The Portland daily press., 1882-05-23
DOWN TOWN.
Money and Stocks miscellaneous Bust
ness Notes.

The Boston Traveller says the week opened
| with firm money market. The banks are
discounting mercantile paper for regular Gus
| TONERS at about 81 per cent, with some excep-
| tional cases at 5 per cent. but others have to
| pay shade higher rates. Loans on call With
collateral security range at 4s to per cent
per annum, according to the value of the Sc
| curity accepted. The country banks generally
| ask per cent per anpum to discount the gen.
| eral run of ocal paper, and have all the busl-
ness they can manage at this rate. AS whole
| the market may be considered as advancing
| toward higher rates. Governments were firm
and were quoted from ] to higher The stock
market was dull and stagnant. Ogdensburg
and Lake Champlain sustains its advance to
81 made last week. It is understood that the
Central Vermont accepts the award in regard
| to the St. Albans and Swanton decision. For
eign exchange was easy.
The stock OF green apples is fast diminish
ing, and the prices are much higher than they
were last year at this time. Extra nice rus
sets have sold in this market within day or
two at Sc, and Baldwins are from $4 upwards
according to quality and style of putting up
The fact that whole car loads OF croquet sets
pass through the city this spring to market be-
yond us, indicates that this ancient and intri-
cate game has not yet lost all its admirers,
though it has the fascinating rival of lawn ten
mis- to contend with. Croquet has furnished
winter employment for a good many people in
the interior of Maine The cheaper quality
has been most in demand, and the implements
seldom last over one season. To show how the
demand has fallen off, we quote statement
made lately concerning firm in New Eng
land who, when croquet was at the height OF
its popularity, manufactured over $4,000 sets
per year; now they turn their attention to
different kind of manufacture.
The Oldest metal firm in Boston-Samuel
May & Co., established 1797-has failed. 1t is
said that their liabilities are about $25O,0O0.
Receding prices with heavy stock on hand is
said to be the cause of the failure.
The N Y Evening Post of Saturday says:
The general trade of the country is dull. The
cold weather, which has been favorable to the.
winter wheat crop, has diminished the de-
mand for all classes of spring goods. The
iron trade especially is dull from various other
causes, prominent among which is the smaller
demand than last year for railroad bars for
new lines. The most favorable features IN tne
whole situation are the hattering prospects for
good gram crops, and a presumed increase IN
the product of precious metals during the past
few months. Money also continues very
abundant, both here and in Europe, and 1t is
apparent that foreign capital is only awaiting
little greater certainty about crops to take
hold of American enterprises to larger ex-
tent than ever.
Regarding Western pork packing the Gin
cinnati Price Current of Friday says that the
returns for last week Just balance the preced-
ing week and also the corresponding time last
wear. the total for all points in the West
reaching lis 600 hogs, which is not a. large
number for this season of the year. Prices OF
hogs were never so high as now at TINS season
and although as a rule the quality OF stock be-
ing marketed Is fair, it is not fully matured,
and indicates that farmers are realizing on
their hogs at point averaging younger age
than usual. 1t is believed by many that the
June stock of hogs has been drawn upon con,
siderably and that next months receipts Will
not equal corresponding time last year, so that
whatever gain there may be, If any, in the
total packing up to June l, compared with
last year, it will be lost by the movement next
month. The market for the product main
tains great strength The domestic consump-
ton is good The expert movement continues to
fall below the corresponding time last year, and
this seems to have little or no depressing erect
upon values. The courage of the holding in
terest is good at present. Those who have not
realized on the winter-made product have now
a good profit, and yet they are not anxious
sellers, as rule
In it's special crop report the New York
Journal of Commerce has the following: The
winter wheat crop is now assured, with the
proviso of damage from insects While the
last ten days have been trying upon corn and
cotton, we do not hesitate to say that it has
been the making of winter wheat The chinch
bugs, which have been developing very fast,
seem to have been checked, and no ono at
present is alarmed with regard to damages
from that source The early punches of win
ter wheat will soon be fit to cut, and general
harvest of winter wheat may be looked for
from the 18th to the 10th of June.