market for crude, but previous quotations still obtain for spot goods, C. P. being quoted at 14c to 141⁄2c in drums, 14c to 14c in barrels, and 154c to 15% in cans, as to brand and quantity.

Lycopodium is quiet, but holders are not endeavoring to sell at anything less than 57c to 58c, as to brand and quantity. Manna remains quiet, recent concessions having failed to materially affect the distribution; small flake held at 32c, large at 50c to 55c, and sorts at 29c to 30c.