Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-22
WEATHER AND TRADE
Hurtful and Helpful Effects of the
Snow Blockade
on LEADING JOBBING INDUSTRIES,
Good Hopes of Great Activity for Christ
mas Weeks Trade.
THE HIDE MARKET STILL SLUGGISH
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH, I
SATURDAY, Dec. 70.
Trade Review.

OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH,
SATURDAY. Dec. 70
Trade Review.
About one-half of the week past has been
almost lost to general jobbing trade, owing
to the snow blockade. AT the produce conf
mission houses and Grain Exchange trans
actions were very light. Cereal markets
have been very dull, with a downward
tendency. Corn, oats and -four are quoted
lower than at the beginning of the week,
and are quiet at the decline. Money ap-
pears to be the most valuable commodity
and the difficulty OF securing it proves the
weak factor of trade. Retail dealers are
inclined to buy sparingly on declining
markets and in view of the financial
stringency. Our markets are well stocked
with -four, grain and hay, but the
joDber and shipper are made to carry
the greatest part of the burden
at this time of dropping prices. In produce
lines there has been no essential change during
the week. Commission men are not carrying
large stocks, for the reason of railroad block
AIDES. There is plenty on the way, and, no
doubt Christmas week will be one OF sufficient
activity to compensate for the quietness of the
past week. Butter and eggs have apparently
reached their top price for this season. Prlce
of eggs has declined In Southern markets with
in lew days and unless prevented by severe
weather the decline should reach us the COM
ing week. Country butter is in growing de-
mand. at the expense of the limitations: One
department of trade has benefited greatly by the
snowstorn. namely, the trade in rubber goods
AT one of the leading shoe houses OF the city 1t
was learned that all hands had been pressed
into the rubber service and that more goods
had been sold in this line than any previous
week in the history of the trade. For two
winters past large stocks were necessarily car
ried over by the factories and 1ObberS because
of light demand
No fear of accumulated stock now exists
Factories are running full force. While there
is no trouble so far meeting orders, few more
such storms as the late one would tax the
capacity of the manufacturer.
The salt industry is also one that has reaped
extra benefits from the late snow storm. On
Thursday six teams were employed delivering
salt TO the street and cable car companies of
the two cities, to be used In sailing the tracks
Each of these teams carried 100 bush OF
salt and So many thousand bushels were
mixed with the snow along the various lines
The salt car and sweeper car have had moro
work this week than for a half dozen years at
least. in making transit to the suburbs pos
sible. As this is the season of the year when
salt is in greatest demand. manpfacturers here
had an extraordinary demand for their pro-
duct and have, therefore, no complaint to make
of the storm.
Hides Still Quiet.
Steer hides continue in the same quiet con-
dition as reported last week Tanners are only
buying for immediate wants owing to tightness
of money and the near approach of annual set
tlement time.
Buff hides are also unchanged. but slow.
Large quantities are held in the country by
butchers and dealers who are unwilling to ac-
cept present prices. A number of our large
dealers have called in their buyers for the
reason that they prefer to carry light stocks
until after the turn of the year. The present
is always a slack time in the hide trade and
this season it is more than usually quiet owing
to the preciousness of money.
Following are prices paid by tanners and
hide dealers for stock delivered here.
We quote you the following prices on stock
delivered here: