The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-18
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
REWEW OF PORTLAND WHOLESALE MARKET
FOR THE WEEK ENDING, Feb. 10.

FOR The WEEK ENDING, rep. 10.
The bad conditions of the roads, caused by the
recent heavy rains, has checked business, and
light trade is reported The New York CONNER
cial Bulletin, in summing up the result Of care
full and extensive survey of the business situation,
says it justies the anticipation at least of sat
Isfactory spring trade, provided nothing happens
IN the way of drawbacks which cannot just now be
foreseen True 1t is too early in the season as yet
TO sneak with absolute confidence OF what may or
NAV not occur month or six weeks hence, nor
do we forget that the uncertainty which attaches
to the coinage and tariff questions in Congress
must exert more or less influence on the course OF
events; but after due allowance is made for this,
as also for the unfaVorable aspect OF some OF the
more prominent features of our export trade and
the recurrence of trouble among the industrial
classes on the eighthour question,we risk nothing
an asserting that there is nothing In the look
ahead that is not encouraging. Take, Tor exam
nle the testimony OF the great transportation
comm snies that are engaged in the distribution OF
merchandise. The volume OF goods smpped 10
interior posts from the first OF january Is on tne
whole nossiblv under last years average for the
corresponding period; Dut there Is very senei"i
exnectation that the snring trade Of 1886 will be
larger and more profitable than that of the spring
of 1885. and this expectation would seem 10 pc
well founded" In food staples very little change
will be noticed in quotations with moderate
business doing The tone OF the flour Market mas
improved somewhat: prices are firmly held ana
no concession are made, as the mills 1eel Suong
and confident; at New York low grades are scarce
and firm, and in instances higher. In PROVISIONS
pork and lard are quiet but steady and unchangea'
while beef is dull and easy in tone sugars nave
been quiet and weak. Raisins very firm Seeds
more active and generally higher Molasses III
moderate request with an easier tendency he
ceipts of poultry light; demand only moderate.
The market is well supplied with apples ana
trade is slow; prices easy and barely maintained.
In Boston fancy Massachusetts stock brings 90,
and good fruit 25, while some extremely fancy
Maine Baldwins will bring 75 At Liverpool
apples have been firmer, but no advance mas peeh
established, Boston Baldwins selling 99lls ana
Greetings Ss@1os, and Maine Baldwins loGl2s;
shipment Of apples to Europe from Portland for
the week ending February 18th, 8,540; for the
season 58,307 bbls; shipments from Boston Tor
the week, 5169 bbls, and for the season 2lo,27o
bbis. from New York for the week 1868 bbls ana
for the season 1856, 463 bbs shipments for the
season to Europe from Boston, New York, Mon
treal Portland and Halifax, 703,569 bbls; for
same time last year 664,S75 bbls Potatoes dull
and steady Dry fish are firm with indications OF
better prices; trade improving in this department.
Mackerel steady; 800 bbs of old IS were sold this
week at 3 25 ~ Dbl. Hides have declined 14c.
Some advance will be noticed in paints In Drugs,
&C., Morphine is about Zoe lower and Cardamons
soc under previous figures; oil bergamot and
s,epoermnt higher. There has been no change of
consequence on lumber but prices are frmeP.