St. Paul daily globe., 1896-02-09

Convinced that we will have plenty to
do this spring. Yes, it's because of
the large stock of wheat in the hands
of the farmers. They all had such
hood crops last year that they were
left with considerable part of 1t on
hand. after they had sold enough to
Prices were too low to encourage them
In disposing Of the whole crop. They
looked for higher prices this spring,
and, If one is to form an opinion from
present quotations, they will not be
disappointed, but will be able to sell
their surplus at better prices than have
prevailed for several years. We are
hlready receiving a good many orders
IN anticipation Of brisk spring trade.
ahe outlook. altogether is as encourag-
Ing"
Paul H. Gotzian, of C. Gotzian &
Co.: Yes, indeed. trade last month was
much better than in 1895. Why, I
should say that 1t was fully double the
business of the year before. Collect
ions were fair during the first half OF
the month, but they fell off during the
last two weeks. We are much graft
led at the unusual volume Of trade
that we had to handle in January, and
| suppose one might predict good
business, on that ground, for the COM
Ing spring. But the art Of prediction
Is a trifle uncertain, and I prefer to
make no guesses. We will know what
trade will be in the spring when the
spring comes.'
C. H Kellogg, president Of Kellogg,
johnson & Co: ''Orders came in quite
as freely during last month as in
January, 1895. But winter is usually
duh season for US, and I can tell bet
ter what the outlook for the year is by
April l. Collections last month were
good The principal drawback to good
business in the Northwest, 1 think. has
been the prevailing low price of farm
products. There is now a good pros
pect for a better grain market, and II
the quotations keep up, they are sure
TO benefit both the farmer and the
merchant"
HARDWARE,
Said c. w Hackett, of the Hackett
Hardware Company: Our trade for
January was very satisfactory in
general lines and in bicycles Perhaps
1t was not quite as good in car lots Of
abarbed wire and nails, but we rather
discourage custom in that direction
We think that country merchants often
take too much risk, and buy those car
lots three months ahead of the time
when they Will be needed, more as
p speculation than anything else Col
lections have been rather slow Farm
Ars are holding their stocks back ON
account of the stiffening of prices at
chicago. They don't want to sell,
naturally, so long as there is chance
of selling a little later at better prices
They may of course, hold off too long
and lose by doing So
w. 3. Dean, of Nicols & Dean:
%Trade was a trif1e better in January
han during the same month year be-
Fore Collections were satisfactory. I
h1n inclined to anticipate a good trade
the farmers will be able, l hope, to dis
pose of the large surplus left over
from last years crop"
r. A. Kirk, treasurer, of Farwe1l, o.
mum. Kirk & Co; January business in
She hardware line has been considerably
ahead of January, 1895, and in shelf
hardware and goods outside Of staples
-such as barbed wire-it has exceeded
the trade of any January since 1892,
and has probably. fully eQualled the
January trade of that year. Collec-
tions for January were quite good
considerably better than a year ago.
With the advance in the price of wheat
and pork there ought to be consider
able money in circulation this month,
and we hope for very fair collections,
but probably not quite as good as in
Cduudry- On lne Wnoie- Slice Ine
bond issue is satisfactorily settled,
think that the outlook is very fair.
There has certainly been a decided
Improvement in the last thirty days"
PAINTS AND OILS.
T. L. Blood, of T. L Blood & Co.: "Our
business in January was a good deal
better than during the same month last
year Collections, too, were better than
a year ago. Trade prospects, on the
whole, are better than they have been
Tor the last three years.
MILLINERY.
Charles Straus, Of Robinson & Straus:
'"The January trade done by US was
about the average for that month. Col
leetions were fair, but hardly what we
expected, 1 think that business will be
better after this. The success of the
bend issue has gone a long way to re-
store confidence throughout the coun-
try. Another favorable sign is the ten
dency of the country merchants to buy
with extreme care. It's much better for
them to buy sparing1y at the beginning
of a season and then buy more from
time to time than to indulge, as here
tcfore, in speculative purchases which
only embarrass them"
MEMS FURNISHINGS
"A. OI
ave did very large business last
month-the largest in some years. Yes,
it certainly was an increase over the
trade of January 1895. Collections were
fair. They might have been better, but
] think that the recent advance in the
price of wheat ought to stimulate col
1ections considerably. The settlement
of the bond issue will also make money
more plentiful. The outlook for this
spring is, altogether, very good"
LEATHER.
w A Hardenbergh, of P. r. L. Har-
denbergh & Co.: Last month was the
best January we have had since 1892,
and it came within a few thousand
dollars of being the best January we
ever had. We are behind on our fac
tory orders. Collections last month were
fair. Spring trade seems to have open
ed up two months earlier than usual,
and, unless too big an advance takes
place in leather, expect a very good
trade for the next few months
MACHINERY.
8. M. Cary. president Of the Robin
son & Cary company: Business with
us last month was about the same as
January of last year. The winter is
always a dull season with US. partic-
ularly because there is nothing doing
then in sawnill machinery. Collec-
lions were very fair. They seemed to
be quite as good as in 1895"
Strawberries Are Ripe
At the Delicatessen. We serve every
fja1ic4rV and 1,1yllry in its earliest Soa