, 1879-03-16

they had never signed their names 70 1ne ooeu-
mcnt. That's, hardly ever.
The rate On grain to New York on mooefaLely
large lots is believed to be not lower tnan l'7sc
per 100 lbs, though very large lot, say ooo CHI
loads, may hare been taken for less.
During the last two or three days OF last week
our wheat was down to shipping basis Tor ABOUT
the first time on the current CROP This may
seem very strange, seeing that more than hal1
our surplus ha+been already moved forward
from the West, and large proportion Of It via
Chicago The difficulty yanishes when 1t Is re-
membered that the American sq1tnes which
have crossed the Atlantic since last harvest we're
almost exclusively No. 8 and rejected, "hardly
evern kernel of No. 2 being shipped to Europe.
The fact first named suggests, however,
that there is q chance now 1or
the really No. 2 to be Shipped
and some Of it will probably go forward. The
premium on No. 2, as compared with No. ., was
only 9szc on Saturday; aud some operators
we're speculating on the probability OF its being
narrowed down to about 7c, at which point the
shippers would undoubtedly take the No.
freely. ..
It is understood that a committee has COM
Melted tour of the elevators, tnding the
wheat all right.
The Chief Inspector OF Grain in this city is
endcavorinc to secure the delivery OF average
grain to shippers as an act OF Harness 10 aal
nartics. It Is very seldom that the contents Oh
two bins are of exactly equal value per ou, anu
there is no good reason why shippers VINO ou7 r.
cc;nts FIR orain Of the same grade should receive
grain of unequal intrinsic value. 1he grazing
should he as nearly uniform as possible, and
the new departure promises to be decloeg 1m-
proyement in the business.
Tile leading produce markets we're mooera1e-
r. active Yesterday. Provisions we're more
steady, and grain irregular. Breadstu1ts we're
rather weak, Oh the whole, till towards noon,
and then BECAME flrmer. The shipping move
ment Was rather less active, some orders having
bcen withdrawn as a consequence OF the recent
weakening in prices.
The demand for domestic md foreign dry
goods continues Of liberal proportions and tue
market maintains buoyant tone. Cotton goods
remain very firm, with some lines advancing.
Groceries continue to move freely Tor the sea-
son, aud prices remain about steady. There
WAS g good demand for domestic dried
fruits, and most kinds Of foreign fruits
also met with fair inquiry. Prices were
generally firm. Fish continue active, with
prices firmly supported. Lake fish
and cod are especially strong. Canned goods
are still meeting With liberal inquiry, and arc
| firm. In the butter market no important
change was noted, there being fair demand at
| substantially former quotations. Cheese was
| quiet and steady. There was nothing new to be
| SAID of the leather, baggng, tobacco, and paint
markets. Oils we're quoted quiet and nominaly
| steady. Coal was in fair demand at former
| quotations.
| The demand for lumber continues active,
| though the shipments have fallen of some since
| the advent OF cooler weather. Quotations are
| unchanged, though it IS we'll understood that
| concessions are made, usually By operators who
have special reasons for wanting to reduce their
stock. The fall Of the thermometer to the
pcicuborhood of zero has nearly removed the
fears Of an opening of navigation before April l.
| The Ice on Muskegon Lake Is reported to be
twenty inches thick, and it is believed that
| GOOD many warm days will be required to make
| Z serious impression on it. Other ports arc sim
ilarly situated. There IS q stock OF something
like zoo 900, 900 It Of lumber, mostly dry, at the
manufacturing points on Lake Michigan, large
portion Of which will probably be sent to this
market as soon as the ice barrier to vessels is
broken The spring trade, however, has opened
auspiciously, and the sales Of dry lumber, which
| is preferred to green, especially for shipping
| long distances. promise to reach large figure
before the latter is very plenty. The demand
for wool, broom-corn, and hides Was equal to the
late average, and bills were usually made
out at former prices. The demand for
hay was light, and the market weak
| under free offerings of low grades. Seeds
we're steady, fax and timothy being firm
Poultry was scarce and firm, and eggs were
weaker, being more plenty. The offerings o1
wild ducks were heavy, and the sales were
light except Of the best varieties, which brought
more than on other days Of the past week, the
decline having increased the inquiry.
t MOVEMENT or WHEAT.
The following shows the receipts and ship
.ao.,4e If u.haat at nofnts named yestcrdaY: