St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-23
COMMERCIAL.

ST. PAUL., April 23.-AIJnOu9n not aIJOgetner
a satisfactory way of computing the amount of
actual business transacted in the city, the plan of
estimating by the receipts and shipments of the
various railroads must still be used till a better
method and a more exact one can be devised.
There is at least one advantage in the plan, and
that is the estimate viii rather under.
rate than exaggcrate, and in this
respect it is more reliable than obtaining reports
from each individual house which from neglect,
careless or willful exaggeration would be quite
worthless. For the week ending yesterday there
have been received from the railroads 2,272 cars
of goods of all kinds against = ,178 for the prev
ious week, making an increase of 81. There
have been shipped out of st. Paul 1851 cars,
while the previous wteks' shipments
were 1,434 showing u gain OF lIf
cars for the week just ended
The receipts over shipments the past week were
721 cars, and the week before 744 cars. This
difference between the receipts and shipments,
rather singularly, agrees almost identically with
number of cars received of wood, coal, pig iron,
cattle and building materials. Besides this
freight the boats have brought up 1900 tons OF
goods equal to about 10 cars, some
forty cars of which were government
supplies for the posts and reservations.
i uIl III dANOIh WIN bS @2
of the railroad reports were
the appearances in the wholesale district
during the week. The writer visited many Of the
principal houses almost daily, and always found
them busy; the grocery houses seemed especial
ly to be doing a large trade, and packages and
boxes and barrels, sacks and bags and parcels
were heaped and piled in all directions, wait
ing the busy drayman. The market for
groceries is generally steady and there are no
changes to record in quotations. Sugars and
syrups are for the time steady but it is impossl-
bic to say how long they will continue so. Coffees
and teas are quiet and unchanged; Valencia
raisins are a shade easier; other fruits are firm
canned goods are quiet; soaps and chandlery are
firm spices steady; crackers firm.
The drug trade continues very active and the
volum : Of business the past week mas not dimin-
ished in the least. The market generally is firm
and with a few exceptions prices are unchanged;
balsam Tolu is sc cheaper; hemp seed has de-
clined &c; morphine has advanced 25c perounce,
while quinine is 10c cheaper. There has been Il
very large increase in the demand for oils and
paints and as Il consequence an advance in price;
linseed oil both raw and boiled are &c
dearer. White lead at st. Louis and at other
markets has advanced 25c, but the St. Paul
houses have marked up their own prices current
only 15c for lead and all paints having lead fof a
basis; this is on account Of the cheaper freight
by boat. The demand for window glass has also
considerably increased, but as was stated last
week the manufacturers will make
no changes till the blow out of
the fires at the end of June, and consequently
the market here will be unchanged. Hardware
houses continue TO have as much as they can
comfortably 1ttend to in the way OF postal orders.
The business is reported by all the honses here
as mast SatigfoctorV There are no changes 20
report except 1c advance on sheet irons
and an unaccountable decline in naIls
-unaccountable from the fact that
manufacturers with their recently formed pool
can control the market almost as they please.
The remarks of last week in reference to finished
iron and steel are equally applicable to-day.
There is a steadily increasing business for
smithy materials, with prices steady. The boot
and shoe trade continues active; the demand Tor
light goods is increasing, while the sale of heavier
wear continues steady. Manufacturers ana
iobbers here have made no changes in their
price lists although feathers continue firm and
sole has advanced another cent. There has,
during the week ended yesterday, been a very
marked Increase in the demand for lumber. The
shipment of lumber from the yards here alone
has averaged so cars Il day and this is not q
1.-THE of the actual business done.
There are no changes of prices
to record, those given in the tables are strictly
bottom prices, and for round lots.
At the opening of the eastern markets for
spring dry goods the jobbing houses here hardly
lookad for more than a very moderate business,
and the instructions to buyers were invariably
buy carefully and do not overstock. The out
look was not encouraging with wheat almost lit
orally rotting in the farmers hands, and yet,
Notwithstanding that, the representatives of
some of the houses bought beyond
instructions such has been the opening up of the
season that buyers have been Obliged to take
another business trip east. The eastern market
is reported firm with an upper tendency for cot
ton goods of all kinds. There has been a steady
demand here for domestics and prints, with a
fair inquiry for white goods and laces. The
number of personal buyers has greatly increased
during the week. Prices are steady and I'M
changed. Collections are reported variously
from satisfactory to very good and even in some
instances as exceptionally good. In conclusion
it may be stated that the weeks trading has been
most satisfactory, especially when the depressed
state of the wheat market is considered. The
following tables have been carefully revised and
corrected: