Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-01
FRUIT AND PRODUCE.
NEARLY s1o,ooo.ooo WORTH COMES
TO KANSAS CITY.
THE FIGURES STAGGER BELIEF
INDUSTRY HAS NOW THE DIGNITY
OF AN EXCHANGE.
Half a Million Dozen EGGS and $4,000
Dozen Chickens Come to KAN
sas City in Three Of the
DulIest Months of
the Year.
THE FIGURES STAGGER BELIEF

Few people realize the extent OF the fruit
and produce BUSINESS done in Kansas City.
If the average person were told that half
a million dozen eggs were brought to Kan
Eas City during the past two months he
would probably set the statement down as
boom figures or mere speculation. But that
many dozens of eggs were brought to KAN
sas City during the past ten weeks. and
during the same period 5000 dozens Of
chickens alone were brought to Kansas
City. These are almost the dullest weeks
of the year. the only stimulus to the poul-
try market being the Thanksgiving and
Christmas holiday season. At this time.
however. poultry is scarce. egg are still
more so and the COWS are reluctant to give
up the milk which comes to Kansas City as
butter.
That this is a true statement is proved
by the fact that as many eggs came to
Kansas City in October as during Novem-
Der and the first three weeks OF Deem
Der together. During October 1917 cases Of
eggs were received. while only a few cases
more were received during November and
December. That any figures at all can be
given is due entirely to the fact that the
AA&k oAAA 8cNH'S -A4AC 4AaS bcShS C
ed to the dignity OF an exchange. There
used TO be d produce exchange, but il
languished and was only reorganized about
three months ago. Daily calls are had and
receipts are posted just as on the grain
or live stock exchange.
Reports to the Produce exchange for the
past three months were as follows:
Eggs. Butter, Poultry.
cases. pkgs. coops.
October. =. ........ 1877 $500 1901
S 6sssmSsF: i to d.: 81 81 s s.sss s ssS
Total.........l5,45 1884 1881
These are merely the reports of receipts
by railroads. probably half as much more
being brought into the city by farmers
living within twenty-five miles of the city.
Kansas City is the center Of a vast chicken
raising district, and thousands Of dozens of
chickens are raised and hundreds of thou
sands Of dozens of eggs are brought TO
the Kansas City market from the suburban
district.
In addition to the three staples. vast
quantities of other poultry and game are
brought to the city.
Kansas City Is a great watermelon mar
ket. and thousands of carloads come here
every summer. Grapes. pears, apples. cam
taloupes and other fruits come to this mar
ket in their season.
The tremendous receipts during the rush.
ing spring and summer months. when ggs,
butter and poultry come in by the dozen
carloads every day. are lost in the maze
of bewilderment in which the produce COM
mission men struggled during the past sum
mer and spring, when mountains of poul-
try coops and great piles of cases of eggs
blocked up all of the possible storage space
IN the numerous commission houses of the
city.
Poultry raisers and farmers from all over
the South and West ship their product TO
Kansas City for sale through the commits
sion merchants, and the market is always
q good one. though of course subject to the
fluctuations of supply and demand. But
the demand is always far in excess Of the
supply. except when glutted by occasional
unloadings.
The fruit shipped to Kansas City con-
stitutes a large share Of the business, and
all the tropical. semi-tropical and temper
ate zone staples reach the Kansas City
market in great quantities at the earliest
possible moment. Vegetables are consigned
In immense quantities. Kansas City is the
center of the greatest fruit and potato
growing district in the world, the apple and
potato kings of the world living within
twenty-five miles of the city. The vast
apple and peach raising territories of the
West and Southwest are within a hundred
or two miles of Kansas City, and SEND
their immense crops to the Kansas City
market.