Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-11
FEATURES OF TRADE.
The Weeks Record in Produce,
Cereals and Hog Products.
DAIRY PRODUCTS MORE ACTIVE.
A Glut of VegetableS---ChOice Fruit
Moving More Freely.
HEAVY HOGS, MESS PORK ADVANCE
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH, I
SATTRnAY MAroh Q 1880 Z

OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH,
SATURDAY. March 8, 1889. !
The first week of March shows a more
active movement in country produce lines
than any week of February. This has been
true particularly of dairy products and
eggs. The demand for country butter shows
a most marked improvement the past week
or two over any time the past winter. There
has been a special reason for this activity,
namely, the terrorizing of oleomargarine deal
ers by action of the courts. The losses of but
terine dealers have Injured to the gain of the
old-time product of the churn.
The arrival of Lent has given new strength
and greater activity to cheese trade. but prices
cheese has advanced about the beginning of
Lent, but, contrary to general expectations
there has been no advance this season. This, too
in face Of the fact that the visible supply at the
worlds commercial centers is much below the
average for this time of the year. The failure
of cheese to advance as well as anything can
do demonstrates the sluggishness of this
springs produce trade.
A leading jobber of creamery butter and
cheese said to-day: "Our trade has been more
satisfactory this week than at any time since
the year opened. Business with us has not
been as hfeless for years as it was the latter
half of January and greater part of February.
1t now looks as if the tide had turned and re-
vival Of trade is at hand"
Lenten Food Advancing.
A leading produce commission merchant
gave substantially the same view of the situa-
tion, while admitting that there was no sign of
improvement in certain lines which will be
noted. Said he: The first half of this week
was decided improvement on our experience
of a few weeks past. While trade did not hold
up well to the close of the week. there has been
gain, and we are confident that the worst is
past. The demand for butter and eggs has
much improved. also for choice apples and
tropical fruits. Florida oranges have advanced
90 to 75c per box in the week past
'The weak factors of trade are vegetables.
Potatoes have not been as slow and low for a
dozen or more years; in fact. we would have to
20 back to trade records before the war to find
market as depressed in vegetables. Farmers
are rushing their surplus potatoes, onions and
cabbage into markets, and the result is, we are
having a glut Potatoes in carload lots are
selling at 3Oc to SSc, and well authenticated re-
ports are heard of sales below the lower figure.
The time draws near when last seasons veget-
ables will have to give way to the new crop,
and the old must be worked off at whatever it
will bring. The old potato trade will be prac-
tjcallv at an end about the lst of May.
t'The trouble has been all this season that
stuff has been over abundant. And it now re-
mains for the unfortunate producer to work
prepare for the new season in the. hope and
faith that there will not be another year of
such plenty right away"
Grain, Hay and Hogs.
We cannot note any improvement the past
week in the grain and hay markets. 1t is with
this trade as with produce-supplies are too
liberal for the demand. With receipts of 2l7
cars this week and Isl last. and not more than
dozen or two cars sold on call in the week, it
is evident that the markets are anything but
lively. The sales made outside OF the Ex-
change. the terms of which cannot De gathered.
are, no doubt, made by concessions on the part
of holders
Wheat has at last tumbled to the situation of
sluggishness and is off l0c to l5c from the high
est point reached few weeks ago at Chicago
Tor May delivery. Flour has eased some under
the drop in wheat. but the consumer has not
large job lots
Mess pork has been advanced 81 per barrel
Nltnln few days. Lard, also, has taken an
upward turn. and is 25G3Oc per cwt higher than
last week. Packers here have made no changes
IN their quotations. but present frmness points