St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-21
The TREND OF TRADE.
Chance for a Wheat Bulge if
the Bulls Can Show Their
Strength.
The Duluth Iron Furore Felt
in Several Lines Of Local
Business.
Jobbing Continues Excellent,
but the Retail Trade Is
Very Slack.
Collections Fair, and Mer.
chants Look for a Good
Spring Trade.

On the wheat speculation the question
is: Can combination of capitalists
carry the immense amount of wheat
that is in sight. and take care of the
threshed and unthreShed wheat that is
in the country? If they can do so. they
will make money on bull movement,
but they don't seem to have been able
to keep May wheat up to 95 cents, the
net advance during the past seven days
having been 2ss cents per bushel, the
market closing at 9315 cents yesterday
for No. 2, May delivery, in Chicago.
Prices of provisions are about in line
with the wheat market.
Trade and collections are both fair.
The wholesalers generally say they are
having larger business than they had
a year ago. Manufacturers report a
large increase in the numbers of their
employees. Buyers make little or no
complaint regarding prices Of goods.
The activity in shares of iron mines in
the northern portion OF Minnesota has
been noticed considerably during the
week, and strong feeling is evident in
all Northwestern mining properties.
The produce men had had good de-
mand last week and report fair trade,
with good prospects.
Among the opinions expressed were:
George w. MARTIN, G. W. Martin &
Co.. produce commission:
There is no doubt but that the North
ern Pacific would have made lower rates
last year on fruits from Washington and
Oregon but for the fact that rather
small volume was offered for Shipment.
Those states are new vet in the fruit
growing industry, and their shippers
could scarcely expect the same facilities
that are offered, for instance, by Cali
fornia, which ships such an immense
quantity of fruit. The business will be
much larger this coming season, and L
think the Northern Pacific will not re-
greet the proposed reduction of rates.
Our firm received some conSignmentS Of
fruit from Washington during the past
year, and we must admit they were
splendid, as fine as we ever had. When
our buyers had tried them they were
willing to, and did, pay twenty-five per
cent more for their later purchases.
Our produce trade has been fair this
week. Good apples have advanced a
little, while eggs have declined. The
demand is good all around"
L. A. Guiterman, Guiterman Brothers,
manufacturers gents furnishings:
I'VE are employing about twice as
many people as we did this time a year
ago, and are very busy, working two
nights each week. The prospects are
more than encouraging"
M. w. Fitzgerald, P. r. L. Harden
bergh q Co., leather and findings:
Our trade is much better than it was
during the corresponding season year
ago. The stocks of grain and other
produce held in the Northwest, and the
general prosperity of the farmers make
the situation very substantial, and the
prospects for the year very good" -
Frank Keogh, Beaupre, Keogh &
Davis, wholesale grOcerS:
Our trade in February thus far is
better than it was at the corresponding
time year ago. We call trade and col
lections fair. Personally speaking, l
haven't much faith in the anti-wheat
option movements when they are manip-
ulated by two men whose interests are
so closely allied to each other. The
wheat market has at last shown some
advance after long period of weak
ness"
G. NJ. Lucas, Potter, Lucas & Co.,
produce commission:
The produce trade is better than it
was week ago, generally speaking.
The demand is better. There is all adj
vance on good to choice apples. Eggs
and butter are lower. There are no
store eggs now on the market. Fresh
eggs that brought "a cents per dozen
week ago can now be had for II cents
per Dozen"
John S. Robertson, manager B. Pres
ley & Co., wholesale fruits:
Il don't know now to account for it,
but we are so busy that haven't had
time to take the vacation that is due me.
Our collections are also very fair. Now,
as to the Western fruit trade, l sup
pose the Northern Pacific wonld
have made reduced rates from Washing
ton and Oregon last year but for the
fact that the business was compare
lively small. 1t is not developed, not
i'll shape, like the fruit trade of Cali
fornia. Some of the Washington fruits
are very good, but it will take several
years to educate the people out there on
the methods Of picking, selecting, grad
Ing, packing and shipping their prod
ucts. 1t will take years of bother to
build up the trade, but it will be
handsome thing in time for producers
as well as for the railroads."
Deposits made at the State Savings
Bank on or before March 8 will be en-
titled to four months interest July 1,
1892