St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-14
COMMERCIAL.


ST. PAUL, Jan. Livery little activity can be
expected in the commercial world at this early
day of the new year when business houses are
still taking stock. or are foo ing up columns for
theEesuits which will realize their hopes or con-
hrm their fears; when the banks are eecting
their directors and Off -ers and the public gener
ally have not fully realized that the holidays are
past aud earnest work is before them. And yet
there have been some slight signs OF returning
activity. some indications of q revival OF
commercial life, and in some instances
the revival promises well for the coming season
although OF course very little can be augnred
from the state of an off seasons trade. Going
ia K to our old method of approxlmating the
volume OF business transa ted during the week
1t is found that the rail Dad receipts were i,oOl
cars, something approaching to what they were
at the DeLinning of December and before the
holiday inactivity set in. The increase was 467
cars over the week ending January d. The ship
ments were 755 cars against 626 for the previous
week or increase of l29 cars
These receipts and shipments are of
goods of every kind. There has been a cores
ponding increase in the movement Of ''merchan-
disc" showing that jobbing houses have again
commenced to show some little activity. The
receipts for the week ending yesterday were 800
against 3O5 for the former week, an increase
OF hfIy-fye cars about 100000 pounds. The
shipments were al cars, and for the previous
week 3j5, showing a gain for the week under
review OF 1873 cars 1850. 900 pounds-au in
crease which is highly satisfactory al this early
day after New Years, aud an n-
crease which induces the expectation
hat 1885 will owe to be profitable business
year. Reckoning the chicken however, willie
still in embryo is not wise, if pleasant, thing
to do, and the cautious, conservative merchant
Will undoubtedly fnd himself happier man
through all the intervening months from now Ill
the close OF the year than the sangu n, -pecu-
lating one, even il the latter should eventually
prove successful.
The good old fashion of eating does not ''let
mp" in holiday times nor diminish in
winter and IL there is tile dizziness just about
Christmas in groceries and provisions it arises
more from the fact thai country merchants al
low their stocks to run down at The festive sea-
son for the purpose of making their annual bal
anCes rather Than because of u diminution of
consumption, and just g. tae tedious
and irksome stock taking is over, stocks
again filled up, conse Iuenty grocery houses the
past week have had considerable IL
crease OF trade. The market with
the new year opened little
be expected. Provisions eiy firm and higher
ana show Indications of still further advance.
An In rely price list Of groceries will be
prepared for these columns next week. There
has been absolutely nothing doing in boots and
shoes during tho week. Preparations have
been ma for commencing the spring t'ade.
Sample Cases have been prepared and men are
eady 10 take the road. They will
set out on their first trip next week
when new lists will be published. Leather re-
mains very dull and under all ordinary circum-
stances cannot be expected to open up for a
week or two later; the market rema rs very firm
ami steady. Saddlery and harness na-lware are
also quiet and inactive, with no prospect of i'm
prOvement till nearer approach TO spring. Iron
and steel goods, forge and wagon makers sap
plies are equa ly dali but with a prospect of
little earlier opening out Prices
remain unchanged the reductions
in wages, strikes AMI short timing
not having affected the market. General hard
ware during the week has been quite active.
Orders have come in from all points quite freely
the orders have been small, il il true. out they
nave been very NUMEROUS aud like the Scotch
mans mickles, have made together quite a
muckle. screw manufacturers have issued new
lists with the new year AMI the - per cent. dis
CONT allowed of the Jan. /, 1885, list axes
screws still cheaper than they were. rhe Win
hester Rifle company has also isSned new
list with discount of % Tec cent. being also in
important changes in prices current already de
termined upon, and others contemplated. all Ia
yUring the buyer These will be noted next
week. Unlike dry goods aud millinery and most
other lines Of business, drugs have no special
season. The trade Is generally about uniform
throughout the year, buI for the past few weeks
the jObDing houses have been singu.arly
duh aud quiet. for no very
easily defined cause. There are some four
houses doing quite large business. aud two with
a clienture extending over the Rockies to the
Psc.dc bat al no time in their history have they
been quiet. Daring he past week, however,.
business has been picking up aud the pro- poets
again in favor Of general activity Price hsts
will show minor chaugs principally In
citric acid chlorOform iOaide and morphia
There has been fair 81 NC up trade in dry goous
principally in dOmestics, edgingS, embroiluries
laces, wooden hosiery and nannels. but there has
been no par, llar activity. Stocks have been
very much reduced and the large houses will
not have mu T. carry over to another season
or to lump oil a. unsacs ilc goo's. This l. a.
much on accoaut Of the wise discrimination All
conservatory action OF buyers last fall a. OF tn
push aud energy Of the men on the road. No
great rush l. now expect iiil the buyers who are
preparing to 20 east send in their novelties Tor
the spring opening. There is nothing 10 state
IN connection with other hranrhe OF the 20 bling
trade further than that nnsil">s has been quiet
and OF the usual on season CD racter.