The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-31
BAROMETER OF BUSINESS.
~ Iadex to the Condition Of Trade
Generally.
ALL The EXCHANGES WERE CLOSED.

Office OF Tho Post.
lIouseton. Monday May 80.

Ho,setol, Monday, May 80.
BsinE Q holiday In Northern markets no
quotations were received today AID quota
tlons are without change
To-Day closes the May wheat deal and MS
Texas wheat will soon be harvested lower
prices are predicted by miliers who have all
along coptonded that tho price of wheat was
too high.
At tie moment canned goods are attract
ing attention. Tie Now York Commercial
says In It's issue OF last Saturday;
Tho lethargy OF the spot canned goods mar
ket following the complsalou of the contracts
for Amy and navy supplies has boon broken
b. tho call issued by the president for 1900
more volunteers, as IL Is expected that this
will be Immediately followed ny an invitation
froiu tho government to handlers of food sup
plies. notably canned goods, to submit BIDS
on cnrned beef, tomatoes, etc, to turnish the
new army. In fact, II was reported that the
xopcrhment had already sent out of Chicago
pref osals for bids on canned tomatoes, tho
bids TO DO opened Saturday. In view of the
reported short spot supplies of all descrip-
tions OF canned goods, the expectation OF an
intrcahed demand from the government cre-
nted by this call for additional volunteers
has cnLsed very strong feeling and an adj
vanohit. tendency In ali lines likely to be al
focted Spot Tomatoes. which for several days
pas. have shown somewhat less strength ow-
ing to the Indifference OF general consumers,
have stffened up again, aud prices were va
to per dozen better than the same class OF
goods could be bought ut day or two ago.
Tha scarsity of canned corned beef in first
haDds VIII. 1t Is expected. result In u further
considerable advance In prices. IN the event
that tho government solicts bids on further
supplies OF this commodity for tho amy.
Lumber Trade Dull.
the following is from the Now York journal
Of Commerce and is applicable to Texas as
well as tho East:
Matters arc duh IN the lumber business and
the outlook for change for the better In
the immediate future is the reverse of bright.
Although tho war with Spair Is the primary
Cause of the prevailing dullncss, men in 20.
siflon to know say that the direct RESPONSE
billy rests with local contractors and puld-
eii. Iho freight rates charged for fumrer
by the shipowners have not been materially
adHnnced There are millions OF feet OF Pine
III the south and spruce IN Maine waiting for
purchase. There IRE plenty OF ships waiting
to transport this lumber to New York. Fur
therrorc the Importers of mahogany and
other foreign woods OF value have nut al.
vauced their prices and arc more than willing
TO sell their stock at peace time prices Tue
real trouble Is that there Ia no demand here
Tor building lumber OF any KIND ut present.
10 cap the climax all the yards In aud about
the city are filled with lumber and there N
no possible chance for u lumber famine.
The secret Of the lumber depression said
onr OF the best known aud most conseryn-
two dealers yesterday, SIS that there * very
little building. Contractors and builders ara
dong little or nothing In the way of new bust.
ness. and devoting all their attention TO com
pletns unfinished contracts The banks arr
no. advancing money on new building ven,
lures. On the contrary. they are holding
back their cash with view OF Investing A
the proposed war loans to be issued by tn,
government