Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-01
PRODUCE AND GRAIN.
REVIEW or THE YEARS BUSINESS
IN THESE LINES.
OUR MERCHANTS ENTER EEW FIELDS.
The Volume or Trade Larger Than
i'm Former Years, But Prices Tnf-
formIy Loyy--Omccrs Of The H.
changcs--StRtistics.

In reviewing the produce market o.
Richmond for The year iaG 7 would S.,
that this has perhaps been one OF t.,
most remarkable years known in tho i...-
ness history Of our city. Owing o. ts
trade conditions, not only OF this mar..r.
but Of the whole country. tho usual force
thought and business calculations OF no
most experienced merchants have miscar-
red While these facts WIZ. T think. ID
admitted by an businessmen org generally
true, this but brings out the more prom.
nently the unuring energy and pres .-
verance displayed by the produce comm
sion merchants of our city who dur.
the past year have. Notwithstanding a8
unusual trade conditions, done more o
increase the incoming tonnage on orr
railroads and steamships. and TO bro B
the business territory Of Richmond. f1
perhaps any other line O. busir .m..
among us. The volume of busn..s f..a
in the produce line during the BASE t..r
has been far in excess OF any y..r f.r
tho past ten years, which fet proves
that our commission men bay. boon flUv
alive not only 20 the needs az our mar-
ket, but also 90 the Interest 0f fh.Ir shine
ping TO other markets. have found as d
rule that they do better by shining l.r.
than elsewhere, and have realized tie n.-
portance 20 themselves OF fair and cone
servatiye quotations, quick sales. am
prompt returns.
EXTENDING THEIR TERRITORY
While not particularly acquainted WITH
the territory, over which our wholesale
grocers, dry-to0ds merchants. and Others
do business. L think ! can safely say th.t
the produce commission merchants %
Richmond draw trade from q broader ami
more extended territory than any otl.r
class OF merchants. In The first place. TIE
farm products of our own State arc nearly
all handled in this city and this is also
true % very large extent W West NlI'
e.na- The early fruits and vegetables,
which were formerly shipped almost oX.
clusiFely % the larger cities " the North
ana West. from the States OF Florida,
Georgia. South ana North Carolina ana
now handled in large quantities ly Richie
monl produce merchants. ana in addition
t0 this they have reached ont AFTER ana
during the past year received. large shin-
ments of Irish potatoes, apples. peaches,
cabbage. white beans. celery. ana other
farm products from the States of Tcnnos-
see. Maryland. New York MassachusettA
ONO, and Michigan. While the territory
and volume Of business done by the proc
duce men Of Richmond for The past year
have been greatly extended and increased,
I regret 10 say that prices. ms ru'o.
during the whole year have been 40 loa .
% per cent lower than they were in le-.
or, in fact, for the past Give years
Low PRICES EVERYWHERE
But this condition has not been arr..
cable TO this market alone but has i.r
general over the whole country, and $50
is but a fair pre- sumption that the Ur
obtained for produce by our mero.0rl
have been better or az least have cone
pared favorably with prices OF other ia.r-
kcts. as evidenced boy the increased s.-
ments ana wide territory from which To-
has been drawn. Tho reason for trf
great decrease in prices, as compared
with former years. i do not pretend o.
know. Whether it is over-pr0luclon. or
the present s0-calod hOnest-m0uor
standard, or the want Of Hm.aI-
llsm, am unable 10 say: but
the fact remains that tho slin.
pers Of produce. as well as tho produce
merchants. Will remember the year 1850
as a year Of low prices and small profits.
O. u. RICHARDS.
President Richmond Produce Exchange.