The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-04
beef IS VERY scarce
Only Fifty Dressed Cattle in The Cold SlOl-
ages Of the City.
There Is PROSPECT OF FAMINE
No Beef Has Been Received Here
Since Sunday and Advices from
Chicago Say None Can Be Shipped
This Week-Effects of the Strike
Upon Other Products-Produce
Men Not Affected.

Unless the extensive western rail-
road strike terminates today, Scran.
tonians will do without fresh beef.
There are less than fifty dressed cattle
In the various cold stOrages about the
city and mono is in sight except native
beef now alive and browsing about the
counties north of US. This source is
practically unavailable from the fact
that farmers are now busy with crops
Tand cannot be induced to kill their
cattle for market.
I. H. Dale q Co., agents for Ar
mour's Chicago dressed meats received
their last car of beef Sunday. They
haven't pound in stock.
Ira Bennett 81 Co. have twenty-six
beeves in stock and arc holding them
for customers to whom they have been
sold at 2 cents above last weeks
market price. Instructions were re-
ceived by wire yesterday 10 sell Texas
cattle at 10 cents and natives at II
cents per pound anl to ship the entire
stock to New York or Philadelphia if
Scranton retailers wouldn't pay the
price. The message also stated that
lower prices had been obtained In
Scranton than any other market.
NO BEEF IN SIGHT.
The Showers Packing and Provision
company have not received any west
ern meats this week. and received the
following telegram yesterday afternoon
from the Union stock yards at Chicago:
Hold for better prices New York 104,
Boston % will go higher. No prospect
Of any shipments this week"
A. l.. Francois, Of the Scranton Beef
company, stated that they had no beef
for sale Notwithstanding this state OF
affairs, nearly all the city butchers have
secured enough beef to last until after
Thursday. The hotels also will bs sup.
piled and it is not expected that the
retailers will increase prices before
this afternoon or tomorrow.
1t could not be learned yesterday that
the strike has in any way affected the
local produce and grain markets. Few
il any produce dealers buy western
butter or eggs at this season Of the year
aud garden truck is received from the
South or from nearby localities.
PRICE OF FLOUR NOT AFFECTED.
Prices OF -four, wheat oats, ETC.,
have not yet bean affected, nor is it
likely that they will be unless the strike
is prolonged at least TWO weeks. Grain
mon send out their western orders for
the first of each month several weeks
in advance and the July supply is
either received or is east of the lakes.
Fruit dealers probably, are making
richer harvest in consequence of the
strike than any other class of whole
sale dealers. No California fruit, such
rs peaches, pears. plums and cherries,
have been received, and consequently
the prices for oranges. bananas and
southern fruits have increased. The
benefit to the fruit men is owing to two
reasons, particularly: First, because
California fruit is very psrishable; sec
ondly, because the buying price of ba.
nanas and oranges has been lowered
owing to recent fruit handlers strike
in southern districts. The result is that
this yea. is witnessing the best trade
for the first week in July that has been
known in years.
OF ham, bacon and salted, canned
and dried meats the local supply is am
ply adequate for several weeks unless
sold to the empty markets Of the large
eastern cities.