The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-26
A BUSINESS BAROMETER
Prices 81 Commodities and an Index to
Conditions Existing N the Markets.
SUPREME COURT DECISION UNSATISFACTORY
yerche NJ. Desirc stable Rates NJ
Matter How They Ave secured.
business IL Qntct.
o,nce If The Post,
Houston, Tuesday. October .

Office NJ The Post,
Houston Tuesday. October %
The decision OF the United States supreme
court. which practically wipes out OF exist
ence the railway traffic associations, Is IN
faycrrbiy received by commercial circles. II
is inmaterial 10 the business world whether
rates are regulated by Al railway commission
oe through the medium Of traffic associations.
What is wanted is fair. equitable and stabie
rates.
Rate wars and errstic fluctuations ar. de-
moraliying on buyers and sellers Of all COM
modt,cs as well as on tue common carriers
engaging in them. rhey disturb prices and
make II risky to buy or sell thirty days ahead,
so that all conservative business men are bet
ter pleased when they know exactly what they
hase to figure OIL for the cost OF transporta-
ticn.
Locally. business is quiet II is quiet ALI
aver the countty. The prosperity talked OF by
the political place hunters is not to be seen
in any sector In the East, although Brad
st.et's and Dun brag OF bank elearings. The
commercial payers which like to advocate
prosperity, are compelled TO al last admit that
prosperity does ct exist and is not IN sight
even in the dim future. They state that trade
is very quiet. and ,his statemen, means thar
1t is dull IN the supetative degree.
Sugar situation.
The New York Journal OF Commerce says.
EcfHers have taken away their concessions on
sales OF sugar. so that buyers are now pur-
chasing at the market price without the re-
ducvou Of 1850 on soft sugars heretofore
made. There has been such heavy drain on
sticks OF refnsrs that tbs market IS very
heavily oyersold and shipments are delayed
moro or less on every grade, including gTanu-
lated. and Arbuckie Bros. report their pack
chanred refined sugar yesterday. brokers
arc expecting an advance any day. rs ,ae
situation Is n very strong one and the prices
for raw sugar are tending upward.
An expert sugar il quoted 40 giving the
following statement. which indicates that IL
fnsrs are doing business at a loss when they
sell granulsted sugar at cents as they are
doing. lie figures II out this way one
hundred pounds OF centrifugal sugar testing
% degrees costs 42ic per pound, The 100
pouuds produces % pounds OF graduated
sugar. value I 99c per pound less coat OF bar
rsl. Csc per pound; less cost Of carriage, .olc
pe pound less cost Of brokerage .Ugc per
ptund total, .l3c per pound; net received for
srenulsted. $40 per pound; cost OF centrifu-
gals, ta5c leaving for cost OF manufacture.
cfcc expenses salaries. depreciation. ma
ohiuery. ETC.. o9e per pound
Who Pays the Tax:
The tariff Of Is per cent ad valorem imposed
uJ0u hides in 1897 is playing havoc with the
heather trade says the shoe and Leather H.
porter Hides are from 90 to lis per cen,
higher than they were at this date In 1884,
from Y to "a per cent higher than they we're
a. this date In 1895, from 20 10 80 PER cent
hlFhei ,hnn at this date In 1896 and from "a
t> ~ per rent higher than they were at this
dsic Ia 1891.
HIDES are bringing higher prices--higher 10
tht importer and hlghe! to the packer and
dcaler In domestic hides. Leather is, II any
thing. lower in price aud shocs are decided,
lgwSt. Who pays the tax Not the shoe
manufacturers not the consumers o. shoes
The tanner is the man who pays the tax.
Trade Notes.
offerings ~ new crop pccaus arc coming Il
and prices are nrn ana high.
owing 10 scarcity and good demand 1eXa
eggs arc firm aud ogain hlsheI
Turkeys are IN hrsk demand and have hoel
sold freely In spitc NJ heavy rcrcipts. On IN
other hand. chickens are IN ovcrsupply and
Owns to ANAL size aud inferior quality, ar
wicker
Th' Waterman Produce company has re
os.S"d a ear Of extra fancy California oniouS
Potatoes are plentiful. hut nricea have firm
ed mp.
Sugar Is firm and mn advance IA looked fol
F.uit dealers expect TO receive hananas mex
week.
Adyices from Eigin stated that butter wa
very firm and NC higher than last week
A6yices from Eas,pOrt say that the catch ,
sardiuo herring has been very light Of lat
and that at the present cos, ri raw fish
costs 81. ib net to pack quarter oils which, wit
all charges is equal 10 about s2Io laid dow
ir New York
Cables from the other sidc quote prices
Holland herring equivalent to 81 adyano,
ow.nr to the demand from NORWAY as q rosn
OF the failure Of the catrh Of that cnuutr,
The enormous catch In Holland has caused I
unusual demand for empty packages, harrc
AID kese, for which eynrhitant prices ~
asfed by the coopcrs
careful estimate OF tho dried pruno mr.
dnct,on OF Pajaro valley Cal. for iSeS ma,
ny parties engaged In driving aud hand,inI
places 1t al go tons Mos, OF i, has nct
sold one san Jose Arm purchasing half
tho Let. Prices. says the pajarouar ni,
ranged from So To $40 rer ton, Tho hulh
the crop sold at lev prices. aud the averaI
Tor the entire lot is probably not over 81, n
ton Even at those figures tho crop shows
value Of over $4,000
An innovation In the line of stuffed fruit
namely. dates stuffed with Jordan shellcd a
lnobcs. has appeared in the New York mark
this season.
Mail advices from California report nm easf
feclinE in prunes, Santa Clara stock being o
fered ut 3isc for the four sizes. with the poss
hutty that a shade less might he accepled
Quotations for Round Lots of stan,
Commodities.
49,