Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-04-04
NEW YORK POTATO MARKET.
EUROPEAN POTATOES ovER-rLENrY
AND UNUSUALLY POOR-D0MEsrIC
STILL HELD HIGH IN THE INTERIOR.

The potato market has been In most
unsatisfactory condition Of late, and ~
the season advances the outlook seeml
less favorable for those most Interested.
The light home crop last season caused
growers and dealers at primary points,
both In the interior Of this state and
throughout the western states, to turn
spectators; aud large quantities Of po-
latoes were put away for the winter and
late season to await the high prices
which were expected In View Of the
short crop. The yield In Europe was
believed to be light from early advices,
and the prospect WAS truly very favor
able.
"A the season advanced stock COM
menced TO arrive freely from Europe,
aud for the last couple Of months the
lmportations have been very excessive,
aud notwithstanding the market Is over
stocked aud prices have been forced
down to basis which do not cover ex-
penses, they still come In In quantity be-
yond exI ectations, and the yield must
have been much larger than supposed In
most European countries. The arrivals
for the past two or three weeks have
been over 100000 sacks per week, aud
values are SO low that all classes OF
trade are using them exclusively, caus-
ing business In domestic stock to be al.
most at a standstlll, as they are held
higher In proportion than foreign, and,
as prices now asked for the domestic are
not on a parity with figures ruling at
primary points, commission receivers are
not disposed to make further conces-
sions, particularly In View OF the fact
that they could not get low enough to
materially widen the outlet. ..
Not only this market, but about all
the near by markets are being supplied
by the foreign potatoes, and Inquiries
and orders are being received from some
of the most westerly sections, SO that
unless there Il very decided falling oil
In shipments from abroad II does not
seem probable that the market can be
forced up sufficiently to allow holders OF
domestic to clean up at satisfactory
prices, md II looks as II the bulk OF the
stock would have To be sold at figures
below those which could have been
realized first Of the month.
One favorable feature for the domestic
l. the poor quality Of the foreign. In
previous seasons they have been superb
or to our home potatoes, especially
those from Scotland, but recently the
stock received has been OF irregular
quality, and this may turn the consump-
tion more toward the domestic. ln
some cases stock has arrived In such
poor shape as to be u total loss, many
marks not averaging over 30 cents aud
81, while the bulk Of offerings have sold
lately In range Of Las and sl.'5, with
only strictly choice up to 81 or higher
per sack holding lGs lbs. OF potatoes.
The demand Is all that could be ex-
pected however, and while not equal to
the excessive offerings, the accumula-
tion would be quickly reduced under
liyht arrivals for week or so, aud an
advance would undoubtedly result, and
II seems as II the unfav0rable adylces
which have been sent abroad from here
during the past two or three weeks must
soon be answered by temporary reduc-
tion In receipts; but dealers all claim
that there are apy quantity of pot'toes
It'll Ia Europe which holders are anx-
ious To unload on this market. Many OF
the foreign are shipped on commission,
while great many are bought by spec
here, and some Of the Invest
ments have turned out rather DISASTROUS
ly for the buyers, the stock selling here
for less than IL cost on the other side,
bringing the price for the consumer
down to very low point, considering
the smallness Of the yield last year.