The Saint Paul globe., 1897-12-29
READY FOR SPRING
CLOSE OF THE HOLIDAY HUSTLE
GIVES JOBRERs A BRIEF
RESPITE
TO PREPARE FOR The TRADE
THAT is ExPECII1ie T8 COME WITH
THE OPENING OF THE
SEASON.
AS Every Indication IL That the In
coming Season Efii Equal the
OutSCinG.

AS Every Indication Is That the In
coming Season Afi Equal t.,e
OutSCing.
The near approach of the first of
the year marks unusual activity with
the jobbers and manufacturers Of the
city. Large forces Of their employees
are engaged in sorting up stock and
taking inventory, and the heads Of
the firms are preparing to handle the
largest spring business they have ex-
perienced for number of years They
all feel highly encouraged over the
prospects for next years business and
feel that the first six months of the
year is assured, and, unless there is
total failure of the crop, the year
1898 will mark a new era of prosperity
in the history Of the Northwest The
improved conditions of all parts Of the
country, is due, they think, largely
to the harvesting of an unusually large
crop, and the steady market the farmer
has found for his products is caused
they think, by the general restoration
OF confidence and more secure feel
ing on the part Of bankers There is
still a large amount of unmarketed
wheat in the country. a large portion
Of which is still in the farmers barns,
and when this is moved in the spring
money will be easier, and the most
conservative look for as large an in
crease for the first six months of next
year as there was during the past
year over the year 1896.
t. l.. Schurmeier, of Lindeke, War
ner & Schurmeier. said the last year
had been a most successful one, he
thought, and, when they closed their
books on Saturday night, they would
show the largest sales in the history
Of the firm. He thought people were
beginning to recognize: that st. Paul
was the best distributing point in
the Northwest, and the jobbing center
for much of the Western territory.
The high price Of wheat had done
much towards improving conditions
during the last six months. December
was usually a dull month with them,
but this year business had been good
up to Christmas, which was very graf
flying. They were looking for very
heavy spring, as~ already many orders
for future shipment had been received.
Collections had been good, and mer-
chants were buying literally.
Charles A Fuller, of the Crane & Ord
way company, reported that they had
less delinquent accounts on their books
than last year, which was very encoltr-
aging sign. He thought the farmer
had received a good price for all
products, and that there had been more
grain this year. and a better price paid
for it, winch made money easier. Banks
in the country were lending money
to farmers this fall. whereas last year
it was difficult to get money on any
kind Of security. December would foot
up the largest December they had ever
had. Pnd the year taken as a whole
was very satisfactory. They were
anticipating fair, healthy and clean
business for next year, which would
open up very soon.
c.. ]. McConville, of Finch, Van
SIyck, Young & Co., said they were'pre-
pairing for large spring trade on the
Pacific coast as the exodus Of the pop
ulation from that part of the country
to Klondike would make business brisk
for at least the. first part of the year.
The local conditions we're far ahead
of last year, and collections never had
been better. Farmers had received a
good price for their butter and eggs
and other products, and had paid their
bills and their credit was better with
the country merchant. The country
was still full Of wheat and the high
price of the cereal had helped out their
collections, in all parts Of the North
west.
F. P. Strong, of Fafwel1,j ,Ozmun, Kirk
& Co., reported their December busi-
ness 25 per cent better than a CORES
ponding time last year, their collections
had been good and the outlook for next
year was very flattering. This year they
had experienced no shrinkage in values
which had occasioned heavy losses in
previous years, and the markets had
been especially steady. This years
market had been especially satisfac-
tory, as there had been little fluctua-
tion of raw material in their line, and
manufactured articles had remained the
same. When they wound up the year g
business the last of the week, it would
be with very satisfactory showing
for the year, and present indications
would warrant the prediction that
there would be a steady increase In
the volume of their business during
the year.
1--WE have just made large shipment
Of heavy miners boots and winters
shoes to Skaguay," said c. H. Schliek,
of Tarbox, Schliek Ss Co., yesterday
morning. '"This is the first shipment
we have made direct to Alaska this
year, and our spring orders from all
parts of the Northwest are coming in
nicely" Business, generally speaking,
and collections have been better than
at any time during the past four years,
and the spring trade, 1 think, will be
far ahead of any we have done at that
time of the year for a number of years
back Spring orders, so far, are way
ahead of last year. The small cities
of the Northwest have almost entirely
recovered from the effect of the panicky
times, and the country is in much
better condition than last year.
John Kelly, Of Foley Bros. & Kelly
Mercantile company, hsaidb the grocery
business had been excellent during the
year, and the last six months had mark
ed an especially big business. They
were putting on additional travelling
men and were going ITO cover more ter
ness next year The market on staple
goods had been very str5ng. Collec-
tions were better than lastyear.
J. w. Griggs, of Griggs1,& Co., said
trade had been very satisfactory with
them. The Christmas trade had been
better than last year; and with another