St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-31

in almost every section OF the United States.
While the number OF business failures the
country over has been the largest known for
many years, the proportion in this city has
been remarkably small, and has been more
than doubled by the number OF new firms
that have started in business. Within the
past twelvemonth thirty-fye firms have
ceased operating, and lightweight new job
bling houses have been established. This
fact, together with the fact that the majority
OF our jobbers have sold the usual quantity
Of goods, will enable the wholesale trade to
make about as good showing as last year,
despite general shrinksge In values Of from
10 to 20 per cent Another partial explana-
ton lies in the noticeable tendency to finer
grades Of goods. In the line of groceries.
teas, coffees and spices, the falling of in
prices has been most marked. but the line
has had the good fortune TO hold its own, one
concern alone sold e., OOO, 900 worth Of goods.
at 20 per cent decline from the priees OF
1853. In the important line OF
DRY GOODS
there has been great cutting, and yet money
has been made By our dealers, although al
the great manufacturing companies at the
east have passed their dividends. Over pro-
duction has been the cause, however, aud
the mills have determined to put stop Il
this. II is believed that bottom prices have
at last been reached, and the outlook Tor
1855 is considered more encouraging. An
advance OF Que cent per pornd In tie price
of raw cotton at New Orleans, and OF &c q
ne per yard on manufactured staples
strengthens this opinion. The jobbers IN
dry goods, as in other lines, have shown
good Judgment in not seeking to force trade
which they see can be but temporarily stag.
nant. II is entirely in keeping with the con-
sentative policy which charac;er.zes al
branches Of business in this substantial CITY.
policy which has given TO ST. Paul most
enviable reputation for commercial and
financial health. The
BOOT AND SHOE TRADE
has kept up well, and the sales for
the last quarter OF the year will show a graft
flying increase over the business for the cor
responding period In 1888. The trade in
hats, caps and furs was also good, and shows
an increase. Transactions In crockery and
glassware show an increase for the fall
months. The carriage trade and the trade in
wines and liquors-these goods being looked
upon as luxuries-have felt the effects Of tn,
panic, though they have not suffered TO auy
appreeiable extent. A prominent dealer in
wines and liquors said TO the writer: ''Jusi
look at the trade east OF US. ImDortatious OF
champagues have dropped Of loo per cent
in New York city. l admit that people
can live without whisky; and when ]
Dakota farmer has to give up s
whole bushel Of wheat for three drinks OF
LIQUOR. ] do net blame him for becoming q
total abstainer. When people have more
money than they know what to do with they
put it in diamonds, or whisky, or some other
luxury. The
AGRlcULTCRTsTs OF THE NORTHWEST
are q careful and frugal race, aud it is well
for the country that they are SO. Many OF
them have had hard struggle for exlstener
in times gone by, and they know how to sub
sist on pea day when the financial firma.
ment grows squally. Wneu the price o.
wheat went down 10 forty cents bnsheI, il
was shock TO their nerves, and they went
into their holes aud pulled the holes in after
them. Tradesmen are on TO the racket, and
are waiting for the grangers to SAY
| Thumbs up! The farmers are living of
their own fat. In the spring they will conc
out of their shells rs lean as wolves and full
of animal life and yig0r as a Minneapolis
cheese. Forty cents will seem like a bigger
sum of money to them than it did when the
leaves and prices began TO fall. And II
wheat should take rise OF few cents, they
will feel as good rs IL they had stuck a mai
in their foot. They will mourn less about
the past when they learn that they are. after
all, better of than lots Of other people, and
they viii fall to and work for the future with
vim. Our house is very indie
pendent and we are no: urging
anyone TO buy Of US.
ONE REASON
for this is that prices are so awfully low, We
would rather have the goods than the money.
Old whisky won't bring as much as when Il
was new. Other houses will probably have
better report to make IN the way Of sales.
but we have too much confidence in mex
years business 10 try 10 force things now. -
The local causes-out for which ST. Pau
would have gone on independently Of the
rest Of the world rolling up tremendous TO-
tals-causes that have prevented hattering
comparisons with the results Of 1888. have
been due TO existing depression ia
the wheat and lumber markets.
This is embarrassing, though Il
cannot be called calamitous. Lumber aud
grain are still In the country, and when they
move out more wealth will move In. The
4 great northwest may not be growing will
/ the feyerish rapidity observed hitherto In
certain i1ordinately doomed" spots. but q
widespread, heaIthful aud gradual growth Is
apparent, aud the benefits assured TO the
commerce Of this city are as sure SIS any
thing can be.
A BRIGHT IDEA.
TWAS bright idea that led the members
of the 81. Paul JObbers' union 10 make three
excursions during the year TO the terr.tory
whittier they have shipped 50 many millions
of dollars worth OF merchandise. One trir
was made over the Chicago, 81. Paul, Mime
apolis & Omaha, one over The s.. Pau
Minneapolis & Manitoba railway aud one
over the Chicago, Milwaukee & ST. Paul rail
way. Thus the Wholesale men Of ST. Pau
met their customers face TO face, and euiored
favorable opportunity for viewing and com.
pretending the immense expanse OF coun-
/ try which looks to them for ali kinds of sup
plies. Every jobber was enlightened upon
many points Of vital Interest 10 him. AND
had bis faith in St Paul's future great,
strengthened.
THE RAILWAYS HELPED.
One Of the influences contributing to The
indemnity OF the wholesale trade OF this CITY
during 1854, was the enlargement
of the trading area by railway
extension. The railways have not done an Y
thing extraordinary, but what they have done
has helped. The Northern Pacific has bull
a track sixty-four miles In length from Su
perior to Ashland, in northern Minnesota
and has completed the jamestown & North
crn branch of its line in Dakota to Devil:
Lake. The ST. Paul & Duluth railway Ia.
during the year operated seventeen
miles Of new road built in the lat