St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-12
COMMERCIAL

| ST. PAUL, Nov. 12-Never since the great
fraud OF 1875 has there been so much excitement
over presidential election as that shown over
the present one. nor did the memorable events
connected with Tiden's election and the shame
full ruling Of a corrupt judge take 80 thoroughly
hold Of the popular mind as the Cleveland and
Blaine contest. 1t is now a week since the con-
test was finally closed and yet the excitement is
to-day greater IL anything than it was q week
ago. Business however has not been quite at a
stand still However men may feel about the
result, they have returned to their daily avoca-
tons just as steadily IL
no great and important struggle
had shaken the country from one end to the
other. Long before the week was out the cleo
ton excitement ceased to influence the markets
or cause fluctuations in values aud, in st. Paul
at least business in all lines Of trade increased
considerably. Compared TO the previous three
weeks, the week ending yesterday, shows a sub
stantial improvement in the volume of wholesale
transa tions. The gross receipts of goods by
rail for the week ending November II were BASS
cars and by river SO tons-G00 tons by boat and
2s9 cars by road more than the best week for the
past month. The shipments by rail were 1881
cars and by river 435 tons. The railroad return
merchandise" received 527 cars against 46l cars
for October %, and the shipments GIG cars
against 5S7, making gain OF CO cars received
and 80 cars shipped.
The squirt in business seems 10 have extended
along the whole line from groceries aud provis-
ions 10 trimmings and notions. Grocery houses
have been shipping large orders TO all country
points and business has been very brisk Prices
are generally steady and firm, with the exception
10 dried fruits, which are lower. Some few other
minor changes will be found in the prices cur
rent but teas, cofees, sugars and syrnps are
steady. There has been a much better demand
for bar iron and steel trace chains, wagon ma
kers' and smiths goods, and the prospects now
are that this line OF heavy hardware has at length
started for at least moderate degree Of activity;
good freeze up, however, would more quickly
thaw out the frigidity OF this brunch
of business than anything else The
general hardware trade has been quite brisk
and the houses engaged in it report unusual de-
mands upon their resources. Trade Is increas-
ing throughout the whole length OF the Northern
Pacific 10 Washington Territory, from the latter
very large orders are daily coming in one order
shown TO the writer yesterday covered twenty
seven sheets OF fooscap. The market 10 quiet
and steady, the only change IN price lists being
trace chains which marked up ten cents
The drug market for the week has continued
quiet and although the holidays are creeping on
apace there has been better demand for fancy
goods such as carried generally by jobbers in
drugs. Price lists are unchanged and the mar
ket Is steady; the only exception being iodine in
all its forms which has made big jump. There
has been very great improvement in
dry goods during the week. The first
day or two business was pretty fiat, but each day
following there was perceptible increase, both
In the order trade and in the number OF personal
buyers. All lines of dry goods are in better de-
mand than they have been for the last three
weeks. But seasonable wooden goods are more
practically in demand, such as blankets, hannels
heavy underwear, comforters, hosiery, buckskin
gloves, shawls and knitting goods. There is also
an increased demand for ticking. There is, in
fact, much healthier tone pervading the dry
goods trade than for month"; prices are steady.
Notions AND fancy drapery are also slightly more
active, and there has been an increased demand
for manufactured furs and seasouabe clothing
has moved rather more freely. Boots and shoes
have been very quiet and slow during the
week; there has been some little demand
for artics. rubber goods and moccasns
but the market generally has been without any
feature of interest. Leather is firm and steady,
with slightly increased activity in harness and
saddery goods. There has been no improve
ment in the lumber trade during the past week
the great difference in freight charges from Chi
cago and this district serving to shut our mer-
chants virtually out of the most profitable mar
ket-that Of the Missouri valley. Prices are
unchanged.