St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-03
COMMERCIAL

ST. PAUL, Dec. s.-The month just ended ana
that upon which we have just entered are not
usually very busy one with the wholesale dealer,
for il he season be good one the great rush is
over before November sets in, ana then follows
only sorting up trade. But this season has
been an exceptional one. There has been al no
time great rush OF business, and the purchas-
ing has consequently been extended over more
time. This would be, perhaps. an advantage.
providing as many more goods were purchased.
but In this case IL IL feared that has not been the
fact. Light as some provincial merchants bought
at the beginning Of the season, they have
not had much occasion for filing ND
lines and il has only been when a cold snap has
promised more seasonable weather that business
for day or two has shown indications Of tone
and vigor. This refers more particularly TO dry
goods, boots and shoes, clothing. furs and caps
and still more especially 10 heavy iron and steel
goods The weather has not 50 materially af-
fected groceri and provisions but low prices OF
produce ave had some effect upon every branch
OF mercantile industry. During the month Of
November the receipts by rail amounted TO g.
2l4 cars-about s0T cars per day. The shipments
were 4,574 cars being an average Of 1853 daily.
Under the head OF merchandise there
~fSf@ NSNAb VI EDDls ItCtlFeQ alQ
s2lS cars shipped. The shipments, it will be
seen, were in excess OF the receipts, thus show
ing reduction Of stocks at this point Al
though the business for the month has not. in
many branches Of trade, been quite what might
be desired, all the jobbing house, are unanimous
In declaring collections very satisfactory and
very much better than the merchant had dared
to expect. Some houses state that money is
quite plenty with their customers. or IL not they
at least meet their obligations very promptly
and fully.
The week just past has been holiday week
par excellence. The great Democratic demon
stration, the entertaining The junkeiing
visitors from Dakota and, following hard upon,
the great holiday Thanksgiving and the day fol-
lowing Thanksgiving might, for al practical pur-
poses, be holiday too. for few men feel like
business after devourng the national bird and
mlnce PIE. II will not be surprising then il the
returns OF the carriers show large falling of,
both in goods shipped and those received as
compared with the previous week. The gross
receipts we're ,o54 cars only. while for the week
ending November - they amounted 10 2, Ia. or
29s cars more than for Thanksgiving week
The shipments were 943 while
for the previous week they
were l42 cars more, footing up 70 l,0S5. Mcr-
chandise makes a sorry showing $50 cars re-
ceiVed and s37 shipped being the extent Of the
week work; for the previous week they were
40 and $50. IL would appear by these figures
that the Joining houses had received los cars
less and shipped l22 cars less goods than they
DID Tor ihe,week ending November 25: but il ]
should be born in mind that IL was holiday week /
and can hardly be counted AZ more than half a /
business week. The SNOW and cold OF the early /
part OF the week sustained the activity in season
aole loot wear. but since sunday the weather I
has been so mild and close thar il /
Is thought dropping Of again /
VIII ensGe. There has been during /
the week great improvement In the demand for /
leather, shocmakers stock and findings bat /
there has been perceptible failing on in har-
ness and saddlery goods; the leather market is I
hrm and steady. There has been no Improve /
ment IN the lumber trade, which is now Almost 4
exclusively confined 10 the local demand The 4
best market Is completely shut oil from the /
northwest through the overbearins asd contrary /
acton OF the railroad companies, whose roads the /
puonc nave built and 10 whom the public have /
lOnated ahandsome gratuity; for whats For the /
building and maintaining roads whlh a e being /
run the interest OF chicago ana agaiust |
the best Interests Of this state. Taere
still exists the diferentia sc in favor OF Chicago
winch excludes our lumber from Missouri points
Men are beginning to assemble around the pincry
camp fires and LITTLE cutting Is being done. The
lumOer interest," however. would not suffer much
II there was not log feed this winter. there
Oelng large number of logs on hand and the
stocks OF sawn lumber also large. There are
no changes in prices current. The grocery trade
IL reported as little better than il was during
Lhe week ending Nov. %, and several OF the
largest establishments report a really good busi-
ness Tor the time Of the year. Collections are |
reported as unusually good. here will be found
)ut lew changes in the price lists Sugars aud
'yrups are shade lower. CoGees are drmer
ma teas weaker. For new Valencia ralsins and
'ther foreign fruits the market is firm and sitter.
domestic dried fruits are firm Provisions were
oW and weak, bat hrmed up slightly yesterday
II Chicago, but il is doubtful IL this market will
make any upward move during the ensuing week
hardware has fairly held lis own for The week
lnd trade has been about equal 10 that OF the
week ending Nov 25. There is nothing in this
branch Of trade calling for special mention; ia
markets. quiet, and prices current have uot been
;hanged. Business in manufactured iron and
'teel has improved considerably since the advent
IL frost and snow; there is not enough Of either.
however, TO make the business fairly ..boom.'
ma II Is feared that the soft weather Of the last
lay or two will weaken business considerably
mere is nothing better than good freeze up TO
make smithy work brisk. No changes in ca A.
ogues to record. The drug market has been
luiet-very quiet. during the past week: the
harKet Is quite steady except opium.
odme and quinne, which have been slightly
excited. Druggists sundries and holiday toilet
lrticles have received little more attention ont
here has been no heavy demand Glaziers'
materials have been very active and the jo0bers
lave not been able TO ell orders for window
lass, the demand having been so large. There
las been slight improvement in dry goods
throughout all departments, but more especially
or blankets. There has also been a better
movement in holiday goods, laces, gloves, no
Ions and fancy articles. The thaw OF the past
ay' or two however has already
commenced to tell and yester-
ay was one of the quietest that
Try goods men have seen for some time There
re no changes in The price lists and the market
very steady. Millinery, furs, caps ami cloth
ng present no special features, the weather only
an work change for the better impart that
ctivity so devouty to be wished. Throughout
ne entire line OF the jobbing trade prices are
teady and the market quiet. In the following
rlces current, which have been carefully re-
ised the changes are but few and trining;