Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-08
TRADE RETROSPECT.
A Potato Glut Knocked Bottom Out
Of Markets---New Apples
FROM SUNNY SOUTH TO THE FRONT
Pittsburg Not the Best Markets for Pro-
vision Trade.
FLOUR, OATS AND CORN ARE FIRMER
OFFICE OF PITTSBURG DISPATCH, I
IOSn Z

OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH
SATURDAY, July z, 1883.
In the lines of country produce the marked
features of trade the past week were the extra
quantities of stuff on the markets. Potatoes
came in from the sunny South in such
abundance as to demoralIze trade. In the
lore part of the week there was drop of 81
per barrel from prices that afforded scarcely
any margin of profit to the producer. The
potato speculator found few plckings in this
weeks deals. One was heard of who paid 81 40
per barrel, but could get no better offer than
soc per barrel. The price of potatoes from
commission men to-day is 81 % to 81 so. The
freight and commission absorbs 9Oc of this
leaving little or nothing to producer and ship
per. A Liberty street commission man said:
I'VE are handling lots of stuff, but profits are
reduced to a minimum"
Growers of vegetables down in Tennessee in
the past two or three years have wakened up
10 the fact that PIttsburg is good distributing
point and we are now getting stuff from that
State direct which in former years came
through Cincinnati, St Louis OF Chicago pro-
duce firms. From one town in Tennessee IA
carloads of strawberries were shipped in May,
one half Of which were consigned to Boston
house the other half to Pittsburg Last year the
strawberries of that town were shipped to Chi
cago land the profit to the shipper was 6Oc crate.
TINS year the shipper netted 81 80 per crate,
and Tennessee paper congratulates growers
In recent number upon the happy change
from Chicago to Pittsb1rg as a point for con-
signment of fruit" New apples are coming in
freely from the South, and in another week
will be as abundant as potatoes have been for
a week past.
Cereals.
In the line of cereals there has been a great
scarcity of corn and oats all the week, and
growing firmness in -four.
Our quotations will show that corn and oats
have taken a number of upward steps during
the week. We do not change our quotations
on flour, as wholesale grocers still prefer to
sell at these figures. but the price which the
jobber has now to pay is zoe above the lowest
point touched in June.
may for little longer sell at our quotations,
but could not now lay in stock at the prices for
which they sell.
Groceries,
A drop in package coffee of &c at the begin
ming OF the week has been justified by events.
Options are shade stronger at the close of
the week
Sugars keep advancing, and the week began
and ended with markets decidedly strong.
Provisions.
Plttsburg pork packers report an active trade
Tor the week and volume up to last week, not
Withstanding the holiday thrown in. Prices,
however, are not at all satisfactory. A leading
provision dealer said: "Han.s and common lard
are sold as low here as IN Chicago. We get a
little better prices for sugar-cured shoulders
than Chicago provision dealers get, but with
this exception the Western metropolis has
furnished the best provision market all this
season. We selling plenty of hams and
oIled Deef, but margins are very close"