Daily globe., 1879-04-23
ST. PAUL TRADE.
Weekly Revte,v Of the 81. Paul Markets.
OFFIoE OF THE GLOBE,


sI ST. PAUL. April %.
: aFromia q mercantile standpoint the past week
has been the most notable of the season, and
while business has been exceedingly active at
the wholesale and jobbing houses, several inn.
portant features have been developed, the fa-
vorable significance of which ia hardly sus-
ceptable of exaggeration. The period has at
last arrived, for the West at least, when the cry
of over-production must yield to the reverse,
current of healthy and legitimate demand.
Surprising as the statement may seem, while
making his round of inquiry few hours pre-
vious to this writing the reporter was encoun-
tered with the assertion, that the only draw
back experienced in the present active move
ment of trade, was the difficulty in procuring
goods enough to meet the requirements of the
demand. Business is better than it has been
for years, said principal hardware dealer, in
reply to the interrogatory of the GLOBE man,
the only trouble we now have to contend with
is in supplying the orders of customers, as
there are scarcely goods enough in the market
to meet the constantly improving demand.
With the above facts in view, it will require
no logic to demonstrate that the bugbeari of
over-proGuction which has rested like night
mare on all the vital arteries of manufacturing
commerce for the last decade, will be super
seded by an era wherein the recuperative ener-
gy of the demand will tax the productive and
manufacturing factors of trade to the utmost
limit Of their resources. That the nature of
the movement is not spasmodic or momentary
isIwitnessed by its slow, struggling and hardy
its permanency and genuine, prosperous char
acter.
The effect of this condition of things on the
manufacturing interests of the country can be
readily imagined, and that it will result in re-
viving the prostrated industries of the East,
which have languished in ruinous neglect for
the past few years. there can be no reason for
doubt, while the ultimate outcome cannot fail
to rebound to the prosperity of the entire COM
monwealth.
In a general sense, business is invariably re-
ported as good. The attendance Of buyers has
been large, and but little difficulty has
been experienced in effecting sales, while col
lections are generally reported as satisfactory.
The grain and produce markets have been
active, the ouly notable change beiug the fall
ing off in the street receipts of wheat, which
have been very limited, owing to the fact that
farmers are Just at present engaged in prepar-
ing for the ensuing summers crops. The
movement of grain from this city to the sea-
board and intermediate points has been COM
paratively light, as the season for heavy ship
ments of produce from the interior may be
considered as almost over. The local inquiry
for corn, oats. feed, provisions, etc.. continues
active while values have generally ruled firm at
previous quotations. ::.g.. NJ.
Business at the principal grocery establish
ments has boen active, while prices have under
gone no material change since last weeks
writing. In this connection it may be stated
that the supply of the leading staples is
scarcely equal to the constantly growing de-
mand, and considerable difficulty is expert
enced in keeping pace with the orders. The
greater activity than has been enjoyed for
years, and, before intimated, goods cannot
be had in sufficient quantities to meet the de-
mands of the trade.
An improved business is reported at the
leading dry goods establishments, and prices
have realized a general advance. The demand
for bleeched goods and brown sheetings con-
to ~ per cent. since last weeks writing. A
dispatch was received from an extensive
Eastern manufacturing concern, by one of the
leading wholesale houses in this city to-day
(the 22d), stating that cotton goods had under
gone further advance, and from present indi-
cations values will 60 still higher.
The drug business has been active, and
prices have ruled steady at last weeks quota
tions. r
Business at the leading boot and shoe estab-
lishments has been uniformly good, while no
change is reported in prices,
The movement in clothing, carpets, notions.
etc., has been active, while ths comparatively
low price of goods is acting as an extra induce
ment for extensive purchases, the volume of
trade being much larger than for the cor
responding period last year.
The demand for leather and findings is good,
and dealers report very satisfactory spring
business.
The movement in hides furs, wool, etc.. i.
comparatively quiet as stocks from the from
tier and interier will not move Eastward be-
fore the last of next month, when an unusual
| ly successful season is anticipated.