St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-02
COMMERCIAL.

OONIVIEIEOE
| ST. PAUL, July 2.-The month just closed IS
usually considered to be an off month IN many
branches of the jobbing trade. But the spring
| season of the present year was an unusual one.
Business opened rather late, and when 1t did
open it was not with that rush and energy char
acteristic of spring business in the northwest 1t
was spasmodic and halting-a few days of activ
ity followed by days of extreme dullness. Coun-
try merchants throughout the northwest
bought with caution, and businss men
in the city acted with like caution in opening ac
counts and extending credit, for neither jobber
nor merchant knew what the threatening clouds
III the gloomy horizon of the commercial world
might bring forth. The clouds, however, did
not break. and neither cyclone nor flood swept
down upon old institutions, nor carried away
new ones. Cautious trading, both in the buyer
and seller, was no doubt the saving grace in the
critical time. One result of the slow
opening of business was an unusual pro-
longing of moderate activity in lines
of business which at this time of
the season are almost closed down, and if April
and May showed a smaller volume of
trade than last year June foots up unusually high
Dry goods houses for instance have done hoav.
Ter business the last month than is usual with
them. Besides the reason already given there is
another akin to it. Merchants WHO buy in New
York and Boston and in the early spring went
east to buy made light, cautious purchases, and
during the past month have been doing their
''sorting up trade in ST. Paul. The total re
cepts of goods of all kinds for the month of June
were 1859 cars, against 9,274 for May
and 9,O54 for April The shipments
were 1859 cars for June, $3.50 for May and 6,379
for April. These figures are exclusive of re-
ceipts and shipments by river and farmers
wagons; the former would make very large
item, but we have been unable to get the totals
for the month. Farmers wagon receipts would
probably foot up to about twenty twenty-five
cars week. The various jobbing houses report
a good months business and most of them con-
siderably in excess of the same month last year.
Not few of the leading houses say that their
cash receipts for last month will exceed those
of June, 49, Notwithstanding the fact that
prices are so much lower. In the matter of
prices it should here be mentioned that the far
mer is better off today with wheat selling at to
days low prices than he was two years ago with
wheat above dollar per bushel. Groceries are
lower, dry goods lower, clothing is lower, boots
and shoes are lower, and so much lower that if
wheat sold at Coo per bushel still the advantage
would be with the farmer of to-day compared
with the farmer of 81 and 50.
The week just ended will in a general way
come up to the previous week for volume of
business The gross receipts were 1859 cars
against l ,7S3 of the previous week, being rs in
crease. The shipments were ,0S8 compared to
1,062 for the week ending Juue "a, an increase
of 26. Add to these 100000 lbs. received by
river and 40, 600 lbs shipped by boat OF these
total receipts 12,S40,000 lbs. were ''merchan-
disc received by rail, to which should be added
100000 lbs. by boat, making a total of Il, $50 coo
lbs against II $50, 001 lbs for the previous week
being increase of 1,76O,0O9 lbs The total
shipments by river and rail of merchandise were
14,390,000 lbs. and for the week ending June "a
Is, 10000 lbs, decrease of 100000 lbs
Grocery houses report steady weeks bust
ness with no falling Off in bulk Of shipments.
The market on the whole is steady. Sugars fuc-
tuate rapidly, but to no wide range, the rising
and falling being confined within "A a. &c. There
is quite an active demand for sugars as there al
ways is during the berry season. The new teas
are coming in, and they are proving to be of very
choice quality and fine flavor The crop is large
and excellent, and prices steady. Coffees just
now are weak and seem to be looking downward
Foreign dried fruits are firm and domestics are
steady. There is no change in canned goods
Changes in prices current are very few and of lit
tie Importance. Dry goods houses are taking
stock which is foud to be reduced more than many
houses imagined. Business too has picked up
considerably during the past week. There has
been large number of personal buyers in town
sorting up summer goods, and orders for grain
bags are increasing. The demand for lawns white
goods and prints has been unusually large
There is considerable activity in cheviots shirt
ings and oyerals, preparatory to harvest. There
are no changes in quotations. Boots and shoes
are in exactly the same position as last week
dull and inactive, but not more so than is always
the case at this season of year. There has been
little better demand for feathers during
the week but prices remain
steady. Hardware houses have had good week
of business. And for the month an increase over
june OF last year, prices are about steady except
nails and files, which are lower. Iron aud steel
goods have been very quiet with prices steady.
June win not compare favoraby with May and
the same time last year. The shipments of lum-
Der have not been so large as for the week ending
June "a railroad returns show a falling off of IS
cars direct from ST. Paul, and the shipments
from the mills have also been lighter:
prices remain steady. The month
upon which we have now entered viii
of course be dull one in the greater part of the
iobbing trade but it is thought that after the dog
DAYS unusual business activity win set in The
anticipation of greater business prosperity is
based upon the splendid prospects Of an abund-
ant harvest which reports from all sides seem to
promise Even with low prices good and gen
eralcrop is better than moderate and ''patchy''
one with very high prices.