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

experienced and ablest competitors to
the great game Of commerce, is con-
WINGED that the present year is filled
with grand opportunities. Already the
first months record has shown notable
indications of returning and increasing
prosperity. Members of more than a
score of the principal wholesale firms
of the city, interrogated by the
G o b e, assert almost unanimously
that January, 1896, showed not merely
better business than that Of the pre-
vious year, but better trade In sew
eral instances than st. Paul merchants
have ever known even during the
golden days of years ago. Traders in
all the leading lines have been inter
viewed, and, with the single exception
OF the grocers, all agree that their de-
partment of commerce is beginning to
feel the decided effect of the approach
ing activity. Even those merchants
whose business for January was not
unusually good are equally sanguine
that this spring will bring financial as
well as physical sunshine fructifying
the seeds or commerce and of agricuIt-
ure.
The result of this inquiry is all the
more surprising, all the more gratify-
ing, when it is considered that JanI-
airy is ordinarily a dull month in every
branch of wholesale business. The
activity OF the fall trade has then sub
s1ded, and the natural revival of spring
mas not yet made itself felt Any ex-
ternal depression makes this dull
month duller yet. In st. Paul. how
ever, the January just passed has
proved a most profitable season.
If the jobbers are gratified with the
beginning of the year, they are enthus-
iastic over the prospects for the re-
naming months. The basis for this
universal confidence is everywhere
the same, and it is so firmly estab
hshed upon known facts that its
strength is self-evident Every mer-
chant points out that the farmers of
the Northwest are SO numerous and SO
influential that their prosperity con-
trolS that of the entire section TheSa
farmers were blessed with abnormal
crops last year, and they still possess
large part Of their products. The
conditions of the worlds supply are
such as TO practically assure the main
tenance, and even the increase. of the
prevailing fair prices for wheat. The
farmers, having already disposed of
enough OF their crop to satisfy their
HiooI III SSlIt ue1ndnQS, VIII be in a no.
sit1on to hold the large surplus for a
profitable price.
This Is the solid, bedrock foundation
for the existing confidence, a confidence
that can hardly fail to be shared nv
those who read the following inter
views:
DRY GOODS.
Henry Schurmeier, of Lindeke. War
ner & Schurmeier: I'VE had re-
markably good January trade-tbe
best, in fact, during all the eighteen
years that we have been in business
collections were good, and the pros
poets are hattering for an excellent
spring trade. Wheat is going UP, and
the farmers will, in all probability.
De able TO get fair prices for the large
part OF their crop which is still unsoId.''
Il. A. Young, of Finch, Van Slyck
Young & Co: Our business last
month was very good. 1 can say safe
ly that 1t was considerably better than
during any previous January. We
found collections fair 1t seems to me.
In view of the circumstances in which
our Northwestern farmers are now
placed, that the outlook Is for a satis
factory trade this spring"
John Wilkinson, secretary of the Pow
ers' Dry Goods company: Our firms
January trade was the best we have
had in fourteen years. and was consid-
erably ahead Of the previous January.
Collections we found very fair. Pros