St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-07
COMMERCIAL.

ST. PAUL, Jan. THE week ending yester-
day, which closed out the old year and ushered
in the new, was commercially one Of extre-le
quiet. No one of the many jobbing houses of
this city was doing anything; neither did any Of
them expect to do more than they did do. Stock
taking during the holidays is quite as much
as merchants care to attend to,
and the quiet of the past
week was no exception to the rule. The two
weeks Immediately before Christmas and the two
or three weeks following are the dullest OF all
the year, and il any of the five is duller Than
the rest il is that between Christmas and New
Years, or the one Immediately following. The
receipts and shipments, as returned by the rail
roads, show q considerable falling off. Com
pared to those of the week ending Dec so, they
were 266 cars and SO cars less, being receipts
1,134 against 1,42O, and shipments $50 cars
against 626 cars. These figures make 1t ap-
pear that the gross receipts OF car lots
for the week, under review were more than 20
per cent. less than they were the previous week,
and the shipments 1917 per cent. less. The fall
ing off in the receipts and shipments of timer
chandise" was IA and ca respectively, the re-
ceipts being 305 cars only and the shipments 338
cars, whereas they were $50 and 1853 the previous
week. But compared with the week ending
Dec 90, also dull week, the decrease was still
more apparent; the receipts of ''merchandise'
were 24H per cen. and the shipments 81 & per
cent. less. But as stated before
this is the result every year at this
especial season AID is no indication of hard times
nor an omen of future stagnaton or depression.
II is simply the resting time-the interim he
tween one season AID another. All there is of
it is simply this, the jobbimg honses and whole
sale merchants have unloaded one seasons goods
one years, in fact-and are breathing spell
before commencing to unload another seasons
goods.
There hes been absolutely nothing doing in
boots and shoes during the past week. The fac
tories are all closed down and will not start again
for another week. The five large houses en-
gagged in manufacturing have been taking stock
and have not yet finished and preparing for
the spring trade. The drummers VIII take the
road again in about two weeks. So far gen
eral resul Its are known the years business Is
quite satisfactory. There has beea nothing doing
in leather except stock taking, the results OF
which are not yet known. Harness, saddlery and
harness makers hardware are just now at stand
still and Whiting for the spring opening The
leather market Is very firm. Grocery houses
have found trade picking up a little and some
establishments report good week trade, gro
ceries unlike most other JoDbing trades is always
more or less active. The results Of the stock
taking are not yet known; but sufficient
progress has been made 10 warrant the statement
that the year will compare favorably with any
other year past Notwithstanding low prices and
small profits. Some houses ant cpa e that when
the final balances have been cast that the net
profits will be fOund several per cent. better than
they were a year ago notwithstanding the very
much higher prices and greater margin for profit
in 's3. The market In grocery is quiet AMI
steady Provisions are very firm and mess pork
about s.. go dearer. Manufactured iron
and steel have been very dull and quiet,
and during the holidays nothing at all has nee
stirring For the year business has not been
good as in SO. Prices have been very low,
and jobbers, In or Ter TO do any business at all,
have been Obliged 10 watch carefully and shave
down offs 10 the lowest possible minimum.
Hardware houses have had very quiet week and
have not been very greatly DISTURBED in their
stock taking operations, which, however, they
find promising 10 be satisfactory in every sense
Final balances have not yet been made, Tut
rough calculations show an Increase OF
profits over 80. The market generally Is
steady and quiet. Lock makers have issued
new lists a also screw manufacturers. aud the
discounts given in The prices current makes the
changes favorable 20 the buyer There are about
half a dozen jObbing houses in drugs and drag
gist's sundries, all OF which have experienced
a very quiet week and. like the majority OF the
Who'll sale houses have had little TO occupy them
beyond taking stock The drug market Is quiet
and steady. Drygoods, notions white goods
carpets, laces, haberdashery, ouihtting and
clothing have all been extremely quet and
with these two the business Of greatest move
ment has been stock taxing. Drygoods have
picked up u little since the Lawmakers" have
been in town, owing doubtless to the fact that
some OF the legislators have an eye TO
private business. Stock taking has disclosed
the gratifying fact IN stocks are lower than
they have been az any other similar occasion; a
fact which spea,s well for the judgment and
care OF the buyers.