The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-12-25
London Letter.
Regular Correspondence
LONDON; Emo, Dec


Its close, there has been but little progress
made with wheat-sowlng IN the late districts
while frests alternating with rains keep the
land in a very wet condition. There has been
rather more liberal offering OF homegrown
samples in the London market during the
week, but there is no Improvement to note in
respect to condition At Mark Lane on Mon
day the value of dry samples Of English
wheats was generally Is. In advance Of the
quotations Of the previous week, in sympathy
with the somewhat excited tone of the foreign
trade There was, however, no improvement
in the demand for inferior samples. On We'd
nesday the demand for breadstuiS was OF
quite nominal character, and Fridays mar
ket closed dull, both for wheat and -four In
most OF the provincial exchanges values for
breadstuffs have been improved but the week
has closed with signs Of weakness throughout
the trade. The trade IN foreign breadstuils
has undergone a considerable amount Of tluC-
tuaton during the past week. Ga Monday
there was some little excitement on account Of
the closing of the canal traffic in the United
States by ice, locking up some 100000
bushels of wheat The values of floating car.
goes were enhanced Is. to IS. a Or, according
to their position, and the tone of the United
States markets tended to disorganize the mar.
ket here. On Tuesday and Wednesday the
arrivals of wheatvessels coast, together with
the increase of the visible supply Of wheat in
-. IT...t tI,n
cargo trade, and from that time down to the
close OF the week the position of holders has
been gradually but surely weakening and
the cable advises of the lower rates at the
Atlantic seaboard have caused the trade to
close dull, and decidedly in favor of buyers.
In Germany the whole of the grain trade
has been fluctuating during the week, and at
Berlin wheat has recovered depression
which was attributed to speculative transac
items At Hamburger rates for breadstutfs
were firmly supported, and barley was in bet
ter demand Stetlin barley has met with a
duller trade.
In France the course of the grain trade has
been much IN accordance with that on the
English exchanges. Wheat and flour has been
firmly held at advanced rates during the early
portion of the week, whilst values showed u
decline, and the trade was decidedly weak at
the close.
The Great Eastern steamship has been detin.
ltely chartered for ten years to carry dead
meat to the United Kingdom from the Ameri.
can seaboard or the river Plate. 1t IS calcu.
lated that from Texas or the Argentine Prov
inces beef Of fine quality can be laid down IN
England at 3 cents per pound. The promot
ers of this bold scheme intend to slaughter
the cattle on board the great ship, and for this
purpose they have secured the services of
trained butchers from the slaughter houses Of
Chicago The dressed meat will be IN refrlg-
orators, and it is estimated that 10000 to 15,.
600 carcasses of beef all hung-equal to 1000
or 1000 tons of meat-wil be shipped each
voyage. The result of this enterprise, if sue.
cessful will have a far wider bearing than
appears at first sight. twill be watched with
much interest by the public, no doubt for
Notwithstanding the large imports Of fresh
meat we are receiving, retail prices sull rule
very high. But 1t will also break down that
ring" which, while reaping immense profits |
keeps almost at famine prices one of the first
food requisites Of the people.