The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-04-21
Commercial.

Some persons may be disposed to look up
Oh our market at this time MS in an inflated
condition; but we begin to-bo apprchcrsivc
that such n view is an cntirly erroneous one.
1t cannot be said to be pulled up by windy
speculation or the strangtlation Of an acct
dental paucity Of receipts, and liable any
moment to be prickcd and collapsed by lc-
Ultimate demand or adequate supplies. The
truth is, general scarcity Of brcadstuifS
prevails throughout the country, and this
is evidenced more or less every day as the
spring business opens.
Along on the lake line, from Chicago to
New York, receipts fall short of the cxpcc-
tations INDUCED, and from this point, South
and Fast, a more than usual demand exists.
Buyers are in this market from the Ohio
and Tennessee, for wheat and corn, and
hardly II boat goes out, but the cargo con
sists, in part, Of grain. We do not suppose
that prices will attain much higher figures
than quotations already sho"-and it is to
be hoped, e: the benefit Of trade and the
convenience Of consumers, they may not /,
but it is somewhat doubtful if they fall much
below the rates now ruling.
The rcceights Of wheat for three days,
TUESDAY, Wednesday, and Thursday last
were by no means meagrc and yet prices
steadily advanced, reaching yesterday morn
ing higher quotation than before noticed
this season. During the time mentioned
l6,12l sacks, 697 barrels and 900 bushels,
! with the exception Of 800 sacks, which
went directly forward) were received, to-
gcther with 32,6ls sacks oats. Yesterday,
the same liberal shipments to this port were
continued and yet, as before remarked, no
wavering in prices is pcrccptible. An ade-
quate demand seemsto prevail, and the sup
plies melt of as rapidly as received, apd flow
/ to almost every portion Of the country
/ Our commercial report this morning
shows the range Of wheat as extending from
30 to $3.50, common spring to prime
white Fair and good fall red brought 81 :.
! 10 to S2,l5. prime 1925 to 1898, choice
$685. md prime white the quotation men.
toncd-the last, perhaps, somewhat over
the market. Corn is also improying-s
exhibiting an advance within a day or two
past Of five cents per bushcl. Oats at DOC.
a high quotation. Flour steadily move,
upward. City supcriine now commands S.
TO 1925, and for May delivery at ss,G2i tC
ss,s7t. The markets South and East seen
as tenacious Of high figures as our own, i
we may Judge from tho firm manner II
which their transactions are represented by
dispatches.
Meats, also, arc rapidly tending upward
Mess pork, yesterday. went OIL at $3.50, ;
rise since the beginning OF the week, Of NOR,
than 81 per barrel Bulk pork is now hclc
at 3, o, &c, shoulders, sides and hams, ant
some holders talk Of an additional fraction
Bacon is relatively higher than these pr.ce
ribbed sides bring n, and shoulders AM
hams, 81 and SEC. Lard appears TO be sta
tionary at " for prime.
Minor articles keep up in the way Of pr
ccs, and seem to be under the same genera
Influenza demand beyond the supply
Hay has reached the almost unprccedcntc'
quotation Of : 80 per hundred pounds
Hides have fallen back slightly, and nov
bring II to l2t, for dry flint White bean
are scarce, and command &, 10 to 81, an
butter and eggs continue nearly as high n
they were during the Christmas holidays.
Not only are Western products thus in
fuenced, but the contagion Of high price
has extended South, and sugar and molasse
are now at remarkable figures. II is a "hig
/, time" taking it all round, aud wc hope til
denzens Of large cities may be able 10 with
stand the trial.--.S. Lopts TRIP.