Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-04
FEATURES OF TRADE.
Volume of Hardware Business Larger
Than Last Season, but
PRICES ARE LOWER THAN EVER.
An Active Demand for Canned Meats Sends
Up Quotations.
BANANAS NOW AND In OLDEN TIMES.
OFFICE OF THE DISPATCH,
PrTTSRIrRC TUFS0.y Mo.

PITTSBURG, TUESDAY, May 8.
April's volume of trade in hardware lines,
according to report of a representative of
one Of our leading FIRMS showed an increase
offully Is per cent over the corresponding
month of last wear. There has been an ex-
traordinary demand in the past week or
two for garden tools, building hardware and
fencing wire. Prices of wire are 10 per
cent lower than they were last season, but
price of raw material has declined to an
equal degree. Galvanized barbed wire sells
at 50 S0CG2 90 per cwt Plain wire fencing
ranges in price from 81 % for No. 8, to
s. Is for No T.. Galvanized plain wire is soc
to 81 per cwt above these figures
Wire nails are selling at a basis of 81 IS
and cut nails at 81 CO. At these prices profits
to manufacturers arc well nigh obliterated.
Nail manufacturers who can declare divi-
d"nds 81; present prices must possess I'M
usual advantages IN securing raw materials.
Pittsbure manufacturers Of rails have of
late years practically abandoned the nail
trade, because there was nothing i'll it.
Nails Sell Lower Than Ever.
1t was thought year ago that prices of
nails had touched bottom. But it seems
that there was a lower stratum, and to-day
the price of nails is lower than it has been
in the history of the trade In war times
money vii / now buy about four and a half
kegs.
The demand for refriserators, ice cream
tTeeZerS and ny screens has opened up ear
lieT than usual this season, and all signs
point to much lar-er volume of trade this
season than last in these lines.
In all hardware lines margins are close
and the only salvation for tho dealer is in
large sales. The manufacturers who come
out more than even at present prices, are
not in the majority. Events have proved
W
the trade wears ago have been justified in
their actions. To have continued in the
trade would have entailed loss.
Canned Meats Going Up.
Trade in this line has been steadily on the
gain of late, and prices of canned. chipped
and roast beef have been advanced. Corned
and roast beef have been advanced in the
past week from ST. 60 to ST 20 per dozen and
chipped beef from 81 20 to 81 so. Volume of
April's trade was fully so per cent larger
than for the same month last year.
A representative of one of the leading
Chicago firms, in an interview yesterday.
said Our sales of corned and roast beef
for April were equal to 5000 cases. and we
have nov orders on onr books for as much
more. Notwithstanding recent advance
prices are lower than they were a this time
q year ago.
Growth of the Banana Trade.
The produce commission merchant, who
brought the first barrel of bananas to Pitts
burg in war times at a venture, is still hale
and hearty, though he has retired from
active business life. In a recent interview
the retired merchant said that he had all he
could do to dispose of that first barrel of
DananaS.
The change 'twi1t now and then is demon
strated by the fact that it is no unusual |
thing for our dealers to receive 80 carloads
OF bananas i'll single week. On Monday of |
tliS week an entire train of bananas com
prising Is carloads was received by Thomas |
III. n NOrY or,ois s=rD,,l
amount was less than that of the original |
barrel which was received at the beginning |
of trade in this line.