St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-16
WEEKLY REVIEW.

AS usual at this season of the year, with
the taking of stock and the natural falling off
in business, trade though steady and satisfac-
tory is not crowding, the orders for the most
part being for small assortments to replenish
stock for current demands. Prices are, how
ever, as a rule still maintained and in some
leading lines decidedly firm. The seasons
trade is generally regarded as having been
reasonably satisfactory and hopeful view is
taken of the outlook. Both manufacturers
and merchants have followed a prudent
policy, restricting their productions and pur-
chases pretty closely to the requirements of
their business. Consequently there is no
overstock of goods, the supply in some lines
being quite light. Retail trade in most sections
has been good, and collections, though in
some instances rather slow, give no ground
for complaint. The financial situation on the
whole is regarded as satisfactory. The drug
market is active and prices are well MAIN
tanned. The year is closing with rush. Ho-
iday goods sales were never before so large
and the increase in general sales is very
marked. Alcohol has advanced 4c per gallon
Gum arabic has again advanced. Chloroform
is little lower. Extra ginseng is in demand.
Ordinary grades are dull. Window glass con-
tinues scarce, but a little better supply is re-
ceived and back orders are being cleaned up.
All houses are busy cleaning up for the end
of the year, as Christmas and New Years
day come each on Friday, making two days
work to be done on Saturday, or else causing
orders to lie over Sunday in each case. We
advise all customers requiring goods to order
before the holidays, on account of the
certain delays at the times mentioned. In
the hardware line trade is keeping up quite
as well as is ever expected at this season,
while collections are very satisfactory. The
advance in plain barbed wire, which, according
to trustworthy reports. is being stiff1y main
tained has led the principal sellers to hold
for higher figures and an advance of nc is
announced The market in nails has been
rather quiet, as buyers are awaiting develop
ments and are naturally slow to do business
at this season of the year. Assortments have
improved and are generally getting into bet
ter shape. The tone of the iron market is
having effect on heavy hardware and induces
firmer feeling in such goods as common
carriage bolts, machine bolts, nuts, washers
and heavy wrought-iron hinges. The manu-
facturers of the common carriage
ing their extremely low quotations
and in others making slight advances
in their price, so that the lowest figure at
which these goods can now be bought is not
quite so low as it was short time ago.
Fewer makers also are willing to sell at what
is now regarded as the bottom price. No
definite change is announced in the price of
nuts and washers, but they are firm, and init
nations are made that an advance may soon
be expected An intimation is given out that
the screw manufacturers, by whom the price
of screws is practically determined, are in
conference with the view to making an ad-
vance before long, but the companies give no
intination to this effect. The tack market is
also firm. The leading outside manufacturers
have followed the combination makers with
diminished discounts, and the goods cannot
be bought in the regular way at as low fig
ures as they could a few weeks ago.
1t is thought likely that another advance
will very soon be made by the
associated manufacturers. In dry goods the
week has been an active one. A good many
buyers have been in, buying quite literally
of holiday goods. The market has undergone
no special change since our last review.
Prices are steady, with dealers preparing to
take account of stock, and agents in the
Eastern markets selecting STOCKS for the