, 1880-02-22

The leading produce markets were moderately
active Saturday, and most of them sold higher,
but fell back later. Prominent packers were
buying provisions freely, the same being chiefly
sold By grain men. Wheat was wanted By shorts,
who did not care to hold out over the holiday
with the British markets strengthening; and
they were literally supplied BY the longs, over
loo, 600 bu Of March wheat being supposed to be
sold on account Of prominent Eastern ho1ders-
Corn was wanted for shipment, and this. with
the strength In wheat, induced more confidence
in futures, especially as it is supposed that the
country has comparatively little surplus corn,
not already sold to be delivered at some future
time Oats were flrmer in sympathy. The for
eign markets wero stronger on breadstuffs,
but not yet high enough on wheat to per-
init shipments at profit. Mess pork closed
SC higher, at s1Le5Dus79s for seller March
and $12l0912123s for April Lard closed
steady at S7.o5D7.e71s for new seller March
and S7.35501.3ss!z for April Short ribs closed Mt
s857,z for April Spring wheat closed .c higher,
ut SI24A for spot and $1.2KG1.e5 for March
Corn closed steady, at 37Eo spot and nstc for
May. Oats closed steadler, at 26338hc for May
and about &c for April Rye was steady, at TIC
for March and 75c for fresh No.2. Barley was
slow, at 77c for No. and Sic for extra No 8,
both seller March. Hogs were active and &c
higher, at for light and s4.2554.so for
heavy. Cattle were quiet ut S250Q15. 10 for poor
to extra
There was nothing new to be said of the dry
goods market The volume Of business Ia un-
quesdonaby larger than ut a corresponding
period in past years, and everything points to a
more than ordinarily active spring trade. Il
good many buyers havo alrcady put In IN ap
pearance, and the arrivals are daily increasing.
Prices continue strong. Boots and shoes are
moving with some freedom, and are firm. In
tho grocery market there WAS continued quiet.
While prices were generally well supported, the
prevalent feeling WIS not specially firm. Dried
fruits remained quiet, with no quotable fuctua-
ton in values Fish were firm, lake descriptions
especially so. The supply Of whitofish is small
and in few hands, and therefore further nd
vance is probable. Butter was firm under light
offerings and a good demand. Cheese was
steady. Jobbers Of oils reported quiet and
steady market, Pig-iron and coal remained
quiet and unchanged.
Lumber Was in fair demand. No change was
noted in prices. 4 firm wool market was re-
ported, with fair saies 10 the manufacturers of
woolen goods, the orders being largely for fine
wools- Hides were quoted weak here and else
where under free offerings of domestic and
foreign stock. The sales Of hay we're small but
former prices were paid for good grddes. Tim
othy~6eed declined about 12tsc per bu under
free offerings, and other seeds exhibited little
Liz aaAtsS u aicGA iIults "EIC 1AlE III
unchanged prices. Poultry was taken for local
use, and fine stock was frner.
i few days ago q firm in this city shipped
three carloads OF No. winter wheat to New:
York City. Two Of the carloads were inspected
by the New York officials as No. 2spring, and the
other as No. spring. And yet there are people
foolish enough to say that some Of the New
York inspectors do not know anything about
grain.
Corn In Western Iowa was bought rather
freely in this city Saturday, to go East the price
paid being equivalent to about soy c per bu here
which shippers we're not able to pay for corn In
Chicago. At 24tzc in tho country, there must be
a cut Of about 3ac per bu somewhere in the
matter Of transportation. But when man
wants to ship grain from this city he must pay
the full tariff; no letting down, even to the ex-
tent Of n hairs breadth, can be tolerated
It Is understood that very large proportion
Of the corn In cribs in Iowa is owned by about
three firms, two Of them being on the seaboard.
They have bought it out and out, and have their
names painted on the cribs It Is shrewdly sus-
pccted that these parties were bears on Our
market during the time OF buying, their object
being to keep down prices In the country by ref
erence to Chicago. 1t should be remembered
however, that buying corn in the country and
selling it the same day for future delivery in the
city is legitimate business operation: which
man may follow without being either bear or
hull. There is reason to believe that very much
Of the corn surplus Is already held by capitalists
who expect to sell at handsome profit what
they have not already sold ahead.
!. The Board Of Trade will honor the memory Of
George Washington By remaining closed Gl1rinw
the whole Of Mondny.
PROVISIONS.