Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-12

The Rise I'm the Prices of Vegetables
and Other Proyisions-A Winter Of
AardsnIps for the Peer Predicted
nat Market People Say.


and Other Proyisions-A Winter OF
EarnsDIps for the Poor Predicted
What Market People Say.
This will be a very hard winter" said gen
tleman whose official connection with the
market gives weight to his opinion. ''There
VIII DC demand upon all our charities" The
remark was called forth by an inquiry made by
STAR reporter as to the cause Of the rise OF
prices in provisions and the probabilities of a
further rise. The country seems about to take
grim lesson in political economy. That great
first Tule-the dependence of all classes
upon the tOilers of the field, and the
bounties Of nature-will be the text.
The vegetation was withered by the burning
summer sun. rich meadows were laid waste by
the lingering drOuth, as though destroying
army had swept over the land, and the husband
man found little reward for his months of weary
labor in the scanty crops that he garnered.
Where the hot dry breath Of the summer winds
did not parch the land. hosts of insects ravaged
the fields and left to the farmers but moiety OF
the prOaucts OF their toll. The CRY of the fam
isned poor Will be heard it is feared, before the
winter is well set in, Tor it is the poor that suffer
when drouth and scOurges visit the country.
THE COMPLAINT UNIVERSAL.
The farmer. the drover. the butcher, the gro
Ger. the huckster, all have the same tale The
prices. Stock is being sold for slaughter be-
cause the farmers cribs and mOws are too scant-
lily supplied to keep drove Of hungry cattle
during the winter.
From the grain districts of the west come re-
ports OF poor crops, and predictions that high
prices will rule in bread stuifs before the winter
is over. While our farms were burned up by
drought the grain fields of Europe were de-
luged with the rain, denied us. The waters did
rio I" An 1nvNro u
across the Atlantic, it is expected for cargOes of
wheat to replenish the exhausted granaries of
Europe.
The country is enjoying great prosperity. it is
argued; gold and silver are plenty. and it can
easily provide against the emergencies brought
upon it by an nclement season. The poor. how
ever, are as poor now as in years of general dis
tress, and upon them the hardship will fall
Famine and tribulation will be their glOOmycom-
panOns through the winter.
Our own beautiful city will not be spared
Already, in the markets. one can find ominous
signs of the hard winter that is closing upon u.s.
vegetables, which in seasons of plenty afford
cheap living to those who can ill-afford anything
better, are scarce and high in price. Cabbages
turnps. and other produce. that in former wears
would have been thrown aside as unmarketable
now ind ready sale at good prices. A STAR re-
porter on an expedition through the market
made various inquiries as to the present condi-
ton OF affairs and the outlook for the winter
Yes. this will be
A VERY HARD WINTER"
said the market official, sadly shaking his head
1.-The cost of living, 1 think, will be at least
one-third higher than last winter. The price of
apples has doubled. The vegetables, on which
many poor have subsisted almost entirely in
the winter, are high. Cabbage, turnips and
beats have all nearly doubled in price, There
Is scarcely any kale. The best beef is being
fn no 6ocfp ,1,fo
by the drouth and other causes. is going to
make all kinds of meat high. The prices are
going to be higher even than now. Whether
there is q scarcity Of wheat or not, there is no
question that the scantiness of the supply of
vegetables creating demand for bfeadstuffs
will tend to keep up the price of wheat. The
Whoie situation is summed up In saying that the
drOuth and recent foods have depleted the pro-
ducts of the season. The prospects are that
there will be higher prices. The tendency is up
ward
WHAT THE VEGETABLE DEALERS SAY.
''There has not been a third of a crop about
here. said vegetable dealer. eve are al
ready importing cabbage. There is no winter
cabbage here to speak of and no potatoes The
potatoes are coming from the noIsh The kale
and spinach saved from the dronth has been
eaten up by worms. Turnips that could be
bought last season for 81 a barrel now COM
been considered dear at "a per hundred are now
sold for $40. The same proportion of prices
exists respecting parsnips and carrots.
The celery has been almost completely
destroyed by the worms. On account of the
drOuth farmers are selling their stock early.
Shotes are being brought to town much earlier
than usual. why" continued the dealer.
''some gardeners who depended on their celery
have not one dollars worth saved from the raw
ages OF the worms. was talking to gar
hn hos Of
far from the city, and he said he would not have
50 worth OF truck to sell, all told. Last Friday
there was not half a dozen barrels Of turnips in
the whole market"
THE REPORT FROM THE BUTCHERS AND BUTTER
DEALERS.
'Stock is selling early" said butcher. Gan
the drovers say that there is disposition to get
rid Of cattle now. What the effect will be dur
ing the winter it is hard to say"
The butter merchant confirmed the reports of
a general advance in prices. ''An country pro-
duce." he said lis dear, and will be dearer this
winter" The general testimony of provision
dealers of all kinds favOrs the conclusion that
high prices will rule during the winter.
Dealers in the markets have recourse to
commission houses for supplies, which in
former seasons farmers and gardeners have de-
hVered III great abundance at the doors of the
market. The supplies of the northern markets
upon which a drain is made to replenish the
slender stores hereabOut, are but scanty, and
already complaints are made in the north or the
scarcity of vegetables. The loss to the farmers
and market gardeners on Long Island has been
carefully estimated to be 200, eco, and through
out the northern and middle states the same
state OF facts existed, crops almost utterly
destroyed by the drouth or ruined by worms.
THERE Is GOOD MARKET
now for medium produce. and vegetables that
would once have been discarded as unsaleable.
find ready purchasers.
THE BUTTER SUPPLY.
There is plenty of butter in the country inst
now," said dealer in dairy products 1.-The
reason is there is not so great a demand for ex-
portation. OleOmargarine is taking the place of
butter in the foreign market. In Manchester
and other manufacturing places of England.
O.eomargarine is sold in great quantities. But
ter is now about five cents pound higher than
at the same time last year"
This country is so large" said a market Of
ncer, who was standing near by, 'and there are
SO many different conditions and Climates. that
when one region fails another furnishes the
supply. l have known California butter to he
sold in this market"