Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-28
CHICAGO'S WEIGHTS
Discussed at the Grain Exchange
With Some Indignation.
NO REMEDY FOR A GREAT WRONG.
An Active Demand for the Products Of
Garden and Field.
LEATHER AND HIDES ARE VERY FIRM
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH. !
SATURDAY, July 26. 1890.

The ouestion of short Chicago weights
came up for discussion at the meeting OF the
Grain Exchange to-day. Operators reported
that their losses sometimes reached as high
as /. 800 pounds on single carload Of grain
bv being forced to sell on Chicago certiti-
Gates. 1t seems that this matter has been
before brought to the attention OF the rail-
road comnanies. but no redress can be had.
After some heated discussion, in which not
little indignation found vent, it was unanimous
Iy concluded to do nothing. All seemed TO De
of the opinion that there was no remedy 1or
the evil, and that dealers must hereafter as
heretofore pay for large quantities OF stun tney
do not receive.
Receipts of grain and hay have been lighter
this week than last and markets have peen
strong with a general upward tendency, espe-
cially for corn and oats Latest crop statistics
are, however. more favorable as to corn ana
Through Western Pennsylvania and EasteIn
Ohio reports indicate the lightest oats crop IoI
many years. A year ago az this time price was
Csc per bushel and now 43c, with the prooaDlnty
of still higher prices in the near future. A
straw indicating the direction OF fnarkeLs 10 tne
sharp advance of oatmeal during the week.
Provisions have not been so active THIS week
as the two previous weeks Said leading pork
packer to-day: "Our trade was better the nrst
half of July than it ever was in the same
length. While il has not held up quite SO well
the past week. there is still an active demand
for our goods and July's record will exceed In
volume any previous month"
There has been no change in the price OF pro-
visions.
Farm and Garden Products.
Volume of trade in produce lines shows a
decline from last week. A falling off is looked
for at this time of the year, on account of the
many absentees at watering places. Market
gardeners aud produce dealers alike feel the
effect of the summer fitting to the seashore
and mountains. During the week past there
has been a sharp decline in Southern vege-
tables. Potatoes have dropped from 81 so to
IS so per barrel, and are slow at the decline
Markets have been overstocked for several
days with cantaloups ana tomatoes, and prices
have taken q downward turn. Watermelons
are also plenty and lower. The berry supply
has been short of demand all week and prices
are higher.
Grapes are coming to take the place of ber-
ries. Apples are IN better supply. and prices
are lower. In the line of dairy products mar
kets are little changed from last Saturday.
There has been good demand for all choice
grades of creamery butter. and stock in the
hands of jobbers Is unusually light. With the
ordinary demand the coming week it will be
creamery butter. Within the past few days
receipts of Western eggs have been very
heavy. and markets have weakened for all but
nearby stock.
Hides and Les ther Firm.
"The hide and leather business has not been
on SO sound basis for several years." said one
of our leading dealers to-day. Prices and quail
ity of hides have both improved the past month.
A year ago the hide market was very much de-
moralized Prices declined to a lower level
than had been reached for generation. For the
past six months or more there has been steady
Improvement in prices of hides and calf skins.
The Improvement has been gradual and trade
is on a sound basis. Prices are still low as com.
pared with what they were ten years ago II is
within a decade when hides were solo at l6c
per pound. At the late advance they are not
more than one-half this figure. Demand for
hides and calf skins is active. and prices are
firm with a tendency TO higher rates.
Said q leading dealer in hides to-day: "Our
business is now entirely free from speculative
influences, and all signs point to the fact that
we are now on the eve of a healthy prosperity.
have seen times when there was more money
in the trade, but the present condition
of things is better than the times of big profits.
Trade is now a legitimate basis. There Is
not enough profit to call in speculators and the
regular dealers are doing comfortably well.
Allegheny tanners report active demand for
their products, and firm markets. Stock is
moving out as fast as it is finished. Ordinarily
at this time of the year leather accumulates in
the hands of the tanner. This season proves
an exception to the rule. In the past two
years the harness leather tanners of Allegheny
and still there is a demand for all produced.
The outlook for a big fall trade IS all that
could be desired. While margins Of profit are
narrow volume of business will be large. and
the trade has not been IN as healthy a condition
for many years.