Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-02-17

We extract from the circular of Kercheval
& Sons, of st. Louis, dated Feb. u, the
following, which will be interesting to both
dealers and consumers:
Though occasionally a little irregular,
the market has shown decided recovery,
and closes firm, with more buyers than
sellers, and pretty general expectation
that, at least until the receipts from the
country become large, the tendency will be
in favor of holders. This impression arises,
not so much from any positive assurance
that the winters slaughter will prove short
of last season, as from a conviction that
consumption, particularly at distributing
points, has trenched so closely upon pro-
duction that stocks are not only imperfect
" distributed, but at some of the larger
ones, as at st. Louis, are absolutely short,
and require replenishing. 1t is very evil
dent, even to casual observers, thai not
withstanding the enhanced value of pro-
visions within the past five or six years,
that consumption has increased more than
the price, and hence, that unless there is
an extraordinary increase in production.
the winters slaughter, even in prospect of
liberal summer cure, cannot depress
prices of cured provisions much, though
they will be more or less influenced by the
scarcity or plentifulness, the DEAFNESS or
cheapness: of competing food; but in this
country the controlling influence of com,
petition will be less than in other countries,
for the reason that our operatives are COM
paratively Independently to buy what
thew require, and Will have that to which
they have been accustomed, while opera
tives in other countries are less fortunate
not so literally paid, nor so constantly
employed-and of course have to adopt a
rigid system of economy, under which they
buy not what suits them best, but that
which will feed them the longest time for
the least money; the difference between
these consumptions is immense, and is
illustrated by the large and constantly in
creasing demand upon points in close con-
nection with consuming districts, at time
when the export is small, and the trade at
out-ports is dull and inactive, In illustra-
ton of which, reference is made to the ac-
tive markets and strong trade at Chicago,
Cincinnati, Louisville, New Orleans, Mem
phis, Mobile, Selma and the interior points
within the Southern States, and the dull
and unsatisfactory trade at New York,
Philadelphia and Baltimore.
The circular of Henry Milward & Co., of
Chicago dated Feb. II, 1870, says:
circumstances alter cases, and they
have most materially altered the complex
ion of the provision trade during the past
week. The rapid decline in the value of
products, the relatively greater cheapness
of our market, in comparison with the
other producing points, and the large con-
sumptive demand from the South and Eu-
rupe, induced heavy purchases and ship
ments, and consequently brisk advance.
The first movement was in side meats,
when it was ascertained that the stock of
cured material was so small as to amount
to almost an absolute dearth. All offering
was taken for export, and even the half
cured meats now in the cellars, have been
sold largely to shippers and consumers, to
be delivered when ready, so that the stock
of available stock here will be quite limit
ed. Europe has bought very largely, but
cannot pay TIE prices now current till her
own markets advance, which, in conse-
quence of the probable cessation of sup
plies, they must do ere long, SO soon as the
facts become appreciated. Mess pork fol-
lowed the advance for a day or two, but
again become dull and irregular. Very
large shipments of all products have been
made, compared with any previous week