The Portland daily press., 1869-05-27
review or the Portland Marke,..



There has been more animation in the mefchan-
disc markets during the past week than has been
witnessed for some time. Country traders have
made their appearance andhave purchased freely,
although in not such large quantities in former
wears One, and the principal reason for this, is,
that the system of ordering goods, they are want
ed, is becoming more and more, an important fea-
ture in the country trade. BY this system their
stocks are kept in complete order throughout the
year and with no very large stocks laying over. 1t
Is safe mode for country merchants. There Is
hardly one who comes In but reports the presence OF
"drumners" from Boston in bis town, urging pur-
| chases Of all sorts of commodities. This system OF
trade is becoming of a nuisance than ANYTHING
else, and it is understood by the country traders.
| In the merchandise market we have no important
| changes to note during the past week. The high
price of gold keeps up the price of all commodities
| Of which gold is the basis.
The advance on gold, noted in our last report has
| been checked. Spectators from New York visited
Washington and threatened Mr.. Boutwell, Secretary
| of the Treasury that they would send up gold to
175 unless he changed his project oi selling million
per week, and purchasing u S.ibonds for sinking
| fund.- Mr.. Boutwell, refused to alter his plan, and
increased his sales of gold 10 two millions week.
| The result was that gold took downward turn.
| At our report last week the closing price We'd
| nesday was 1881. On Thursday it was up to 1441
On Friday it dropped to 14ia. Saturday 1t was 14ll
Monday it was. 1415. Tuesday it was 1403. We'd
nesday 2sth it opened at 14Os, dropped to 1894 clos
| ing at 1893.
| Apples are not plenty and prices are very firm.
Beans are firm at our quotations. Box SHOCKS have
| advanced, though the market is dull. N0twith-
standing the advance in the Cuban market, there is
not much disposition to ship in the present state of
affairs in Cuba. We note sale OF superior boxes at
| 65c for small quantity. Butter Is lower and is
coming in quite freely. The best of ball pur-
nndes "a are firm at for
i manufacture. Cement is unchanged. Cheese IL
firm at our quotations, and there is no great plenty
of prime factory. There is more enquiry for Liver
/ more cheese, which sustains high reputation in
| this market. Coal is firm and unchanged. Cooper
| vance on Manila. Drugs and dyes are unchanged,
/ except a further reduction on opium. Portland
| duck continues in good demand at old prices.
The demand, both at home and abroad for fish con-
/ tnues to De large. Stocks are light but new fish
i are now coming in more freely. which are quickly
| taken up. Prices unchanged. The flour market
| is irregular For prime white wheals the market is
made. made The receipts here daily do not equal the
the quantity here is sufficient for all legitimate de-
| man is. In fruits we quote raisins lower Fresh
u GRAIN is firm snS babe
than last week will be noticed by quotations.
Tho quotation for white corn is for the seeding quail
| lty. Hay Is unchanged with no demand for ship
| ping qualities. Iron is firm, with upward ten
dency. Lard is unchanged ana SO is lead There is
better demand for lumber, both for shipping and
| building purposes. Lime is without change.
| Leather is firm, with better demand and slight
advance in prices
Molasses Is firm at our quotations. which are the
| same as last week. There are more enquiries, and
| the stocks are much smaller than they were last
year at this time. Nails selling 47-Sc Sc for
assorted sizes. Naval stores are dull and without
| change. In oils there is an advance on fish aud
inseed. Paints are without change. Plaster re-
| mains the same as last week, with good supply.
| Produce is unchanged. The market is well sup
piled with beef, OF good quality. Eggs frmer
| than they were last week. Potatoes are plenty.
Onions are scarce, except Bermudas, which are
| more plenty. Provisions are unchanged with more
quence of the higher price for gold. The market is
| almost bare except of Liverpool. The prices for
Leathe 81 Cores soaps are unchanged and the de-
| mand for them continues to be esteady.
Sugars are very firm. In hard sugar there is an
advance on the refining qualities. The Forest City
| which find ready market; so popular have they
| become wherever used. The Eagle Refinery turns
out about 200 bbls daily which find quick market
| The Portland Sugar House has no sugar on hand.
The boiling has commenced and in the course of two
| or three weeks their sugars will be put upon the
| market. Teas are unchanged Tin is very firm in
cons equence OF the high price of gold. Tobacco is
| at the reduced prices in our quotations.
| FREIGHTS-There is some demand for vessels,
but few are disengaged. The following are the
/ gagements since last report: Schooner H. Ba-
| ker, out to N side Cuba and back to this port at
| 81 373 for molasses; brig y. Bickmore. hence TO
Havana or Matanzas; bark Brunswick, to load here
Tor Buenos Ayers, at $3.50, gold, for lumber and
per cent. premage; bark Juan r. Pearson tor
Buenos Ayers Ito load ice in the hold at St. George
at S1l per ton and lumber here, at SIT gold.