Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-12-21
ON CHANGE.
Spot Cotton Was Unchanged, Futures
From 1 to Points Lower.
Wheat Opened Weak, Declined Steadily and
Closed Lower-The Coffee and Wool
Markets Unchanged.
Daily Review.

OFFICE OF THE GAZETTE,
FORT WoETH. Tex. Dec. 20. 1883.
There has been no feature of import
ance in trading on this market to-day
beyond the activity that has prevailed for
| the last month and which constantly
augments as Christmas approaches.
Cotton receipts have been nearly $50
bales to-day
There is drop of cents in quotations
on eggs.
Butter and poultry are not changed.
The winter hog packing to date falls SO
per cent. short of the number packed to
the same date last year, and still the
price of the animal is cheaper than year
ago.
Business IN groceries, in common with
other lines of merchandise, is showing
considerable animation and sales are fair
for the season. Collections are very good
and most staples are steady.
The Northwestern Miller SAYS: Gas
everybody was prepared TO expect the
-four output last week dropped off heavily
ana was the lishtest for q very long
while. More mills are running this week,
but still the production promises to go
considerably under 100 200 barrels for
the six days. \ hard freeze-up would
doubtless cut eff the greater part of the
water supply. The -four market is i'm
proving by Il widening of the area want
ing small lots more than in large orders.
Demands for small lots are common from
dealers chat usually order by the several
carloads, showing that stocks are less
plentiful III the interior of the country
and giving evidence that dealers are
waiting for the over-production of -four
10 have its effect on prices. At such
points As New York, Boston, Baltimore
ana Philadelphia supplies are apparently
very full. New England is beginning to
buy more and some New York towns are
buying moderately. Foreigners also
show little more disposition to take
hold though there is not yet much real
improvement. -
The volume of business in iron and steel
has fallen off slightly in both eastern and
western markets, but production and
consumption is equally increasing at
most points. The crisis in steel rails is
over, but it is the pronounced conviction
of large buyers and builders that prices
will continue weak and in buyers favor
all next year. This belief is based upon
the fact that the producing capacity is
not far from 3 600 900 tons per annum,
while this year 8 consumption will scarce
ly reach half that amount. An attempt
is being made to establish S28 and S29 as
minimum figures i'll eastern markets.
Several makers are practically out of the
market. Furnace capacity east, south
and west is increasing, but so far the out
put is all sold in advance at strong prices
Large ear orders are in negotiation and
extensive bridge aud shop building orders
are to be placed in the early winter
There are no surface indications of fall
ing Off of demand in any branch of the
iron trade. Despite the evidences of in
creasing output, merchant iron mills in
nearly all sections of the country have
several weeks orders on hand. Plate
and structural iron mills are slack of
orders. Pipe mills are seeking new bust
ness. Speculative operations in nails
have not impaired permanent improve
ment to the trade.
Coffee is very bullish, and the last
sharp advance is well maintained. The
general estimate of the present crop is
between 8 200, 900 and 6, 500 900 bags,
which is a very decided reduction from
the 800 600 estimate made at the be-
ginning of the year. The next crop is
now estimated at between 3 800 900 and
4 900 600 bags. Europe has led the ad-
vance, and her prices are now materially
higher than ours. Coffee has been stead
lily advancing for nearly year, but the
recent sharp advance is the direct out
come of reports of serious damage by I'M
favorable weather both TO the present and
growing Brazil crops, assisted by specu-
lative manipulations.
From q New York circular of December
IA it is CLEANED that the rice crop this
year, both domestic and foreign, is rather
short, and that after the lst proximo,
when it is expected there will be light
stocks in all hands and the remainder of
consignments from Japan will have been
closed out, there will be a marked en-
largement of demand at possibly higher
rates. Advices from abroad continue
confirmatory of a shortage in the East
India and japanese crops.