Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-30
FEATURES OF TRADE.
No Profit to Manufacturers of Nails
at Present Prices.
BUILDERS HARDWARE STILL SLOW
Receipts of Rio Coffee Largest for Years and
Prices Of.
TIE BEST 4IL-4R0UND YEAR ON RECORD
BUILDERS HARDWARE STILL SLOW
TIE BEST AIL-4ROUND YEAR on RECORD
OFFICE OF PITTsBCRG DISPATCH, D
u'uESnaE Sant % (

OFFICE OF PTTTsBCRG DISPATCH,
TUESDAY, Sept. %.
While there has been some Improvement
in the iron and steel situation since the be-
ginning of the month, the Improvement
fails to reach the nail trade. Not in the
entire history OF the trade have nails been
as low as they have been the past three
months. With steel cut nails selling for
81 60 per keg, and wire nails at 81 80, at the
factories, ii is difficult TO sea where the
manufacturer can reap any profit. The ex-
pected rise has so far failed to materialize
Throughout the section, of which Pitts
burg is the trade center, the
long hitch between carpenters and
contractors in The fore part of the year,
is nov felt in the curtailment of trade in
builders hardware lines. No section of the
country shows greater decline in volume
Of trade in hardware lines than this.
Developed Rare Territory.
Our dealers, however, have pushed trade
III regions where the strike was not felt,
and thus in a measure made up for the de-
cline at home. So far as PittSburg and the
immediate vicinity are concerned, volume
Of builders hardware and nails handled
this wear will not be more than one-half
that of last wear.
Said a representative of one of our lead
ing hardware firms: ''Our volume of trade
this wear is about mp TO last years volume,
but there were special reasons for this in
our case, which will not hold good with
many dealers Our trade in Pittsburg has
fallen far below that of last year, or any
recent year. We have been forced to seek
out new fields and push our goods beyond
the regular lines. As to prices they were
never lower, and in some lines manufact-
urcrs musi he playing a losing game. 1 am
unable TO see how the nail manufacturer can
come out whole at present rates"
The Coffee situation.
The Rio coffee market shows steady
downward inclination for week or two
past \ drop of l5c per ID occurred last
week aud a similar or greater drop is likely
to come anyday. The conditions are all
here for 4 decline. Visible supply is fully
double what il was this time a wear ago.
Latest reports from Rio places stock there
At :'24. 600 bags, against 135, 200 bags at the
same time a year ago. The visible supply
in New York is reported at 451, 974 bags,
against 35o,3 bags last year at this time,
and 460,9Sl bags the previous year.
The total receipts of Rio coffee on the
present crop, up to September 24, have
been !, ,120, 900 bags, against 664, 600 bags
same time in 1889. These figures prove the
immensity of this years crop, and the GER
;ainty Of a further drop in prices. The
visible supply Of Rio coffee in the United
States, is in round numbers, l, 1000 600 bags.
While rio cotfees are weak and declining,
Java's and NIochas are firm, with a tendency
to higher prices.
Natures Generosity.
So far as farm and garden products are
concerned the year 1891 is the best all
around year ever known as to yield. The
cereal crops were all safely garnered weeks
ago with the exception of corn, and the
September hot wave has placed the corn
crop on sure ground. Moderate estimates
place the addition to the value of the corn
crop of the United States by reason of the
warm September weather at S25,000,00
On top of our great crops comes
the news from beyond the sea |
that Eastern Europe will be very /
short this seasci in breadstuffs. Their loss |
will be America S gain, and millions of |
money will come TO our shores as conse- |
queuce Of the European shortage. The last |
prop has been taken away from the croaker |
by the improved prospects of the potato |
crop. Not long since there was talk of a |
potato rot, hut now this fear has been ex-
ploded and it seems from the Government |
report that we are TO have great yield in |
this line.
The outlook for the potato crop is a good |
one. The Government estimate of condi- |
tion places il at $40 against 65.7 year ago,
aud 9l.5 in 1888, the yea- of heaviest pro- |
dUction. The New England Homestead |
ulaces the Weld at 195, Az, ,O59 bushels, /
gain of 49, 900, 900 bushels from last year,
but a decrease of 7,OOO,O 600 bushels from |
1855. With short crops abroad the outlook |
is for fair prices, in spite Of the large yield.