The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-12-25
| HEAVY VOLUME OF RETAIL
BUSINESS REPORTED FOR
THE WEEK.
ACTIVITY IN ALL LINES.
PRESS OF ORDERS UNUSUAL AT
THIS SEASON OF THE
YEAR.
CHEERFUL NEWS FROM ST. PAUL
An Unusually Large Movement of
Goods Reported BY the Mer-
chants of This City.

NEW YORK, Dec. A.-Dun & Co. s
review of trade will say: The weekly
reports show remarkably large holt
day trade, at many points the largest
for five years. Moreover, at the season
when the wholesale business usually
shrinks, the pressure of demands for
immediate deliveries, which results
from unprecedented distribution to
consumers, keeps many establishments
at work that usually begin their yearly
rest spell somewhat earlier. Instead of
decreasing, the demand for products
shows an unexpected increase in sew
eral important branches. Foreign trade
continues satisfactory, even in compar
ison with the remarkable record of a
year ago when exports exceeded $117,-
100000 in December. Bank failures at
Philadelphia, due to individual opera
lions, cause no disturbance, and COM
mercial failures for the month have
been less than half last years to the
same date.
The outgoing food of grain is not
checked by Chicago speculation,
though more corn than wheat has been
moving. Wheat exports, flour included,
have been 1888 bushels for the week
against 1858, 905 the previous week and
564, 443 a year aSo, and in four
weeks Is, 766, S95 bushels, against $685.
SGT last year; while corn exports for the
week were 4540,828 bushels, against
1,751, TAO bushels last year; have been
in four weeks IA, 420,151 bushels, against
S,176073 bushels last year. Last years
corn movement was by far the greatest
ever known, and this years wheat
movement, for the half-year nearly
ended, has been close to the maximum
reached in 1891. Wheat has varied lit
tie, closing three cents higher for the
week, after deliveries of surprising
magnitude at Chicago, and corn closes
nearly a cent higher. Cotton has also
been moving largely and has risen a
sixteenth.
Cotton goods have further declined in
prices, and the Fall River spinners in
sist upon reduction Of one-ninth in
wages, other New England mills join
ing. Out of 101 New England works,
As have passed dividends; IA at Fall
River, with others, paying 1 per cent
for the last quarter. The fall In the
price of cotton when mills were hold
ing heavy stocks of goods placed this
industry in a most embarrassing posi-
ton. Wooden mills have begun buying
domestic wool heavily, and especially
Montana and territory, as if assured of
large business for the season about to
open. Contracts Of unknown magni-
tude have been made, it is said, many
at previous prices, but others at a. mod
crate advance. Wool is more firm, the
traders having disposed of 100000
pounds OF territory and 100000 pounds
of domestic at Boston, and sales at
three cities reached 1909, 100 pounds.
There is q stronger demand for iron
and its products. A striking feature is
the unusual demand for the season in
building cars, of which 1900 have been
ordered at Chicago by one trunk line,
and rails there have advanced to $40
in new business, with sales here of 5000
tons for home use and 1900 for Mexico.
The Illinois Steel works have eight
months business booked, with more or
ders offered Anthracite coal is 10 cents
stronger with the colder weather. Tin
is slightly weaker owing to large ship
ments.
Failures for the week have been 292
in the United States, against 297 last
year, and SO in Canada, against A last
wear.