New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-03
A GLUT IN GREEN GROCERIES.
VEGETABLES AND FRUIT THROWN AWAY.
WHOLESALE DUMPING OF CRATES IN THE HAR,

WHOLESALE DUMPING OF CRATES IN THE HAIR
BOR-THE STATE OF THE MARKET.
wo-thrds Of fresh vegetables and fruit which have
arrived from South by during the last week
have been taken and thrown overheard Ihis
was not done because shipments spoiled and use
less but because for such produce was gutted
and the dealers wanted 70 maintain the old high scale OF
prices Had the dealers accepted the larger shipments
prices would have gone down at once ana az
this season the year would be impossible TO increase
the scale again old figures. The result was thao
the Old Dominion Ocean steamship companies found
It both cheaper and convenient to transfer cargoes
lighters and send them outside 20 be heaved into tho
attempt sales TO cover freight charges"
Last Tuesday 1900 Of fresh squashes, beans To-
matoes cabbages egg-pans and cucumbers, which had
been brought up Florida the day before BY the steamer
Augusta the fishes or Coney Island and on
Friday similar disposition made Of several thousand
more crates which in the Tallahassee The yes
sci arrived on Wednesday but the vegetables were kept
over Thursday the hope that some buyers would pre-
sent themselves.
In explaining the situation to TRIBUNE reporter.
William Wilson, superintendent Of the sevedores said that
blame rested chiefly with tie shippers In the South
They picked their vegetables before they
ripe and packed closely board the ship BY
the time the arrived NewYork it was withered
and oftentmes unstable condition The consign-
ments potatoes Jared the best and cucumbers and cab
bages the worst Mr. Wilson further said that the rou-
BILE was regular spring. but it had never
been great this year.
The OnlcePS OF the ocean
q willingness give away the vegetables they felt Tree
10 do So but they say II they did 1t would tie the
business dealers who have got their produce on
the MARKET and would probably destroy the demand TOR
the next incoming Each crate represented loss
Of eight cents freight and thirteen cents the crate
itself The crates considered worth saving. on
account OF trouble involved in tearing them apart
Nearly $4,000 Of vegetables have arrived during ths
last ten days by the steamship lines and prob
ably half as many come in by rail- Large ship
ents OF onions nave received from Egypt Bermuda
and NewOreans. but the dealers protecting them
selves by storing and waiting for better prices
The onions are and will keep long time like
course is being pursued in regard potatoes. but with
less Success
The great trouble that consumers Will buy foreign
poatoes native article said g. Palmer,
a large dealer to the reporter. Or rather, should
say it rests Government for placing suni
GENTLY high protective duty imported potatoes. The
trade has got habit Of using the foreign article
because put up In convenient packages Although
the duty bag, foreign potatoes sell at e 25
wholesale while Southern grown, of this
year. meet with poor sales nc SO To- II the duty on
potatoes little higher the consumer would be-
gin using native potato, and the increased market
would make prices more reasonable than now.
think the events OF the last week Will have material
effect upon the Southern shippers and that favorable
reaction The backward weather has had
much the poor condition OF vegetables The
cherry crop North Carolina Is dead failure and Cali
has yet the rescue, while the peach
crop OF Florida and South Carolina is only about one
half what usually is owing late frosts. The peach
sections OF Delaware however hold OUT splendid pros
pects There has also been trouble with the
rivals OF Virginia account Of the
bad weather in May. II it not for the opening
u the competing lines which BRING
our stock here from South by rail- 1 believe
enormous amount OF fruit and produce would havo
been on the piers last month"; the steamers
could not have carried 1t all"
Why should the dealers object under the circun-
giving away the surplus produce poor fam
niesP
They DON'T replied Mr.. Palmer, where the FAINT
lies are TOO poor buy such vegetables anyhow That
point II the managers OF charitable institutions
societies should the steamship companies am
they would be allowed carry away all they
for charitable purposes, without word Of objection
any Of the dealers In fact should prefer hav-
ing done feeding the fishes with good vegetables