The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-16
The Markets Remain Quiet and
Easy
PRICES CHANGED BUT LITTLE
Orange Shipments to the East Continue
Light
The California Product a. q Factor in the
Par Eastern Marksts-The Local
Trade Review

AS Is ubuhl tOWdIV but ClObc Oi tuc
week, the markets were quiet yesterday.
There were fair arrivals of produce and
fruits, but prices remain practically I'M
changed, the fluctuations being so slight
to cut no material figure.
Quotations on oranges and lemons re-
main unchanged. Shipments at this time
are very slack, but when it is remembered
that at this time last year only about half
q many carloads had gone East, 1T will be
seen that there is no cause for concern on
the part of the growers. Auction sales OF
Messina oranges have been in progress at
Galveston, Tex, during the week, and
this has also had the effect of limiting
shipments as there has always been a
good market for the California product in
Texas. This, however. will only tempo
farily affect the market, as no other large
consignments for this part OF the country
are in sight. Altogether, Secretary Kim
ball of the Fruit Exchange is well pleased
withthe outlook, and thinks that there is
no cause for complaint at any point on
the line.
The frost in the northern part of the
state Thursday morning WILL to q certain
extent, retard the shipments of early
cherries and cut off some other early
p fruits, and while this misfortune will
fall heavily on the northern fruit grower,
it will help those in the southern part OF
the state by keeping out competition on
California products.
The Shipping and Commercial List OF
New York has the following about Cali
fornis oranges as factor in the Eastern
markets: For the first time in the his
tory Of the fruit trade, oranges grown in
California bid fair to be an important fac
tor in Eastern markets, and already sales
have been made in the New York market
of upward of 100 cars, and orders are be-
ing constantly taken. The California or
age crop this year is very full one, and it
is estimated that the quantity fit for
able part of which will find its way to the
: markets of the East. The destruction OF
the oranges on the trees in Florida in
December, followed as it was by the more
disastrous freeze later on, which dam
aged, and, in many instances, killed the
trees, will make the production Of the Pa
citic Coast an important factor in the mar
kets here, not only this year. but for from
three to five years to come, so say those
in a position to know, for that is the es-
timated time it will take the florida
growers to get back where they were be-
them. The market on the Coast is firm
and advancing, and the growers of River
side, San Bernardino, Orange and Los
Angeles counties, which comprise the
orange-growing district of California, are
reaping the benefit of the calamity which
has overtaken their fellow growers of
Florida. The California orange trade with
the far East is handicapped somewhat by
the high freight rate-90 cents box
which looks high to dealers in COMPARE
son with the cost of getting Sicily fruit
here, which is about 30 cents box, and
at times even less. About four-tifths of
the California output Is said to be con-
trolled by the Southern California Fruit
Exchanges. From the sales already made
in connection with the fact that experts
say that California oranges are sweeter,
more palatabe and generally better than
imported fruit, the probabilities are that
the shipments to Eastern markets, will
be very free during the season.
n. W. Durham manager for X. G.
Dunn & Co., furnishes for the Investor
the following local trade review:
Business conditions have not i'm
proved to any appreciable extent so far
this month and collections continue I'M
satisfactory. The volume of trade is be-
lieved fully holding its own but every day
dealers are starting, thus cutting the pie
into smaller pieces. good many start
without capital of moment-credlt is cas-
ny obtalned-but IN order to get trade
they must either sell under legitimate
rates or give indiscriminate and unwise
credit-resulting in taking from more
substantial merchants of much trade that
would otherwise belong to them. In this
way profits are cut off. collections made
more and more unsatisfactory and bust
ness generally demoralized. The iobbers
are themselves wholly to blame for this
condition of affairs. In a desire to in
crease the volume of trade they have be-
come too liberal in their credit and too
lax in demanding payment. Our popu-
lation will consume just as much, and if
the jobbers would demand cash for first
purchase and weekly payments there
after they would soon weed out the unde-
serving and make it possible for the
legitimate merchant to make something
more than a living. Until something is
done in this line we cannot look for more
favorable conditions, for they cannot be
expected. Some new enterprises are con-
templated at an early date and the future
pomises an increase in volume of trade,
and we expect to see our merchants for
mulate some plan whereby all will be
benefited. Country trade is fair, and
with promise Of abundant crops we see no
reason why this year should not be far
ahead of last. One hopeful feature of
business is the fact that only three con-
Germs have given up the ghost so far this
month. with liabilities aggregating $4,000
and assets $780,
The banks report fair commercial
call for money at 8 and 10 per cent, with
plenty Of funds to meet all demands.