St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-11-05
COMMERCIAL

sr. PAUL, Nov 4-The week ending yester-
lay has been one Of extreme quiet in all depart
nents of trade retail and wholesale, and nothing
better was expected. The dizziness however was
iot owing to any depression nor is IT sign that
lun times may be expected, on
he contrary It is thought
hat after the excitement and whirl and fuss.
consequent upon a presidential election and
especially such a one as the country has just
witnessed, has passed away that business will re-
yive aud become more active than it has been
for many long day. Yesterday being election
day. all boards of trade were suspended and.
although the wholesale houses were
open, thanks to the stubbornpess
or greed and selfshness Of drug jobbing firm,
business might just as well have been sus
pended and the employees OF the different houses
given chance to vote at leisure and in comfort.
There can hardly be a comparison made Of the
gross amount OF business transacted
through the carriers returns OF receipts
aud shipments OF the week lust past.
with the previous week, simply because the
returns for este rday are not yet in but in CON-
pairing five days to six we find, for the week
ending Oct. 2s, the receipts were 2,199 cars
while those for the five days ending November 9
were 1902 cars, or 597 cars less, but 597
cars are more than aver
age days receipts. The shipm EMS
Of merchandise for the five days ending Nov. 3,
were 467 cars and the shipments for the week
ending Oct. 2S were 5S7 or 1870 cars more. but
the average daily shipment the past week was
not more than ninety-two, this would make it
appear that there was falling off of some
twenty-eight in the gross amount OF
goods shipped out by the wholesale houses.
IL 10 fba cir inn, ofl Ia
make anything like reliable comparison from
our usual sources but there is no doubt that the
opening sentence of this review is literally true
there is not branch Of wholesale
commerce that has done the
amount of business the past week that was done
during the previous week. Even groceries have
been slow, but not slow as many other
trades. All the leading houses OF the city report
quite a lull in trade, which they expect,
however, will not continue day
after the election excitement has subsidized
There are no changes in the prices current ex-
cept for sugars, which are higher and appear to
be in a fair way Of making a healthy stand
Everything else in groceries and sundries are
quiet and steady. Dry goods during the
week have been extremely dull. In
fact there has been really no
business beyond very light sorting up trade
Grain bags, however, have been in active de-
mand, showing that the country merchant is not
buying till he absolutely wants the goods, and
there is no doubt that with the election over
and the prospect Of winter Looming on
apace, the demand for heavy seasonable
fabrics will greatly increase. The market in dry
goods is quiet, bat in the east is assuming frmer
tone. This is especially the case with cotton
goods. Millinery, Of course, shares in the gen
eral dizziness, as do also notions and trimmings,
laces and white goods. There is
not that brisk demand for manufactured
furs that might be expected at this time Of the
year. Country merchants did not buy readily
early in the season, and they do not now find it
necessary 10 renew their stocks which continue
in fact almost unbroken. Good, bracing. cold
weather is the only thing which
can help this branch of trade, except OF course
q rapid rise in the price of wheat. Iron aud
steel have again fallen back into their chronic
state of lethargy, TO speak, the little squirt of
the previous week did not last long; prices are
steady. General hardware seems TO be holding
Its own and there is considerable activity all
along the line, all the houses reporting
good, healthy, seasonable trade; the market
however, can hardly be pronounced strong, and
some speciaties decidedly weak there will
be found one two slight reductions in the price
lists. Boots and shoes are steady and quiet with
a fair seasonable business, but leather has again
fallen back and is fiat and dull, with prices, how
ever, held firm. Drugs during the past week
have been dull: the market is generally
steady, but there will be found some changes
in price lists generally In favor Of the purchaser
druggists sundrles, tolleI ana OLner fancy ar
ucles and fancy stationery are extremely quiet
and the prospects are that holiday goods will not
be rushing this season. The farmer has all he
can do with his 45c and 4Sc realized from q
bushel of wheat TO liquidate old grocery and
drapery debts, and will have little to spare for
slim cracks. 'Thre has been no branch OF business
which has suffered more than the lumber trade
the past week The rate cutting from Chicago
making lumber rates sc to Missouri points has
completely closed the field TO st. Paul and Min
nesota lumber yards. No business can stand
being handicapped 10c as the ST. Paul lumber
men are at the present time. The consequence
of this sc rate against the st. Paul 15c rate has
compelled our merchants to directl their
attention exclusively to the northwestern trade
and to leave the great Missouri river alone
Prices are steady. The following prices current
have been carefully corrected up to date: