St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-10
COMMERCIAL.

SOitlNtEtlOfH
ST. PAUL, Dec. 10.-The week ending yester-
oay was an extraordinarily mild one for Deem
Der, and was rot at all calculated TO give the 50
much needed stimulus TO trade. soft, bsmy
atmosphere and sunshine sufficient almost TO
make the daisies blossom 90 not altogether con-
sutute the kind Of weather 10 be looked for in
this northwestern country three weeks before
Christmas, nor is II just exactly the weather 10
give healthy tone either TO business corpora
tons or TO the corporal constitution OF the genus
homo. What is wanted n this time OF year is
just such weather as may ordinarily be expected
in Minnesota-clesr, cold. braeing weather With
the thermometer anywhere below zero and the
afr as still IL it were frozen into a solid mass
Instead Of this we have had London fogs, Scotch
mists. rain, and close. mHggy atmosphere, and
altogether the wrong kind OF weather FOR season
able trading. II would not have been Surprising
then II the jobbing houses had had a very quiet
week, and il business generally had been almost
at standstiil. But careful investigation, how
ever, does not show that stagnation which might
naturally be expected, and business during the
past week has been very much better than the
circumstances would warrant one in
surmising. The reports from the
railroad Offices show considerable
increase in the receipts ana shipments, but then
ii should be borne in mind that the previous
week was a very short one and exceptionally
quiet, on account Of Thanksgiving and junket-
ings and demonstrations still it lie thought there
has been some little improvement in the move
ment OF goods, at least in lines If not in all.
The retail trade 10 the city has besn picking up
considerably the last two days, especially in
holiday goods, and II this can be taken as any
criterion there may yet be good healthy busi-
ness in the provincial towns and villages before
the holidays, consummation deyouiy 10 be
wished.
The freight traffic Of the week ending yester-
day shows a total Of 2,l10 cars OF goods Of all
kinds shipped into 81 Paul. For The week ending
December 2 the total receipts were 1854 cars
showing an increase Of 256 cars during the week
under review. This, however, is not the average
Of one days receipts. The shipments do not
show quite 80 favorably. being only q gain OF 80
cars over the short holiday week. The receipts
Of merchandise" were z46 cars, against $50
cars Of the previous week. increase Of 81
cars. Goods were sent out by the joohuy
houses TO the extent OF 54l cars. while the
shipments for the holiday week were 49,, show
ing gain Of l04 care, aud as this is about Il
cars more than a days average Il may be as
sumed that business has been slightly better for
the past week than il Thanksgiving week.
Grocery houses have done fair weeks bust
ness, considering the time OF year, and the prin-
cipa establishments report better business than
! q year ago. The market just now II quiet. but
line Of goods eau be quoted as strong CT firm.
Sugars are barely steady; teas and cofTees are
without change for the time being,
but it cannot be determined how long
the former viii continue 50. Provisions
have been weak aud lower. but they have Just
now frmed up again, but how long to continue
a.. e.
viii do well. There continues TO be 4 fair de.
msnd for winter goods 10 boots aud shoes rub.
bers and arctcs. Leather continues very firm
and moderate demand for oles, uppers and
findings ETH prevriis. Harness saddlery aad
har ess makers materials have been in better
demand during the past week. Manufactured
iron and steel and blacksmith goods have not
increaced iH activity nor has there been any
falling of in the demand aud very fair weeks
business is reported from all houses handling
this line OF goods. Hardware has been quite
active for some weeks back and there d jes not
q pear to be any material slowing up q present
Price lists have not been changed 10 any extent,
nails and mattocke being the items requir-
Ing notice. Drugs and druggists sundries have
been quiet during the week. The market has
been steady, with the exception OF iodine and
mercury, ana their various preparations VIII h
have been for the past three weeks excl 4.
Opium is little easier. There are no otner
cha lges in the prices current. There has been
no improvement in the general dry goods Dusi
ness, the same quiet prevailing that has existed
for several wet ks. The business for the
week has been almost extensively an
order trade. The demand for winter goods has
considerably declined on account OF the mdness
Of the weather. There has, however. been 4
little more demand for mackinaw goods, showing
that lumbermen are preparing for the pineries,
The greater bulk OF the orders have been con
fined, however, TO holiday goods, such neck
ties, scarfs, silk handkerchiefs, gloves. laees.
and these in small parcels. In the tabulsted
price list following will be found several changes
in favor of the purchaser. Manufactured
furs, fur coats, caps, gloves, robes, have
been in slightly better demand, but
there has not been that activity which wonld
have followed reasonable weather. Millinery
has been very quiet during the week, and there
has been no great improvement In notions, the
business being conf ed almost entirely 10 sort
ing out orders. There has been some little i'm
proyement in the demand for holiday goods OF
all kinds; orders have come in quite freely but
the have been small. The demand for glsziers
materials has not Sbatee very much and shippers
have hardly been able TO fill orders for window
glass There has been very light business
in lumber thanks to the discrimination OF our
Minnesota railroads in favor of Chicago, Many
Of our leading lumber firms, however, were zone
too many for these Subsidized corporations
and sent large stocks of lumber by the river 10
where II can reach the market at Missouri points
during the winter. II would appear that the
hardware interest has bad and continues 10 have
more prosperous season than any other branch
OF business, and with a reduction of some % per
cent. on valnes at the end Of the year the hard
ware jobbing houses will show a net
gain considerably over that for the
year 1888. II il thought, too, that the whole
mercantile interest OF this city will, upon stock
taking and casting their yearly balances, find
that they will not have to carry over nearly 70
many so heavy accounts as they have had TO
do in former years. Collections are much bet
ter than they have been in former years. and
are improving. even in the face OF continued low
prices for wheat and other produce. The fol.
lowing prices current have been carefully revised
and corrected:
ST. PAUL wHOLESALE MARKETS.