The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-20
STATE OF COMMERCE.
DUN AND BRADSTREET TELL THE
TALE OF A WEEK IN AMER
1CAN BUSINESS
NORTHWEST BUSINESS GOOD

NORTHWEST BUSINESS GOOD
Collections Generally Up to EXpec-
tntions-CIearing show Sub
stantiaI Increase-Dry Goods
Trade Holds Up Well and Freer
Buying Is NOticed-High Prices
Preclude Activity in Wool.
1Che commercial reviews Duns and Brad
streets. discuss the markets of the country in
their publications, dated New York, Sept.
II, follows:
THE TWIN CITIES.
st. Paul Merchandise sales for the week
quite up to expectations and the trade
generally looks for a continuance OF good
business. Collections in the main are re-
ported very good, clearings indicating sub
stantal increase in volume.-Bradstreets 5.
MinnenpOIis-The flour output reported
by the Northwestern Miller is, Minneapolis,
2S3. ll5 Dbl against 306 745 last year; Superior
Duluth, 81 355, against 80, 500; Milwaukee, Al
against rs 500. Domestic -four trade is quiet;
sales here 275 600 Dbl, with foreign shipments
n2,35S bbl the heaviest for some years HARD
ware moves well for the season, ana low
prices increase the demand for wire nails and
barbed wire. Glass is steady, with advance
of 10 per cent in plate, and per cent in
window glass Sept l, and the movement in
paints and oils is good. General trade
throughout the Northwest is encouraging
and freer buying is noticed among retailers
than for several years past, while jobbers in
staple lines report improved conditions
Dun's.
st. PauI-Dry goods hold up well and the
demand is seasOnable in shoes, hats and
mems furnishings, with groceries steady and
hardware active. Retail trade appears bet
for han for ST EnllpPfinnS
slow, as farmers are holding their grain
for better prices and rainy weather also af-
fects speculauon.-Dun's
IN GENERAL.
The industrial situation requires some
study. 1t was noticed in August that a
great volume of orders due to the fact
that many had been deferred by timid souls
during the months OF war. Their coming
forward gave an impetus to the markets
which was partly deceptive, because not of
character to be counted On as likely to
continue. Great buying of materials natural
" followed, so that very many works have
nothing more to buy for the year, or for
some months to come. The deferred orders
having been placed, an apparent hating leads
some to suppose that the consumption is
falling. But there IS as yet evidence
of that; on the contrary the current orders
in almost all branches are about equal to
those received in the best Of past years.
with large increase in some. Controversy
about prices still binders business in sew
eral great industries and n%th6se and others
the market is really waiting to get a better
measure of the extent of the regular con-
sumng demand-Dun's.
Wheat-Some advance has occurred, part
~ due 10 more active purchases for export
and fairly firm foreign markets. The gov
eminent report Indicated a yield of only
bS4SOO,0C0 Blu, but change in price oc-
CURED at its appearance. A newspaper esti-
mate of $50 600 GOO received with more
attention A French crop prediction of $780,
90O coo bu failed to depress quotations in
Paris, although a recOrd-breaking yield Of
that size would leave considerable wheat
for export. Russian crop news is not salts
factory, and exports are much smaller than
year ago. Notwithstanding a good export
movement, the American visible supply in
creased l,260,000 bu last week. Higher prices
offered by miIers had much to do with the
sharp advance late In the week from which
there was some reaction on Friday.-Dun's.
Dry Goods-Trade continues quiet but
the cooler weather has helped operations con-
siderably JObbers are doing a better bust
ness, and this also improves the situation
3 first hands. Cotton fabrics are steady for
3eavy goods, while fair demand Is in
progress. The curtailment in production at
Fall River both by closing down mills and
strikes, makes those goods frmer and the
surplus production is being reduced Printed
fabrics quiet but steady, wide cretonnes
and percales doing we'll Ginghams are
steady. Dress woolens quiet, but the
fan business is working up along slowly
and VIII foot up fair as whole Men's-wear
wooens are being ordered very cOnserva-
lively. although business is coming in all
Of the time Wooden trade is disappointing
Br3dstreet's.
Sellers complain continuously of the quiet
condition OF the market in both cotton and
wooden goods. In the latter they have full
1usuhcation for their complaints but in the
former they have up to the present done
good business in the aggregate this year, and
are now doing very much more than at the
corresponding time last year. The con-
sentative policy which buyers consistently
pursue is not appreciated, nor are results
Immediately recognizable, but we'll sustained
has afnr aCrs tl,o, a..
demand, followed by pronounced dull periods.
Ihls year 1t promises to keep buying up to
an average level, or near it, during usually
very slow times, and to bring the years
consumption ahead Of several years past In
view of the downward course Of prices since
the beginning OF the year. this may seem
an extreme sta cement, but over-productfon
rather than under consumption has been The
cause Of the drop in values. This weeks
reports from out OF town markets tel of
better business doing than during the recent
no, We3ther, ana the urgency with which sup
plies are called for as bought indicates light
stocks in second hands.-Dun's.
Cotton Goods-Heavy brown sheetings and
drills quiet and with few exceptions easy
to Puy. Light weights more readily off red
IN both coarse and fine yarn goods Duck
quiet, and occasionally per cent lower Den
inns weak, and some makes OF plain b'ues Nc
lower Ticks dull and irregular Plqids in
moderate demand, and fairly steady Checks
stripes and cheviots inactive and easy There
has been an improved demand for bleachad
collOHS, anu, althougn qul I, business is con-
siderably fuller than at the CORE pond ny
time last year. Prices without change
IN all grades Wide sh O ngs sow and
barely steady Cotton fannels and blankets
firm, but quiet. White goods for spring are
opening with fair demand, but promise an
irregular market.-Dun's.
Woolen Goods-The Washington mills have
reduced their clay wors teds 81 per ward to
the basis Of 81 Ia for 1e-ounce makes and
guarantee their customers up to JAM l. 1899
1t is questionable if the change in price
alone would have stimulated the demand tu.
with the guarantee" buyers have shown
more animation in these particular lines
than for some tint past, and goddard rs
are reported taken. The rest of the market
has not been affected by this change The
demand for light weighs, both plain and
fancy, IN grades of wOolens and WoTsteds has
again been Indifferent, and conditions are
no more satisfactory than before. In heavy
weights recorders are small but the heavy
weight division is as a rule in good shape
OVercoatings are dull, with the demand prac-
tcaIIy confined to Jerseys. Cloakings in
active and featureless. FIanneIs dull. and
blankets quiet at previous prices Fall dress
goods IN moderate demand and irregular
and new spring business so far light -Dun's
Wool-Sales at the three chief markets for
two weeks have been $685., 800 lbs. against
$685. 400 last year, and II obs, 100 in the same
weeks or 1872. Prices are so high that very
little can be sod, and yet concessions are
lew; large sale at auction by underwriters
at Boston brought very low prices and re-
taIded other dealings there and elsewhere
The market continues quiet and the de-