Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-25
The Effect Of the strike Upon Bust
ness and the Food supply of Wash.

ness anu the Tooo supply Oh WASH.
fngtO0.
The effect OF the railroad strike is already
apparent among our business men, espe-
cially the classes whose operations involve
the use of railroad transportation, and soon
the effects will be felt By consumers in all
stations of life.
OUR MARKET DEALERS
already begin 10 folsC the rise OF provisions
in consequence of limited supplies. No cat
tie or stock of any kind are arriving from
the west, and butchers are now looking to
Virginia and the lower counties of Mary
land for supplies.
THE MEAT SUPPLY.
Mr.. VIM. T.. Clark, VINO furnishes most OF
the swine slaughtered in this market, is
nearly run out of stock, and none are arriving
by the usual channels. About 2,0 head OF
cattle have been secured in Nirginia which
will keep up the supply here for about one
week, and where the next are coming from
they are at loss TO tell. The supply of
sheep and lambs is now quite abundant, but
as several shipments have already u en-
made TO the northern markets, this kind OF
meat will, il is thought, take a rise.
THE FLOUR MARKET.
Messrs. Beavans * Shaw, one of our larg-
est -four dealerS, state that they nave large
shipments and COnsignments of flour due
them for several days, none of which have
arrived, and under the present circumstances
cannot be expected. They nave seueral car
loads of flour somewhere on the b. and ..
road, due last Friday, but i, is impossible to
tell when il will arrive. The local mills in
this vicinity are doing but little, and tho ,
in the Shenandoah Valley, which supply
this District are in the same predicam ent,
as they ship on the r. 4 o. railroad.
The Messrs. Gait, heavy flour dealers, are
in the same situation. and they have come
TO the conclusion to hOLor no more drafts
upon them by consignOrs until the embargo
is removed. They all express the belief tha
the price of -four TO consumers here Will
have TO go up, as the supply is quite limited
THE GROCERY BUSINESS.
The grocers are also alarmed as to their
treights. Messrs. Hall & Hume state that so
far their trade l. unaffected by the strike.
they have large stock on hand, but sd .es
and collections are exceedingly dull. In
fact, there is general stagnatiOn of BUSH
ness, caused by the uncertainty of the times.
Creditors are making no further purchases
than they are compelled TO, and are slow in
making payments.
Mr.. Peter +. Bacon states that they have
been in receipt of all tue goods ordered thus
far. but they look for future embsrrassm entS
in this direction. The only article which
shows a tendency to be affected al present is
flour, which cannot arrive from the west as
fast as wanted, and the supplies from our
local mills, they fear, will be diverted 10
other markets.
THE COAL SUPPLY.
Mr.. l.. Vim. Guinand, coal dealer, says the
effect Of the strike must be to advance the
price OF coal in this market. In response to
an order for 400 tons from Philadelphia OF
the egg size, his correspondent at that city
says, I'VE fear il will be impossible TO snip
1t. We find ii impossible 10 get any of this
the railroad track at Reading, and it is i'm
possible 70 get any coal over tue road. The
CflclalS OF The Reading railroad tell us they
do not expect much trouble with their men,
and think the railroad Will soon be working
again; but Judging from the reports from
Reading this morning we think the officials
are over Sanguine, and do not believe any
coal will be received at Philadelphia and
Richmond for some tiIue. Ii you can get
your coal shipped promptly from Havre-d de-
Grace, would advise you TO transfer the order
there, for we really anticipate much delay
in filling it here" Mr.. Gulnand says the
trouble viii be 10 get coal shipped at all from
Philadelphia, as the market in Georgetown
Is bare in cOnse4 uence of the canal strike,
and vessels can get no freights on their re-
Turn trips.
Messrs. Clark Il Given, coal dealers, state
that so far there has been no marked effect
in their business, but they have misgivings
for the future should the strike continue,
and the effect will be to excite the Philadel-
phia market, which must consequently af-
feet our market here. So far there has been
TO interruption to orders sent by this firm
for coal, all of which have been promptly
met; but should the strike continue they will
have TO share in the general embarrassment.
There has been no interruption on the Sus-
quehanna line so far as heard from, and
freights of coal by this line are running as
usual. They say the coal dealers are loud IN
their denUnciatlOns OF the demurr3ge rules
applied 10y the vessel owners association,
which rules have beCn recognized by our
courts here as binding. These rules compel
CODslguteS mere 10 pay elSut Genus per uaN
cemurrage upon the full amount OF cargoaS
for each and every day detention OF vessels
above twenty-fOur hours after arrival. This
rule is great hardship upon dealers, as by
it they frequently suffer nom $50 10 500 loss
per day. This Is especially the case where,
as II some times happens, several vcs' els ar
rive the same day consigned t. one dealer,
who can hardly ever discharge their cargoes
in time TO save the demurrage.
THE PROVISION DEALERS
on Louisiana avenue, as general rule DO
not yet feel the effects OF the situation 50
much, as 10 a large extent their supplies
by river traDsIol ltiOn, which thus far has
not been interrupted. They are also in daily
receipt of much produce, such as garden veg
enables, fruit, &c, by the southern railroads
and boats. Those among them WHO depend
on the west for supplies are somewhat per-
picked, ard are arranging for supplies from
mis- locality, hoping for enough II k ep
their customers going from the promising
crops in this vicinity until the embargo is
removed.