Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-19
A GOOD SEASON FOR CONSUMERS.
COFFEE CROP ABOVE THE AVERAGE
OFFICE OF PIrrSBURG DISPATCH,
TTrSOAN A1lU Is

TUESDAY, Aug Is.
A comparison of fruit and vegetable
prices as compared with this time last year
reveals the fact that the cost ofliving is much
less now than then. There was no time last
season when tomatoes went much below
81 90 per bushel, and the general range was
81 90 10 81 25 per bushel. Now tomatoes
are selling at three bushels for 81 90, and
slow at that price. Cucumbers are selling
now at 50 to 70c a bushel basket. whereas q
wear ago the price was 81 50 per basket. The
same difference prevails all along fruit and
vegetable lines. There has been no time in
the last half dozen years when fruits and
vegetables were so low as they are this
season.
our markets have been glutted with farm
and garden products for the past two weeks
und as a consequence, drifts of markets has
been steadily downward. The market
gardener finds his occupation almost gone,
a. farmers since harvest are largely supply
ing retail stores and homes with fruits and
vegetables said Neville Island gardener
yesterday: This is one of the worst seasons
for our trade that l can remember. We
have plenty OF stuff, but get very little for
it. When crops are so large as they are this
season, the producer has hard work and
small pay. The gardener gets more and has
less labor when the yield is as light as it was
last season.
Last summer, could find ready customers
Tor all / had to bring TO market, and WAS
generally sold out long before noon. This
season, have great difficulty selling my
stuff AT all, at prices not more than one-half
the range Of last year. The gardeners
happy time is when crops are light and
fruits high. Then his work is light and pro-
1ts large. But in such prolific year as
tins we have lots of work and little money.
While this is a good season for consumers.
II Is not as profitable to the producer as 1t
was last yesl, or for several years past"
Th. Cereal Outlook
The late bull movement in cereals was, no
dOGbJ, inaugurated on the strength of short
crops in Europe. Russian advices indicate
almost = famine in Eastern Europe;a section
which Is usually great source of supply to
the Western sections of Europe. Instead of
exporting, II Is now demonstrated that large
parts OF Russia will be forced to import
wheat and flour. The largest crop of wheat
W hich this country has yielded In any one
y car was $4,000 900 bushels. The lowest
estimate OF this years yield is placed
at 65OO50OOO bushels and some
estimates place 1t at 7OOOOOOOO
bushels. T',ere will be, therefore not less
than 500 100000 bushels left for export after
our home wants are met. This surplus can
not fail to add immensely to the country's
great wealth. 1t is yet too early to estimate
the corn crop, hut all signs point to a full
average. The acreage OF corn is larger this
year Jhan ever before, and even moderate
Yield insuUes an amount equal to 1889, when
the total was 100000 900 bushels.
The Coffee Crop.
This IS the quiet season for coffee Con-
sumption Is light and retail dealers buy
sparinglv in the faith that future changes
are almost certain to be towards a lower
level. The crop OF Rio coffee is unusually
large, but for speculative OF other purposes,
stocks have been Withheld from the American
markers. According to latest advices the
total stock at Rio is lQ6 600 hays AGAINST 1Sl
Ooo bags at this time last year. At Santos the
visible supply is 10000 bags, against nearly
double this amount year ago. Receipts of
Elo coffee on present crop up to
august l2, was 100000 bags, against
S06,0Ol bags last year at this
time and 100000 bags for the corresponding
period OF 1879. ON the crop Of Santos re-
cciptS mp to August T. were IS, 600 bags, |
against lS=,00) bags last year at this time, |
and 1884, .0OO bags for the previous year The |
the past week has been $4,000 bags, and of /
Santos 1000 bags. Visible supply of coffee !
this date Is 334 92l bags, against 3S2 500 bags
at this time last year and 43LsT bags two |
wears ago. Java coffeeS are in unusually |
light supply and markets are very firm. |
There i but one explanation of the strong |
coffee markets. when the large crop is taken |
INTO view. and that is, that stock |
l. in the hands of spectators who |
BY all ordinary rules of trade coffee. should |
hsve declined before this time. The drop |
Of &c in packages noted in this column on |
Monday il a straw showing the drift of |
things. Lower prices must come or all signs |
fall