St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-21
COMMERCIAL.

SrPAuL, Jan. 81 During the past week one
or two heavy failures east have revived the late
dread OF panies and general depression, and this
unsettled feeling has in a measure been strength
ened by an unprecedented number of failures
and assignments in the sister city. These fail--
ures, however, have only been Of houses in a
small way Of business; still they have been
sufficiently numerous TO set the busy tongue OF
rumor wagging, and wagging TOO TO such an ex-
tent that at length aspersons began TO attack the
solidity If not the solvency OF one OF
our leading jobbing houses, and
the said firm deemed it necessary
in the shape OF an interview with reporters from
two Minneapolis papers to put their financial and
business standing fairly before the public There
is no doubt throughout the country ample cause
for serious consideration and wise preeaution-
sufficient to deter from rash speculation and
headlong plunging and to counsel a conservative
and cautious wariness in all considerable busl-
ness transactions But If such is the state of af-
fairs in this country what must 1t be in Europe,
where not only stagnation of trade,
tightness Of money and general
state of "we've got no work to. do"
prevails but where the gloomy war cloud is
gathering in the horizon-not bigger than a
apace and soon cover the whole zenith with their
heavy blackness and ominous shadows. The
London Times cautioned the world againt being
too joyous and gay during the festive season
that has JUST past and writer ct amore recent
date remarks that it needs all the CHEEKY optim-
ism Of Mark Tapley to contemplate without des
pair the depression of trade foreign compiled
lions and the desperate efforts of the en-
oF -infr 1ura OH yvir
bring us the sad tidings of strikes and
lookouts and mass meetings OF half furnishing
thousands, of bread riots and appeals to bullets
and Dayonets. and calls for blood. This is all
terrible AID one cannot help but being thankful
from being separated from such scenes by the
blue waves of Neptune's domain. But epidem
les cross the ocean and traverse deserts; and
trade depression. labor troubles, and financial
disturbances are e JiienIic, and, like cyclone
or a thermal wave, will complete their course-if
they do not wear themselves out II is to be
hoped, however, that this northwest is too iso-
lated, too Independent, to be much
affected il the same ''hard times should
threaten this country now unsettles Europe.
war in Europe, and such war a. would eusue
if war should break out among the powers would
for the time be beneficial for this country; for
the time only, however. for war can bring nothing
good times would be the more severe. War,
however, il not inevitable, and so long as the
grand old man is at the helm il will be avoided
In reference to the depression in the commercial
affairs of England il should be mentioned that
her Brittanic majesty's government Is not little
concerned ABOUT the rivalry OF Uncle
sam in than farm products.
II appears that the copper trade, Of which Eng
land has q monopoly, is much affected by the
American product. Statistics show that the con
sumption of copper for the last year two bas
doubled, being 20O,0 tons against 100, GOO, and
OF ths, it is stated, that oneffth is produced ia
America, aud The effort Of this large shipment is
a great reduction in price Since Inc Arizona and
Montana mines have teen worked copper has
deprecated in value Els or so per ton, being
now only E49 or S255 per ton. This is not
ali. IL appears that the imports of English
cotton goods Into the have Immensely
fallen of, and as Mr. Hale, the British consul.
says in his annual report is almost extinct owing
to Manchester fabrics being overloaded it'll
clay and sizing, as a consequence OF which there
mas been rapid increase in the import of raw
cotton 10 supply the native hand Looms" And
MI Hale goes on 10 find other excuses to ac-
count for the dropping of OF lie, but he fails
to supply the right one-Ihat the American
'fruIL OF the loom" Is superior 70 the Manches-
ter, and is not tled up with earth
and size. 1t is a trade with cultyat-
ing, for the whole population use nothing
but cotton for clothing. but 10 proceed with the
trade that more nearly affects this northwest
country, that OF our own joObing houses. II
would appear from the railroad returns that bus
iuess mas hardly been brisk the past week.
The receipts were 1876 against l,GJl for the
previous week, showing falling OF of 2S5 cars.
The shipments were GO, while those for the
former week were 755, or 95 cars more than for
the week just ended. The receipts
Of merchandise were 33l, and for Tue
week ending Jan. 10, $50, showing a deficit OF
- cars The shipments were 30 cars agEjqst
AL, or 80 cars less. And yet the leading houses
report generally better lrHde and q healthier
tone Leather has been considerably pickirg up
and orders, though small, have been more nu-
merous. Boots and shoes are now doing some
thing. For about four weeks the manufacturers
aad ioBbers have been taking stock and prepar-
Ing for the spring campaign. The men are
on the road and orders are beginning to come in
slowly, it is true, but it is
yet early for the spring trade
Grocers have been fairly busy and the weeks
transactions seem to have given entire sltisfac
ton 10 the various firms on Third, Fourth and
SlJley streets. Prices very steady, sugar
frartoually higher. however Iron and steel
jo1bers report slightly increasing trade. bnt no
gre al activity In any line OF heavy goods. Gen.
cral hardware has been quiet aud prices rnngc
stendy. Ballard and Marlin rifles have followed
In the wake OF Remingtons aud the factories
have issued new price lists with a discount OF IS
per cent. Drugs still remain very quiet and show
most unusual disinclination 10 move. Perhaps
the houses here feel It the more on account OF the
immense activity up to within 4 month OF the
holidays. one OF the largest houses Ia drugs
reports slightly increased business for the past
week, The changes in prices current will be
found trihiug. Dry goods stil continue very
quiet. and there Is but little improve nent as yet
Ia the volume OF trade transacted. Small orders
for blankets continue to come in, especially for
the North star brand which. by the way, are by
all odds the best In this market; tickings
aud denims are in moderate demand. Some new
STYLES Ia prints and ginghams, however. have
tempted merchants % PROSTATE the regular
spring opening aud they have picked mp quite
readily. Clothing has been quiet; manufactured
furs and caps have been dun. Merchants are
generally preparing for spriag trade, AMI while
they will be prepared fora liberal trade their
motto will be wary caut'ous"
ST PAUL WHOLESALE MARKETS