St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-20

trade The books for last year have all been
balanced, and jobbers all feel q good degree
OF satisfaction. They have made money.
and have every reason 10 think that the COM
ing year will prove even more satisfactory
than the last A number Of changes In price
are occurring from week to week and these
In most Instances are in the way OF advance
This tendency Is especially noticeable In
lines that have been demoralized In
price by excessive competition until
they yielded little or no pront. and also in
heavy hardware. which feels the improve
ment in raw material. IL is generally thought
that manufacturers win be very careful in
advancing quotations and that they will make
only such advance as are justified by the
CONDITION or the market. There Is sale 10 De
a disposition on the part OF some 10 make
advanced quotations prematurely, in antlc1-
patton OF an Improvement which they hope
and expect is coming. and with view to give
q better tone TO the market The wiser heads
condemn tins procedure and declare that any
advance which is merely on paper and which
Is not maintained during the coming
months. will be an unwlse move, the
eject OF which will ultimately be in
furious 20 the market. Such persons
declare that advances in prices that are JUS
titled BY the state OF the market, and which
will be maintained. are eminently desirable,
and help the tendency toward better
prices, but that no good will come from al
nonncing them IL they are either fictitious or
premature. Most advances that have here
tofore been recorded have every appearance
OF being solid, and If the present appear
ances are maintained they will continue 10
stand. The grocery trade is steady aud all
varieties of goods are in reasonably good de-
mand Al prices that are satisfactory Quota
lions are unchanged. The snow storms
blocked some OF the roads in the southern
portion OF the state and in Iowa. This
interfered somewhat with the delivery Of
ROOlS and alEn with COllncffOnS This
has now been obviated. and goods go forward
with promptness and regularity In hard
ware, collections have been remarkably good.
ana during no previous year have they been
so good. Trade keeps up as well a il is ex-
pected at this season Of the year. Ia barbed
wire, business is rather quiet, but this is the
nSSural effect of the severe cold weather we
have had throughout the whole country. The
market Is arm at quotations. The nail mar
ket Is quiet, and. though low offerings have
not entirely ceased, most Of the mills decline
10 sell AT the prices which have been repeat
edly made. The drug market is active for
the season, and the condition OF this branch
OF trade is satisfactory in all respects. There
are lew failures throughout the country, and
reliable, steady and increasing business is
doing at nearly all points. The trade
east OF the Rocky mountains Is
again increasing. 81. Paul is found 10
have this trade in spite OF all the efforts ST.
Louis and Chicago can possibls make 20 hold
II. as our citS Is the easiest and best source of
supply, and will be the headquarters for this
trade until the commercial cities of the
Pacific coast can again successfully compete
Tor II. The changes in price are few
Spirits turpentine is higher Oil cake is q
little lower. Linseed oil must advance.
There is nothing specially new in the dry
goods market. An dealers in all departments
in trade appear 10 be getting ready as rapidly
as possible for the business OF the coming