St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-06
TRADE AND TRAFFIC..
The Dun Weekly Review Of Twin
City Situation,

City Situation.
The Dun commercial agency sums up
the week for the TWIN Cities as ex-
tremely satisfactory. OF St. Paul it
SAYS:
The business outlook is encouraging.
The summer season, contrary to past
experiences, has brought but little
cessation in business activity. In every
line there is more than the usual III
duStry, a good market for all products
and fairly healthy state of collections.
Spring trade was active, and the volume
son is in excess of the corresponding
period of 1889. In the tributary field
dependent most largely upon the harvest
the agricultural conditions up to this
date are specially favorable. Rains
have been copiouS and general. suffi-
cient to insure the wheat crop from fail
ure through drouth, and while other
causes may supervene to blight the
hopes now entertained, the prospects
we're never brighter than they are now.
The farmers are making commend
able progress in the right direction !;
they are purchasing stock, have a
larger acreage in flax, and in general
are tending more and more toward di-
versifcation. There is also notice
able Improvement in business method
in Northwestern country districts,
largely the result of local crop reverseS
in the past. which have induced the
shortening of credits, reduction OF pur-
chaSeS to necessities, and vigorous eff
forts by the country dealers toward
getting their collections well in hand.
This has resulted in the depletion of
country stocks, and with the materiali-
cation of present crop Indications, and
the possible improvement in wheat
prices engendered by partial failures in
various winter wheat sections, the pur-
chasing and paying power of the coun-
try trade will be largely augmented.
The demand for funds from local banks
continues strong and in sympathy with
more active business for this season. In
and around st. Paul large amount of
public and private improvements are in
progress, and there is a strong feel
ing of confidence and satisfaction in
all business circles.
The Minneapolis situation is thus
stated:
nThe jobbing trade has been more
than usually satisfactory, the volume of
sales for spring business being in ex-
cess of last years. with collections good
and fully equal to the increase i'll bdsi-
ness. Contrary to past experiences,
there has been steady demand for all
lines of staple goods since the spring
purchases ceased, and we are entering
the summer months with considerable
activity. This is largely owing to the
encouraging crop prospects, which are
at this date particularly favorable
through about all the territory tribI-
tary to this market. The demand for
flour has been very slack for some time.
and while the stocks in dealers hands
are understood to be low, the export
demand is light, and the production is
more than equal to the domestic con-
sumption. Advices in regard to foreign
crops are encouraging, and, under the
condition, favorable turn can hardly
be expected in the home market. The
production for the last few weeks has
been retarded owing to impor-
tant operations in the improve
ments of power, but the product for
the year thus far is equal to tile CORE
spending period in 1889. The reports
from the lumber trade are favorable and
encouraging. The scarcity of water in
the streams this spring delayed the
commencement of saving, but the re-
cent cOpiouS rains have been amply
sufficient for driving purposes. Predie-
tons as to the amount of the cut vary.
but if the mills are able to operate into
November the cut will probably run
from 350,OOO,0 900 to 375, OO0, 900 feet. This
is lagely in excess of the cut of last
year. Stocks were low last fall, and as
the demand during the winter and
spring was better than was anticipated,
the stocks at this time are badly cut
into. The shipments of large quanti-
ties of Northern Wisconsin lumber to
Eastern markets has also a beneficial
effect. Prices were low before the saw
ing season commenced, but are now
tending higher. The demand for none J
at the local banks is in keeping with
the improved condition OF trade. and
seems fully equal to the supply. There
is no change in rates. Strong confidence
is felt as to the outcome of the years
business. and general improvement in
all lines is expected.