Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-09
A SURVEY OF TRADE.
In Spite of Moving Day and Snow
Storm, Weeks Trade Fair.
PRODUCE MARKETS MORE ACTIVE.
Wheat and Flour Made Uncertain by the
Bulls and Bears.
LIGHT WEIGHT HIDES DEPRESSED
NFoN-nAV a nril G lsQO

MONDAY, Apfll q looS. }
Last weeks trade received black eye on
the first day, moving day, and the last, by
reason of the snow storm. In spite of these
adverse influences the volume of business in
produce lines showed no decline on the
previous week, and in some lines was
larger
There was very active movement in
butter and eggs. The week closed with a
very firm market in both lines. Advices
from Chicago to leading jobber, received
this morning, give the assurance that markets
are more bare of butter than for some weeks,
and that rise this week is looked for by deal
ers generally. Eggs which were selling at lie
on Friday (some say even lower) were firmly
held at l2c to-day, the winter-like weather be-
ing considered responsible for the change
At a number of Liberty street commission
houses trade was reported better than the pre-
yious week and Friday one of the best days of
the season.
By reference to the books of one heavy jobber
OF butter and eggs, it was ascertained that on
TINS day year ago the price of Ohio creamery
butter was &C above its rate to-day and eggs &c
per dozen above the outside figures for the past
two weeks
Cheese continues in active demand, with the
exception of the domestic Swiss article, which
goes very slow all this season. On low-grade
sweitzer the cash buyer will find holders ready
TO make big concessions, and on high grades
moderate ones.
There has been a slightly increased demand
for apples and potatoes as compared with re-
cent weeks. The onion trade is thoroughly de-
moralized. A year ago at this date onions were
active at Sc barrel; and now they are drag at
80 to IS cents barrel. A Liberty street CON-
mission merchant thinks 1t a low estimate to
put the shrnkage of his sales to-day, on account
of show storms, at $500.
Cereal Markets.
The wide fluctuations in wheat the past week
are little felt in our domestic markets, as very
little has been bought here. Our home millers
are so well stocked that the tussle of the bulls
and bears affects them very little. The effect,
however, is seen and felt in the -four drift
which is plainly downward. The jobbing rates
of -four are 20c below last weeks rates. The
hand to mouth policy is pursued by buyers in
the present uncertain condition OF the -four
market
Receipts of grain and hay are the hghtest for
months past Markets, however, continue
sluggish, with the situation as it has been all
season, in the buyers favor. The exception to
this is choice haE and oats. There has not been
a sufficiency in either line to supply the wants
of trade.
In the line of general groceries. the marked
feature of the week was the sharp advance in
green coffee Twice during the week there
has been a rise of 40 points. The advance
reached our markets to-day by a &c rise on
package coffee. The present outlook for the
coffee trade is firm marker, with drift
toward higher level of prices the supply being
much below the average of recent years at this
season.
Hides.
The failure of large Boston tannery last
week to the extent of 500, 900 has had depress-
ing influence on the market for light hides
Our home tanneries demand chiefly heavy
hides. Lightweights are shipped to other mar
kets. 1t was reported in this column a few
days ago that margins were almost wiped out
at buff leather tanneries. The recent failure
has confirmed the statement then given as
from one of our prominent Allegheny tanners
that New England manufactures must be
losers at present prices of buff leather. While
prices of heavy hides are unchanged, light
weights are cheaper in the East, and very much
depressed here. They find their best market in
the West at this date.