St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-08

sale grocers,'' said Col. Granger, Of P. II
Kelly & Co., .but the spring trade has picked
up, and is looking quite encouraging. Orders
are coming in freely, and the business is of a
| good healthy tone that is satisfactory al
| around. Frequently we have had quite a
boom in the spring, but the general depres-
sion all over the East is felt in the Northwest,
and merchants are becoming much
| orders than before. and, of course,
| oftener. All in all, l think the trade
is decidedly in better condition than year
| ago at this time-that is, it is good and
than trade of the spasmodic kind. 1t is a
| matter of surprise that there have been SO
| few failures. The volume of business seems
about the same as last year. I'd like to go
| is something which would take all the after
noon"
A. H. Allen, of Allen, Moon & Co.-The
spring trade is just fairly beginning, and it
is three weeks earlier than last year. The
closeness of the money market and the fail
ure of crops have made the outside merchant
pretty careful in buying. and the country Is
Somewhat bare Of goods. Our volume Of
business for the last three months has been
much larger than for the corresponding
period in 1888, but values are less. The in-
dications for the future are pretty good.
I'm satisfied with the outlook.
THE BOOTS THEY WEAR.
TRADE in boots and Shoes" said r. II.
Stevens. of Gotzian & Co., as he tipped back
in his chair for chat, started in freely with
the spring demand about month ago. The
country trade is feeling somewhat demoral-
iced on account Of the winter business, but
things are improving rapidly. Mail orders
are increasing daily, country dealers seem to
be having demand for goods, and the out
look for good business a little later OH is
very encouraging. The experience of coun-
try storekeeperS last winter was very severe
one. They bought heavily in the fall, and
still have the goods On their hands. They
will be slow to recover, but not as slow as
some think. The fine weather and early
opening OF spring has enabled the farmers to
bring in their produce. Spring work must
be begun and help employed. This causes a
demand for goods. and those who have any
money must spend it. In some localities
where we sell, the farmers are without re-
sources. They have absolutely nothing.
Again, in other localities. where crops were
good, the advance i'll prices last fall proved
temptation to wait for still higher prices,
being held back, especially in Dakota.
The low price of stock at this time
is also proving a detriment to trade,
as farmers do not feel like parting with their
animals at the low rates ruling. However,
we have experienced but few actual failures
since January /, which is good evidence of q
sound condition of dealers generally. Many
had TO lay down, but all exhibit of their con-
dltion has always been sufficient to enable
some arrangement to be made SO that they
could continue. Sales so far are somewhat
less this season than last, but we have no de-
sire to force goods just now. realizing that
the next crop of the farmer is largely mort
gagged to pay present Indebtedness. The
outlook for the tall business will or course
depend on the SUNNI er showing of the
crops, but trade in the fall will necessarily
be lighter than last year, as so many last
winters stocks are being carried over. The
spring trade will help the country dealers
out on their small bills, while the large ones
have already been provided for. Now what
is needed is an abundant harvest
HARDWARE.
"Business?' remarked c. w. Hackett. It's
that what you want to know about? It's
very active, more so than last year. Our
spring trade has been on for two months.
At present we cover SO much territory that
partial failure here and there does not affect
us as it would have done few years ago.
think this is generally true of jobbiDg houses
in ali lines. Collections are about as usual
at this season. They are generally slow until
the harvest is over. In some sections they
are good, in others poor. Collections, like
the trade, run more in streaks than ever be-
fore. Where they had good crops they have
lots of money. Where they have no crops
they, have no money. But business as a
whole is good"
G. L. Kelly, of II. G. Burbank & Co.-Trade
In clothing so far is frst-late-much better
than last year. 1t opened little earlier, and
we have sold at least 25 per cent more goods
As to the cause of the increase hardly know,
unless 1t is that we have extended our bust
ness somewhat, especially in Montana and
Dakota. Where the crop was failure mer-
chants are buying very sparlngly, but the
failure is tending to put everything on bet
ter business basis. One can readily under
stand that. If we get good crop this year
we shall look for great business. Every
thing hinges on that. Failures, think, will
be even fewer in the future than in the past,
If nature is kind. You see, merchants are
buying much smaller bills than usual. They
meet these bills promptly and 4hen buy an
change from the outlook in December, and
everybody ought TO be satisfied.
DRUGS.
1.-The year in the drug business said D.
X. Noyes, of Noyes Bros. & Cutler, "opened
with a rush of trade. Our January sales
were Is per cent greater than in January,
1885. February was quieter and showed no
gains, but March more than made up tor it
April opens showing an increased trade in
every direction, but especially IN the matter
of new stock orders, five of which are now in
progress of filling, among them some of the
largest orders we have ever had. Where are
the new drug stores? There's one at Helena,
one at Spokane Falls, another at st. CroiX
Falls-in fact, they are scattered all over the
Northwest. There is the most marked de-
velopment in the far Western trade AS an
indication of what we are doing: On the
first day of this month we filed 491 city Or
crease in our trade is due to the wonderful
development OF the country. Local failures
| this spring have been few. Collections have
| been backward, and the effort to collect has
| reduced the trade greatly in certain locali-
| ties, as we have been compelled to refuse
credit where accounts were long past due.
| The burning out of the Richardson Drug
company in st. Louis few weeks ago in
creased our territory materially. and think
now we may justly claim to do the greatest
| drug business in the Northwest
MILLINERY.
]. B. Seixas, of August Oppenheimer & Co..
With us the spring season opened March /.
Last year, you will remember. the spring
was very backward, and our season really
didn't open until June. The indications are
! for very good year. So far it has been at
least % per cent better than for the first
three months last year, and would not be
surprised to see the business for 80 run 80
per cent better than that Of 'SS. The trade
seems in first-class condition all over the
country, and if weather and crops are good
we look for better year than any in the last
five. Everybody ought to feel encouraged at
the state of trade.