The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-10-10
The Prospect Before Gamers.

The Prospect Before Gamers.
While the general outlook is favorable for
better prices for canned goods than prevailed
last year, it is too early in the season for any
one to speak with certain knowledge on the
subject. The pack OF tomatoes in Maryland
will undoubtedly be short IA Hartford
county it is certain that the pack will fall
largely short of that of last year. In Balti-
more city, also, fewer cases of tomatoes will
be packed, fair estimate of the production
being from 10000 to 10000 cases. One of
the most prominent and representative pack.
ers of that city is reported as saying
Baltimore can't afford to let tomatoes 90
above 80 cents for the next two years. be-
cause we want the physicians, undertakcrs,
chambermaids and BARRIERS engaged in pack
ing tomatoes in the country killed Off"
The wish is not very charitable one, but
it illustrates the feeling of some of the BAL
timore packers against the country packers.
Fortunately the business is too great to be
controlled by any particular set of men, and
prices are certain to be regulated by the ine-
vitable rule of demand and supply.
Another representative business man of
Baltimore city, closely connected with the
canned goods trade, thinks that by the list of
next March tomatoes will sell for 90 cents
dozen and before next July they will reach
$1.25.
We had the pleasure of call, on Tuesday,
from Mr.. F. N. Barrett, editor of the Amo,f-
can Grocer, of New York. The Grocer pays
|spe..ai attention 70 iaG scofiis;oa" = &c
canned goods market and is reliable authori-
~ thereon. In reply TO questions Mr. Bar.
rett said he had formed no definite conclu-
sions in regard to this years pack and has
not yet commenced to compile the American
Gr0cer's regular statistics. The season in the
West has been unusually good. Iowa, Kan
sas, Illinois and Ohio probably show better
results than last year, of both tomatoes and
corn. Mr.. Barrett had seen samples of Iowa
packed corn that for flavor, color and gener-
al good qualities closely approach the best
Maine and New York State brands.
The amount of the pack in New Jersey is
uncertain. Packing is still going on freely
there and Baltimore city has been shipping
cans for several weeks past to the southern
part OF that State, tomatoes having come in
better than was expected.
The greatly reduced acreage in Delaware
makes it improbable that that State should
pack more than one-third as much as last
year.
In New England the best season for years
has been experienced. Boston packers at one
time had more tomatoes than they could take
care of at from eight to ten cents per bushel.
California will probably pack more than
the State requires and tomatoes are sold free
ly at from IS to 90 cents per dozen.
Mr.. Barrett's impression, however, is that
nothing can make good the loss in Maryland.
If the general business of the country i'm.
proves there will undoubtedly be an advance
In all kinds of canned goods. Jobbers in
New York and other trade centres never be.
fore carried such light stocks as now, and
they show no disposition to buy beyond the
immediate wants of their business. One
thing that is having more important effect
upon the market than even the crops, Mr.,
Barrett thinks, is the reduction in accommo.
dation to merchants and packers by the
banks.
MIR. Barrett has visited good many can.
ming houses in Hartford and has been sur.
prised at the general cleanliness and care ex.
ercised in packing. Last year it required a
good deal of effort to sell Hartford county to.
matoes of standard quality at 80 cents doz.
On, while great many packers in other
States, who put up hand packed goods of
extra quality were bidding $125 per dozen
for stock and failing TO get it lost thousands
OF dollars 10 make good their contracts. This
year the demand for extra goods is from
$110 to $3.50 per dozen, and New Jersey and
Delaware packed goods can not be bought
for less than from 90 10 95 cents.
The inference 10 be drawn from these facts
Is obvious. The packers of Hartford county
must make up their minds 10 put up their
goods In a heater, more attractive and more
uniform manner. There are many brands of
Hartford county tomatoes and corn that are
equal 10 the very best packed anywhere in
the country but unfortunately, this can not
be said of all, and consequently the good suf-
fers with the bad, by being found in its com.
pany.