The herald., 1895-05-10
LOCAL FIELD Of COMMERCE
Just at Present There Is Nothing
Like Leather
SHARP INCREASE IN PRICES
The Distribution of the Orange Crop for
Four Weeks Fast
Probability Of a Heavy hay ciop al s Some
Shortage of tn, O,cituous Fruits.
1arket Notes

I. The Clino-Japanese war is hardly re-
S. !ardel as matter OF local interest, yet
E has produced some effects which are
i1ready interesting to the man Of leisure
E who drives fast horse and to the hum
best farme: who wears cowhlde shoes
ami yells to his team to get up INTO the
collars as the p!owshare strikes hard
spot. Japan and China hoth made large
purchases OF American leather during
1.-The progress of hostilties. it was only
after agents of the heavy dealers had been
ssnt around the country gathering up
available supplies that it was discovered
that there was no great amount OF leather
4 in the country, nor was there a large
amount of hi es from which leather
might be made. The natural result was
a sharp advance in prices, botli in leath-
er and hides, which now averages fully
40 per cent on common grades, while
finer qualities have been raised out OF
sympathy.
There is not much doubt that the tend
ency to raise leather prices has been IN,
/ creased by other causes than the oriental
demand. The holders OF large stocks
+ were not slow to take advantage OF such
I organization as they might be able to
effect. and it is not at all impossible that
there may be a healthily developed cor
ner in operation at the present time; 1t
is also true that prices have been abnorn-
ally low for long time past, and prices
have been set by dealers who were abso-
lutely obliged to do business at a loss in
order to avoid greater loss.
In the opinion of conservative dealers
this is not good time to advance prices.
The northwestern states have not yet re-
covered from the effects of the disastrous
drouth OF last year, and the low price of
cotton renders the south utterly unable
to purchase the average amount OF do
mestic leather; and these two sections
are the great absorbent of the American
output of common leather.
But whether the sharp increase in price
has resulted from corner. pure and sim
pie. or from actual scarcity Of leather and
hides. stock is likely to go higher and
present rates are likely to be maintained
for long period of time. In either case
prices will not be broken except by a
renewal of stocks in the hands OF others
than those now controlling tha market
There is but one source of supply. the
llanos Of South America and good deal
of time must elapse between the charter
ing of ship. the sending of gangs of
hide buyers up the Amazon river and its
tributaries, and the arrival OF their pur-
chases at the United States tanneries.
And. given the hides good quality OF
leather. such as the American consumer
demands. is not produced II, day.
The local effect is quite distinctly
marked. Harness. betting and common
shoe leather are most strongly advanced
in price. But practically everything made
Tof leather feels the influence. the possible
exception being fancy articles in which
style cuts more figure than material in
the making OF prices.
= = r
4 ofx Al,
oranges sent out from California. the ter
Yitory embraced in the Mississippi val
ley and west markets took II per cent of
the navels and 10 per cent of the seed
slings. or just 30 per cent OF the oranges
marketed. When it is rene m bered that
constituted the sole market for California
oranges, the Importance OF tis year s
business will be recognized. Stated in
another way 80 per cent of the orange
crop has been sent to u new market.
When this is supplemented bv the state
mcnt that the fruit has found fairly good
prices il is seen that the California orange
grower has cause for congratulation
When it is added that the fruit has been
very favoraby received and the founda-
tion laid for extending the market. there
is no doubt that the California fruit
grower has good ground for hope that
next season will be abundantly profitable.
There is every reason to expect that the
Mississippi river and western market will
take Its full quota of fruit next year.
Even with the extension OF market a.
ready obtained the disposal of the whole
crop, and at advanced figures, seems al.
most certainty.
Old hay. with the exception OF wheat.
is practically out OF the market. and
prices show the decline to be expected
with the harvesting of the new crop. Up
comes from low ground and is rather
RANK. That to be cut later on mesa lands
or grown on sandy soil will be found of
better quality. though not growing SO
many tons to the acre. Reports from all
over the state indicate a heavy crop, and
prices will be realized. A large proper
ton of the cattle tit for immediate
slaughter will be so disposed of. this
lessening the demand and day by day
the non-hay-eating bicycle becomes more
numerous displacing the driving animals
port no insignificant portion of the hay
crop.
Telegraphc advices report the sale at
New York yesterday OF 5000 boxes of
Messna oranges, the best selling at 80. 40
with California fruit. and as the Messlna
box is fully 20 per cent larger than that
used by California shippers, it will be
seen that the price is not at all unsatis-
factory. Orders OF California stock con-
tinuc in quantity sufficient to permit the
demand to be classed as good
r. 4 4 =
& Comparatively speaking the decidu-
Gus fruit crop of the state will be short
this year. 1t is safe to say that the apri
cot crop will be little if any over one
third the average; the prune not over
half and cherries are short. The peach
crop will be large. Owing to the shortage
Of other staple fruits. peaches are likely
to bring satisfactory prices. In the great
eanta Clara valley the stocks of prunes
out. but 1t is said that considerable of
this fruit is still in the hands of dealers.
In the Pomona vallev very little examin-
alton is necessary to show that the apricot