Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-22
A SURVEY OF TRADE.
Hen Fruit 0verdOne, and Easter Trade
a Disappointment.
POTATOES SLOW, APPLES HIGHER.
Cereals Sluggish, With Wheat and Flour
Seeking Lower Level.
LEATHER ACTIVE, BUT HIDES LOWER.
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH,
SATURDAY, April 20, 1879.


The marked feature of produce markets
the past week has been the glut in eggs.
From time immemorisl the egg market has
been strong and active on Easter week. This
season is an exception to all rules, and dealers
who have banked on firm egg market are
left.
Last Easter demand was far above supply, at
prices almost double whatA they were for the
past week. A leading commission man said:
81 was not able to fill all my orders for eggs a
year ago. Now the situation is entirely re-
versed. Last year 1 sold at 20 cents, or in
that nelghborhood, and customers were clam
oring for hen fruit. Now it goes out very
slowly at 10 to IL cents" Another dealer said:
''The market for eggs has been little good since
the holidays. The remarkably open winter has
upset all calculations founded on the expert
ence of former years. The trouble has been
nary amount of work this season.
An improved demand for cabbage is reported
by produce commission men. Markets have
been quite bare for week past, and, accord
ing to the uniform custom, buyers grow plenty
as stuff grows scarce The same is true in a
measure of apples. Choice apples are growing
scarce and prices are mounting. Potatoes give
no signs of improvement. All over the land
there was extraordinary crop of pOta-
toes last season. As the new crop begins to
show up, the old becomes more and more
drug.
A Liberty street commission man received
on consignment from Texas to-day rs barrels
of old potatoes from an old customer, and re-
marked that he did not know what to do with
them. as he had already much more in this line
than he knew how to handle. 1t may be said
concerning country produce in general that
the tone of trade has been shade better this
week than last The improvement is greatest
in butter, cheese, apples and tropical fruits.
Cereals.
49, s;t,o+;o, .ha.-z :--...ra
ment. At the Grain Exchange deals are few
and far between. Sales made on curbstones
and in offices are made |ith concessions to
buyers in all cereallines excepting corn. The last
is higher and stronger than it was q week ago.
Choice hay also holds its own. but the trouble
is very little OF This grade is coming to the mar
beginning of the week. While wholesale gro
GERS do not lower the price of -four, well au-
thenticated reports show that there is not a
little cutting on quotations. 1t is about as
sure as anything future can be that -four must
have fall before another week passes Cash
BUYERS have already found that they can buy
cheaper than they could have done a week ago.
Groceries.
Sugar more than holds its own. It no longer
admits of doubt that the supply of raw sugar
is far below the average for this time of the
year. The drift of markets has been steadily
upward for week or two past, and at latest
reports have been firm as ever. Coffee failed to
advance, though the roasted article is, and has
been for a week or more, retailing 1c lower than
the green bean.
Hog Products.
Pork packers report an unusually quiet trade
for the week past. Said representative Of
one of our leading firms: II have found, from
many years experience, that the last week in
Lent usually brings active demand for oul
goods. Our customers at this time lay in stock
| in anticipation of the feast which usually fol
lows the long fast This season is an exception
to the rule, and truth demands the statement
that trade is quiet uncomfortably So Prices
of hog products remain unchanged for the
week past. The feeling is strong and general
among dealers that an active movement il
close at hand.
Hides and Leather.
! Harness leather trade is active. but prices