St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-05-19
rise should there be an advance in

uance OF prosperous conditions. In
the iron producing sections of the
state there is every reason to think
times will be liyelier than in years,
because all iron mined has been dis
account of the activity in the iron
trade fnsures good times for at least
a few years. Our men on the road in
different parts of the Northwest are
sending in plenty of orders and en-
couraging reports"
III. r. Prather of j. HI. Allen & Co.
Our trade is much ahead of what
it was a year ago, and prospects are
of the most encouraging character.
Our men in the Dakotas, Northern
Wisconsin and throughout Minnesota
report all crops looking well, and the
merchants anticipating good trade.
Collections are prompt. We found it
necessary to increase our force. We
are making preparations for heavy
increase in trade during the sum-
mer and fall.
Claiming Seabury of Seabury & Co.,
wholesale grocers-Tines have i'm
proved decidedly the past few weeks.
Our trade for the spring has been far
ahead of the usual mark Of former
years. I think the return of good times
is general and permanent, and is due
to confidence among business men and
all classes throughout the country.
Yes, we will see more improvement as
the year progresses, and if the far
mers are successful in harvesting good
crops, we will quit talking about hard
times. Business is now even more
satisfactory than before and during
books who are discounting bills than
ever before. Merchants are more con-
servative in their methods and pay
bills promptly. Prices have gone up,
particularly in sugar, which has ad-
vanced 16 per cent the past few weeks.
Other lines are. steady and firm, with
tendency toward better prices.
A. Wilkinson, of Griggs, Cooper &
Co., wholesale grocers-In April our
trade was far ahead of what 1t was
during the same month last year. AMI
our May business is fully as good, and
we look for still greater gains. Mer-
chants are buying only what they can
pay for and ordering oftener. Never
/ before since we have been Ia business
have payments been so prompt The
tendency of the merchants of the
Northwest now is to only lay In what
stocks they can pay for. We are look
ing for still greater Improvement in
times.
SALES ARE GROWING.
H. A. Merrill, of Ogden, Merrill &
Greer, importers and jobbers in crock
cry, chinaware, lamps and glassware,
said "Sales are decidedly better this
year than last, and we anticipate a
still further improvement as soon as
the retailers feel that good crops are
assured. Good crops this year will
mean good trade. Within the past two
years the merchants have been forced
to collect their bills closely, and as a
result. they have been paying more
promptly. We do business in six of
the Northwestern states, and we notice
evidences of prosperity in every sec
been justified in enlarging our force
of statesmen. and now we are making
more than usual preparations for our
fall trade. You see, much of our goods
ara imported, and this year we are or
dering heavier stock than we have
in some time, and putting in our orders
earlier. Prices have been at the lowest
basis, and already there is an upward
tendency, and prices will further ad-
vance as soon as the factories find
themselves crowded with orders
''Yes, sir, we have lots of business
this spring" said Mr.. Konantz, of the
Konantz Harness and Saddlery COM
pany. eve have eight men on the
road, three more than last year, and
we are extending our business over
greater territory. During April this
year orders received were twice the
amount we received in the same month
last year. Everything is looking ex-
ceedingly well. Collections are better
than in long time, and many of our
customers are discounting bills. This,
l take as an indication that merchants
who have been doing business with
little capital have been forced to shut
up shop. and only the solid ones re-
main. 1 do not believe any of the mer-
chants are borrowing money to carry
on business. The basis for this re-
newed prosperity is bright prospects
for good crops, and everybody feeling
that there Is going to be something
for them this fall. If the farmer gets
even<moderate pay for his crops this
fail, we will have the best trade in
years. The people have worn out
their old goods and must buy. In
leather there has been an advance, in
some grades as high as II cents a
pound, and we have advanced prices
from 10 to 25 per cent I do not look
for decline in the harness line for a
year. Prices the past two years have
been lower than have known in my
experience of twenty years in busi-
ness"
IN THE SHOE TRADE.
George w. Freeman, president of
the shoe manufacturing firm of Got
Zian & Co., informed the G. OBJ that
trade in the shoe line is brisk. up
to May our sales this year have been
20 per cent ahead of our trade for 1894.
and it still continues good. Our tray-
ellnS men send weekly reports, indi-
eating the feelings of the merchants
and the outlook. These reports are
highly satisfactory, and this stimulus
in trade seems to be attributable to the
present encouraging conditions and
prospects Of good crops Collections
are extraordinarily good-no complaint
from merchants, and failures are few.
We have increased our travelling force
to twenty-five men-last year we had
out only sixteen. l believe trade will
continue good, unless there is some
thing unforeseen happens. which is not
very likely"
T. A. Schulze. of Foot, Schulze &
Co., said: "The outlook has never
been brighter Our business for this
year is S5 per cent ahead of what 1t
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