New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-26
A RAISIN CORNER UNLIKELY.
Rt,MOR OF A COMBINATION D!sCREDITED
BY LEADING DEALERS.
IMPORT ,xcE OF THE CALIFORNIA SUPPLY
WEALTHY Producers WAITING FOX
RISE IN PRICES
A RISE IN PRICES.


Currency was yesterday given to a rumor that
there was a probability OF corner IN rasins anu
that some Of the largest handlers o. raiSlhs hai
been taking all the loose fru; they could gather IN
for the apparent purpose of cornerlnS inc Ha'he''
While some OF the outside holders were seii.hs a.
low prices. II was SAID that the members OF 'he
so-called combine" looked IN a disntereste
way as II II vas their wish that the hodihss Oh
outs.Iers should bc put into the hands OF the con-
sumcrs and thus leave the latter at ther merry
I, was also alleged that certain Influential mem
bers OF the fruit trade would resist an! attempt al
d combination to advance uHduiy the price u
rols,ns and that consequently there was prospect
OF merry war among the large dealers IN rals'"S'
The result OF inquiries made yesterday among
the leading frult-dealers and wholesale grocers
tended to show that there little basis Tor the
rumor and that suppos.ng such compiha'o"
was contemplated by section OF the trade the
conditions OF the market were such as TO prevent
any fictitious rise in prices.
Theodore Whtmarsh. Lewis Wallace and Mr.
Keller. Of me firm OF Francis II. Legsett q CO.,
when seen by a Tribune reporter. gave 1t as th"r
opinion that there was no probability OF any sue
cessfu corncr.ng OF the raisln supply. lhcfe Was
70 possibility OF any group o. dealers coh'rol'lN
the Californian producers. they sad, and az the
whole Of the country mainly supplied from the
Californian fields any attempt on the part OF
combination to influence prices IN a particular
centre could easily be frustrated by sehdihs 10
other cities for sufficient stock TO meet the de-
mand Prices. they said. We're now about as usual
except In the case OF a single brand where there
had been a somewhat pronounced rise. which was
due however TO scarcity OF supply and not 10 any
coruerlug methods Mr.. Keller added that couple
OF seasons ago there had been attempt to corner
the fruit but the people. who bad endeaNored 10
work II had badly burned their fingers that there
vas little likelihood OF others trying 10 repeat the
r"nrnsenfa,lve of the rasin-lmporiing firm OK
Robert Henderson Il Co. NJ. u" Hu'son-st, saln'
II have heard nothing OF any combine. ana. more
over | DO not believe that sucn thihS "odiH "
a.rt,usly Thought 81 FOR moment. JUS now the
s,ock ~ California raisns In the market y rather
mali Int th.. = due purely 10 natural market con
.fltf,n. Probably the rumOr arose from til' id'N
mar the wealthy producers out West ar" ho!dlhs
stocks ~ IN" prevailing low pric" 81
,h. frur You see he small growers. VINO are IN
need of cash. are always compelled 70 dispose Oh
their fruit a, soon possible. ana coh'elu-h'l
very often AZ cheap prices. but me tChri SIN.
h.li IN for time. bec4Us" they KNOW thdt Wil'H
I'M. siupll.s II the small men are consumed tirN
ar lkay - gc; a better price Tor tnrr own slo'hs
They are doing this season what th'y always uo
slunly waiting for the turn In the market
Prices ~ rtl-ins have risen lately and they may
rise NM. NOR. still but the advance - solely que
q, th. consideration Il which nave SPOKEN ne
Californian producers now pretty wen mohopoiA'
the raisln trade OF this country. for some year
the Snanish trade has been gradually declining ana
tir.cfo1 Last year 1900 boxes OF Spanish ral-ins
w.r. Imported. and this year only LOO
Frank Neral. 4 Ackcr. Neral q 'onit anu
l.. Narc.ilus. ~ the American Grocery 'pmpihN
were also seen. and In the course OF interviews
practically supported tn" foregoing views.