St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-02
COMMERCIAL.

tge of winter, the snow and the ice, and even
the mud have disappeared, and roads are drying
up splendidly, which all conduce to promise
propitious month to ensue for activity in bust
ness. But glancing back over the thirty
one days expired, there is much for
which business men may congratulate
themselves considering the low prices of agricul-
tural produce and the gloomy look out of the
wheat market. That there has been very
much greater amount Of commercial activity
during the past month than for the month of
February will be at once seen when it is stated
that the number of car loads of freight shipped
into the city during the month was S,194, while
the total receipts of goods by freight
for February were 6,513 showing an increase for
April Of 1851 cars, equivalent to 33,62O,OO
pounds. The shipments of goods for April were
4,713 cars, being gain over the previous month
of 1922 cars, or something over28 per cent. This
increase is only what might naturally be ex-
pected, but owing to contingent circumstances
it was hardly expected to be
so great The increase was not altogether grad
ual, but rather spasmodic, depending largely up
on the weather changes which were sometimes
sudden and radical. But if the month business
was so much greater than February's, it can
hardly be so confidently declared to compare as
favorably with the March of 1883. Grocery
houses state that for the month there
has been little or no increase in
the volume of trade compared to the same month
Of last year, but that the margin of profit has
been in favor of the present year. The leading
dry goods establishments, on the other hand,
state that their profits for the month past are
equal to their gains for March 'sS. If this be
strictly true they must have handled
very much greater bulk OF mer-
chandise, for goods have deprecated
in value greatly-some as much as % per cent.
and the general list 10 and IS per cent. since a
year ago. The drug trade has been unusually
active for the past month, falling off only the
last day or two, owing, probably to straighten-
ing out accounts for the three months. Other
branches of trade variously report, all, however,
seem well satisfied with the results of the off sea-
son and appear to have high hopes Of the
busy time now being inaugurated.
For the week just ended business on the
whole has been very much in advance of the
previous week. The total receipts of goods by
car loads were 1,727, against 1904 for the week
before, or a falling off of 277 cars. The ship
ments, however, were So cars in excess OF the
former week. OF these car loads Of goods re-
ceiyed III were merchandise, uthe remainder
being produce, lumber, coal, wood, machinery,
etc. OF merchandise shipped out there were 66G
ears, being 40 cars more than in the week ending
March 27, which was precisely the same number
of cars in which that week exceeded the week
before, making gain of so cars in two weeks.
OF course this is only proportionate or aproxi-
mate gain, and not the gross, as has been ex-
planned and which would be much larger.
The boot and shoe trade the past week
has greatly increased, especially in light goods,
and the manufacturers expect from the present
prospect very large seasons business. Prices
are stiff, and will without doubt advance before
the end of the present week. The advance must
follow account of the rise in leather foreshad-
owed by the GLOBE last week. The leather mar
ket has advanced all round, especially sole,
which is at least &c dearer. There is scarcity
of leather and still greater scarcity of hides and
those manufacturers who hold stocks will try to
recuperate themselves for their alleged losses
when leather was at bottom, and according to
their showing, ruinous prices. The grocery
houses have been doing good business the past
week-both order and personal the former espe-
cialiy, the men on the road finding provincial
merchants more anxious to increase their stocks
There are several changes in quo
tations as will be seen from
glancing over the revised tables. Sugars are
again down and with them syrups. Coffees are
a shade lower and weak but change manipulations
render it impossible to say how they will he next
week. Tea is also weak at the moment. Fish
are generally a little higher. The drug trade con-
tinues active aud prices generally are firm. An
exception is morphia which has declined Csc
Paints, oils and window glass are
uuiet and inactive with
about steady. Dry goods houses have been
moderately busy and personal buyers have ap-
peared in the market more freely than hitherto
this season. Domestcs, prints and ginghams
seem to be obtaining most attention, after which
wooden dress goods receive most notice. Prices
are stiffening up owing to an advance on new ma
terial of about per cent This is more particular
~ influencing sheetings and muslins, bleached
and brown, and an advance upon these goods, land
probably prints, may be looked for. There is
nothing new in hardware, iron and steel, except
very great increase in the demand for all lines
of the former, especially for shelf hardware. The
business during the past week took a sudden
and decided squirt, almost as sur
prising and magical as the quick
departure of the ice in the Mississippi. The
lumber trade has been about the same as the
previous week and although car lots shipped i'm
mediately from here were SO cars less than the
former week, business has been equally brisk,
by far the greater amount of lumber shipped
being from the outlying mills, Taking
it all in all the past week has
been avery satisfactory one to wholesale dealers,
jobbers and manufacturers. For particulars and
prices current the reader is referred to the fol-
lowing tables which have been carefully revised
and corrected up to date:
CIT PAIL Who'll ZIG a L II MARH urrS