St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-05
COMMERCIAL.

ST. PAUL, March 5.-The past week closed the
second month of the year and with it ended, al
most the dull season, and before referring to the
past week it would be we'll to glance back little
further. Business men anticipated nothing but
dull month for February, dull, as in the best 1t
is, but this particular February promised
unusual dullness amounting to depression
in general trade. All the indications pointed
that way. But the result has been very wide of
forboding calculations. much to the satisfaction
of the merchants. To say that business during
February was 'sboomiug, and that it was
phenomenal month, would be stating that which
is not true-it would be just as wide of the mark
as to say that it was characterized by stag
nation of trade and general depression. The
real state of the is that almost in all lines of
business there was greater amount of activity
than was anticipated and merchants books made
a better showing in balances-and these balances
on the right side, than at the close of February
1888. Some idea of the amount of business trans
acted during the month may be gained from the
statement that the railroad freight lines alone
brought into St. Paul some hundred and ffty-six
million three hundred and twelve thousand pounds
of goods of all kinds and carried out eighty eight
million three hundred and forty thousand pounds
in car loads but this does not show the entire
carrying trade, as large quantities
of goods are shipped in small
parcels. The business men generally express
themselves we'll satisfied with the months tran
sactions, Lumber merchants must be excepted
from this general satisfaction seeing that they
have been as it were handicapped by the rail
roads which have Disseminated against ST. Paul
in favor of Chicago.
Coming back to the past week
and comparing it with the
previous week business all round has increased
perceptibly and the majority of the jobbing
houses report business looking up. During the
past week $40 cars of merchandise was shipped
into the city, against 40S the previous week, an
increase of 1872 cars. There have been at least
5S2 cars shipped out, being IL cars more than
receipts. The previous week the shipments
of merchandise were 442 cars, giving an increase
of 40 cars. The total number of cars of mer-
chandise and produce of all kinds received was
1880 against 1871 Of the former week, an in
crease of 219; shipments of all kinds were 929,
and the previous week 7s5, an increase of ia
ears. With these general remarks it is only
necessary now to review individually
the leading branches of commerce.
Beginning with the boot and shoe trade it should
De stated that I'LL Lne ldrSe houses uere are dlsO
manufacturers and, their factories have been
running full time the last six weeks. During the
week business has been looking up considerably,
orders have come in more freely and more buy
yers have visited the city. The spring and
summer trade hover has not
fully set in and a considerable
amount of winter and heavy goods have been
sold. No doubt the snow and cold keeps bust
=,
reported by different houses as larger than the
same week last year. Credit is not given
quite so freely along the Northern Pacific circuit
as a thoroughly healthy tone would commend.
Leather has stifened little and may be
expected to advance, as hides have an upward
tendency good solid business has been done
by the grocery houses; sugars and syrups are
about steady; teas have advanced &c, and have
still an upward tendency. Japans are excited,
and will probably advance another 1ac or &c be-
fore the ensuing week is passed.
Coffees also are looking toward
higher figures; spices remain steady and quiet;
canned goods are quiet; dried apples firm and
higher; foreign dried fruits are weaker, especi-
ally Valencia raisins. Other staple goods are
unchanged.
There has been very perceptable increase in
the dry goods business during the past week but
there has been nothing like a steady
flow of trade but rather an intermittent
spasmodc business has prevalled-a very busy
almost rushing day being followed by very quiet
one. The market in cottons, especially bleeched
is very firm and popular brands of sheeting have
an upward tendency; ticks denims and cheviots
are in good demand. All the jobbing houses have
now got in their stocks of cotton prints and
these are unusually handsome and
unique, Allusions is here made to the new styles
and designs. The old standards still exist and are
likely to remain staple goods, but the new de-
signs have nothing at.all the appearance of cot
ton prints, but such as to deceive the best ex
pert who without handling, would declare them
to be wooden fabrics. The designs are artistic
to a degree and the coloring is such
as has never before been attained in
calico printing. The plaids, checks and stripes
are most deceptive limitations of worsted goods,
and the lowered patterns in their bright cooring
and rich grounds surpass anything in appearance
formerly produced in mouSSetaine delaine; the
price, too, recommends them, being only &c per
yard.
The drug trade has again recovered its lost
activity the past week, showing q very great
increase of business over the former week. The
reason for this frightening up can hardly be
found, for the weather the last week has been
equally unfavorable for country trade as in the
former week, but doubtless the dizziness of the
previous week was only one of those unaccount-
able lulls which often break into
an unusually busy season. The only changes
in prices are castor oil, which has advanced 10c;
lard oils, 5@7c higher; whale oils sc advance;
morphine and quinine, the two latter having
made jump of SO per cent. The great rise is
on account of the destruction of Powers & Co.'s
works, the largest producers of these drugs in
the world. There has been no very great improve
ment in the lumber trade during the
week, but still there has been some as will be
readily seen when it is stated that the shipments
direct from the yards here have been 101 cars
against SO the former week, orders, however, are
coming in in anticipation of the new freight rates
which go into force this month. There
are no changes in quotations, which will be found
as low and lower than many western markets.
Hardware has been picking up little during the
past week, but there is still room for improve
ment. The situation regarding screws and nails
is unchanged; the strike of the nailers is not over
and the PittEhnro and Ohio ValIev mile how