Chas. Esplin, who has charge of the saw mill department of the Pray Manufacturing company, has invented a system for driving grain elevators, which he is sanguine will reduce the cost of machinery in an elevator nine-tenths, and the cost of operating the machinery two-thirds. It is pretty certain that this system will be at once adopted by one large elevator in the city, and perhaps others. Mr. Esplin has also invented a system for balancing wheels and pulleys, which is very simple and likely "to fill a long felt want." He has applied for patents on both inventions.

The movement of the new crop to market will not amount to much before August, as harvesting will not be finished before July 15, and it will take fully three weeks for the wheat to go through the sweat, and another to get it to market. It will be August 15 before the crop comes in freely and in good condition.

The Crown Roller mill will be shut down between the 10th and 15th of next month, to permit the deepening of its tall race about three feet. The time that it will be necessary for the mill to remain idle will be about two weeks.

With the advent of harvest, wheat receipts show a large increase, but shipments are very small. Values have shown a downward tendency, and continue to decline all the week, scoring a loss of seven cents during the week.

Baker, Potter & Co. have begin the foundations of a 600,000 bushels elevator on First street north between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The building is to be 60x200 feet.

The Standard mill was started up Monday, and the Columbia on Wednesday. The only mills shut down are the Dakota, Excelsior, Zenith and Palisade.

Ocean freights are firm and higher. Rates from Chicago to New York are announced to advance next Monday 5 ¢ per 100 lbs. on grain and flour.

AMONG THE COOPERS.

The greater number of the Minneapolis cooper shops are now running lighter, some of them doing little or nothing. The sales of barrels last week amounted to 43,800 barrels, and the number manufactured 42,500 barrels, against 41,400 sold and 33,600 made the preceding week.

Chas. Thompson, John Cavenaugh and Peter Kinny have sold their memberships in the Sixth street shop, and Wm. Snow, Jas. Cantebury and L. Murphy have bought in. Mr. Kinny takes a permanent position in the fire department.

The receipts of barrel stock in Minneapolis from Jan 1 last to June 30, were 1,049 cars. The shipments for the same period were 99 cars.

The Hall & Dann shop is increasing its force slightly, now having about 110 coopers and fifty other hands.

The Bumb shop sold 2,600 bbls last week and made 2,300, working about 36 men.