Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-15
COMMERCIAL NOTES.
Some Defects in Commercial Methods
of Our Merchants,
WHICH HURT In TIMES OF PLENTY.
Trade Features of Interest Concerning
Cheese, Butter,
POULTRY. HOGS AND PROVISIONS
WHICH HURT In TIMES OF PLENTY.
POULTRY, HOGS AND PROVISIONS

OFFICE OF THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH,
MONDAY, January IA 1889
One of our leading commission merchants
opened up on the commercial situation to-
Ciav thus wise: 81 don't know whether
there is any other great center of trade in
the land where markets are so easily broken
10y big run of stuff as our own. The great
trouble with Pittsburg jobbers is that they
will not unite for their own interests. 1t seems
TO be every man for himself, and natural Sc
quence of this business principle when markets
are overstocked, as they have been OF late Is
that it is the devil for us all. 1radesmen mere
are so Jealous of each other that it has peeh
thus far impossible TO effect any mutual pro
tecuve combination which would enable Us W
tide over such a condition of things as we are
now having in Commercial lines. Ihere are
always merchants here who, when stun ai accu-
mulates as it has been doing of late are reAuy
to throw their products on the markets. SO Ss
to demoralize trade believe our city TO oe
one of the worst points Of trade IN the lanu IL
this respect BY reason of the business mebn-
DDS of many trades people here we 40 not az
other cities do. reap the benefit of any advance
in prices and at the same time are sure 10 eA-
perience to the full any drop in markets: Our
business methods are certainly capable OF large
other great commercial centers.
CHEESE REMAINS FIRM.
1t is a pleasure to note in the midst of such
depressed produce markets as we are having
some lines which do not share in the general
Generalization.
With all the downward drift in most lines
since the beginning of the yeal, cheese has
continued firm and cannot continue much
longer in its firm state without an advance IN
Price.
Though not quotably higher, advices from
New York point TO a rise in the near future
The visible supply of cheese is more than IOO,OOV
boxes short of this time year ago. Foulirt,
also. has held up well, when the glut IN oIner
farmers products is taken into consideration.
Choice nearby poultry is in good demand at
outside quotations. The same is true OF choice
country butter. With all the fluctuations OF
creamery butter and common country rolls the
past two months, fancy country rolls have
changed very little, except to go up higher.
Liberty street commission merchant to-day eX-
pressed the belief that not more than one-tenth
of that which now passed for butter could, IN
the largest charity, be called the genuine prod
uct of cows milk. Those who bring the genu-
Inc TO market have no trouble securing outside
prices for their commodity. The millions are
consuming alleged butter and are IN Dllsstul
ignorance of the fact that very small proper
zion of what they spread on their biscuits
comes from cows cream.
HOGS AND PROVISIONS.
Receipts of hogs at Chicago to-day were S,0OO
head. The range of ~rices was s. l595 %. At
East Liberty the range is S. l5@5 60, which is
about the same price as Saturday.
The following statement of the hog and pro-
vision situation was received to-day by one of
our large packing firms from a Chicago house:
Receipts of hogs the past week were ,696
and 226l2 shipped. For the corresponding
week year ago receipts were l44.493 and ship
ments 46 449. Our estimate of receipts for the
coming week is l20,0OOhead Quality continues
good and weights heavy. Mixed and heavy
hogs are about l0c higher than a week ago, and
30d50c lower than this time last year.
Packing to date at Chicago 903,00O against
1242000 for the same time last year. Pro-
visions are frmer in sympathy with stronger
market for hogs. Cablegrams indicate an ad-
vance on hams and lard. Statistics point to
higher prices. A lowering of values is hardly
possible. Already there is a &c advance on
medium and light weight hams. Arguments
favorable to the short side have been dis
counted and doubtless can now have little
effect. The only thing that come to the aid Of
shorts is larger run of hogs than any of us
have figured on, condition not at all prob
able"