The herald., 1896-11-05
Local, Eastern and Foreign
Commercial Dealings
WALL STREET SPECULATION
Sugar Supplies for the Year Fairly
Full
Lessened Imports of Foreign Dry Goods
The Tariffs on Sugar for Half a
Century-Local Markets.

The fact that thA great grocery sta
pie has failed to sympathize with the
general advance of the values of food
products in the past few weeks may
surprise some people, who have laid too
much stress on the estimated shortage
of supplies in 1S96-97. However that
may be, there is no possibility of rise
in prices at present, because supplies
are naturally more pressing, now the
new season has opened, than during the
summer, and the shortage is more ap-
parent than real. Any change in values
will probably be for the better, as many
signs indicate that the bottom level has
been reached; the question that spec
ulators are asking is when will the
change come?
The crop estimates for 1897 are be-
ginning to be made. Mr.. LIGHTS earli-
est estimate points to beet crop in
Europe of 4,S00,O00 tons, while Mr. Gies-
eker estimates that the beet crop will
be 4,66O,O00 tons, but the latters earli-
est estimate last year was 100000 tons
short of the actual yield.
Our markets continue to be we'll sup
piled with raw sugar, and the world s
supply is only about 10000 tons smaller
than year ago. One circumstance that
is favoreb BILE to holders of sugar is the
low level of what are called invisible
supplies, namely, those held by gro
GERS. These stocks are beiieved to be
smaller than in many years.-Mcr-
chants Review.
An immense increase in the sales of
prints and a decrease of 81, ,447 600 in
last weeks importations of foreign dry
goods is a straw that shows the way
the wind is blowing, and explains the
advance in prices of prints. In spite of
the dullness incident to business in a
presidential campaign, prices are steady
in most lines of merchandise. and ac-
tive in others, and it is the opinion of
those who are best posted that as soon
as the excitement shall have ended there
will be rapid improvement in business
and advancing prices on all lines of
merchandise. 1t is admitted by sellers
ana buyers that values have long been
below their normal, and that a reaction
is certain.-kansas City Packer
For the information of our readers we
now place before them the rates of the
tariff on sugar under the various laws
prior to 1850: Under the law of 1889 the
first tariff law, the duty on sugar was
one cent per pound; under the laws of
1850. 1892 and 1894, one and one-half
cents per pound; the law of 1897 fixed
II at two cents per pound; the law of
1900 and 1904 at two and one-half cents;
the law Of 1872 at five cents; the laws
OF 1916. 1924, 1928 and 1880 at three cents;
of 1882 at two and one-half cents; of
1S41 at go per cent. this being the first
ad valorem duty levied on sugar. the
law of 1912 returned to two and one-half
cents per pound, while the law of 1916
fixed it at 30 per cent ad valorem, and
that of 1857 at "a per cent-ThibodauX
Sentinel.
Provisions are in close relations to the
grain markets and it is almost an axiom
that which ever way grain goes provis-
ions will follow. During the present
agitation of the grain markets provis-
ions have been excited also. though they
lave not followed grain as closely as
might have been expected.
The advance in provisions is having
its effect on all kinds of greases, which
naturally sympathize with the move
ment in lard. The hardening tendency
in tallow. stearines, cocoanut oils and
cotton oil is very noticeable and the
Improvement is expected to make de-
cded progress before many weeks.-
Shining List