The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-03

Total number of cars, 1912. Estimated
quantity of lumber, 36,040.0O0 feet; grain, Il
| 290, 500 bushels; -four, 1876 barrels.
| The recent further advancement in the price
of beef has again attracted attention and pro-
voked comment. The Chicago Tribune assigns
number of causes for the rise, some OF which
| have been presented by the PRESS, and contin
| ues the discussion thus:
Gas high as $50 per head has been paid
within two months for two-year-olds for new
ranches in Montana From New Years to date
our receipt of cattle was larger than for the
corresponding time in 1881 ; but during the past
three or four weeks this is reversed and the
smaller supply is met by an increasing demand
for export Of animals and meat. From 50oO to
5000 animals now leave our shores weekly Tor
Europe. There is recently an increased de-
mand to supply the manufacture OF canned
beef; and this growing demand for canned
meats is probably connected with the falling
off in the export movement OF pork products :"
A Chicago dispatch says the decline in corn
last week did not as was predicted, increase
railroad shipments East This was largely due
to the fact that most of the grain now shipped
by rail goes to inferior points in the East that
bought freely few weeks since, and are tenn
porarily supplied. The total East-bound ship
ments Of flour, grain, and provisions, last week,
were an increase Of only 1888 tons over the pre-
vious week.
An investigation into grain corners before a
legislative committee has been in progress in
New York for several days. One witness on
being asked whether he would consider SELL
er responsible for selling what he did not pos
sess, replied that he considered it question Of
morals; he should consider the. seller respon-
sible. He could not see why the legislature
should interfere with what he considered
legitimate business. Business is all more or
less matter of speculation. No law should be
passed restricting the dealings in futures in
produce. Such legislation might decrease the
volume of business of the Prod uce Exchange.
Mr.. Charles Partridge, commission dealer in
-four, said he had been looking up the proper
ton OF actual sales of wheat as compared with
s'option," "puts. and "calls," "long' or
''short,' "straddles," &C., from July, 1879, to
April 20, 1881, and the results, he thought,
were surprising. The actual sales of wheat for
the period named, for cash. were ga, 737 600
bushels, and the transactions under the va
rious heads specified were 1,154 ,267 600 BUSH
els, or an excess of 909, 900 bushels. These
figures covered the transactions in the Produce
Exchange in New York only in wheat. There
were similar transactions in all the cereals and
in pork and lard. The transactions in Mil
waukee were probably equal, and in Chicago
double, those in New York. Such transactions
have tendency to enhance the cost OF living,
and affect the consumer while they do not ben
eft the producer. The parties benefited are
those composing the combinations. Mr.. Par
fridge said legitimate business cannot compete
with gambling. The farmers and many deal
ers are opposed to the system. Some dealers
say they are compelled to resort to it in self
defense. The mills are injuriously affected,
and all the laws of trade are set at defiance.
A circular has been received at the Custom
House from tho Treasury Department, stating
that the appropriation for fuel, light, water
and miscellaneous items for public buildings,
for the current fiscal year, is not sufficient to
meet the requirements beyond May l, 1882,
and all persons or corporations furnishing gas
or water paid from the aforesaid appropria-
| lions are accordingly notified that the depart
| ment will have no means available for pay
ment of such service beyond the date specified.