The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-04-01
FLOUR AND COARSE GRAINS.

FLOUR-There is a steady market for
this product at unchanged prices. There
has been some little advance in wheat but
the appreciation in cash wheat has not
been large enough to warrant advance in
prices. On the recent decline millers were
not quick at reducing prices so that on the
advance with trade not in the least i'm
proved they are not inclined to attempt
to run values up as rapidly as the wheat
market shows advances. Foreigners are
getting a little closer in their bids to what
the millers demand here and as a result
with both sides allowing small con-
cesssion considerable has been sold for
prompt shipment This prompt shipment
business is the only kind of trade that is
now being done in any volume both for
foreign and domestic account Buyers will
not extend purchases beyond their needs
up to the opening of lake navigation which
most everyone expects to be at COM
paratively early date this year. The rates
for lake and rail shipment for the COM
ing season have already been announced
and are causing some little dissatisfaction
among the trade, as they are to be higher
than they were last year and it is we'll
understood that the lines had a rate last
year that was profitable in the extreme
especially as profits go nowadays. Both
sides Of the trade are inclined to believe
That the rates proposed will be scarcely
maintained and as consequence the buy
Ing side will not buy on the basis of the
gladly do that and stand the chance of a
reduction in the schedule before the sea-
son is far advanced. AS to the volume go
ing out on the different roads at present
1t Is large, and while the individual sales
are small the aggregate of daily trades is
pretty well up to the output. which is not
Tar from an average of 1000 barrels per
day Shipping directions are coming quite
freely from the east in order to give buy
ers chance to resell before the opening
or the lakes and the movement in that
direction Is mostly made up of flower
bought some time ago. West of the Mis-
sisslppi and to the south there is quite
movement to fill daily orders, which, too
are individually small. Prices are quite
satisfactory. although there is considera-
D!e complaint in some sections but as the
winter wheat mills are not in position
to be aggressive and the spring wheat
mills are not generally running, outside
OF Minneapolis, mllers feel rather conf
dent In their ability to maintain the sche-
dule of values herewith presented. The
range in values in these quotations cover
all sizes of quantities from the small lot
directly to the retailers to round lots for
the larger factors and spectators. The
water power is fairly good at the moment
and Is expected to hold out we'll for some
little time to come. This will naturally
stimulate production a good deal and it is
doubtful that the mills of this city will
close week of the present crop year
when less than 100000 barrels will have
been made. The call for low grades con-
tinues good and prices are strong. Very
little being sold at the low range of prices
The regular trade is taking hold and, most
of the mills find it difficult to get out
enough to satisfy the demand. 1t would
appear that much of the retail trade of
the country has changed from the higher
I priced goods to these grades for the sake
Of economy. .,
BRAN AND SHORTS There is very
little that can be said concerning the
market for these products which has not
: been mentioned repeatedly in these COL
umnS. The mills are getting out a goodly
quantity and are delivering it as fast as
they can get 1t out. In fact in some cases
they are little rushed. Prices are UNI
changed. Brokers are doing the buying
from the mills and appear to have enough
orders on hand to prevent the mills going
outside to seek trade for themselves In
some few cases the Pennsylvania trade
has taken some large lots direct from
fhe mills but the bulk of the trade even
in the east is a small lot business, alto
gether in the hands of local brokers The
east is opposed as general thing to buy
enough to extend their holding beyond
the time when the lakes become clear of
ice.
FEED AND MEAL-Millers still adhere
to old quotations. Corn and oats prices
are showing such q small variation from
day to day that millers on account of the
small trade doing do not feel justified in
creating an uncertain market for these
products by changing asking prices on
the least intimation of fractional change
1 N the cost of the raw materials. Corn
4 meal quoted at $3.50 to 1915; mixed feed,
1915 to $1O25, according to grade.
HAY-The market continues to drag
s along In the same old rut Receivers re-