The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-17
BAROMETER OF BUSINESS.
IA ludex to the Condition Of Trade
Generally.
COFFEE 4 VERY CHEAP COMMODITY.

once Of The Post,
Houston, Wednesday. March 10.


Coffee is about as cheap as IL ever has been
and yet the market is still weak despite q
statistical position which should cause some
advance in prices.
Should war between this country and Spain
occur II Is more than likely that In addition
% the levying Of Internal taxes several ar
ticles now on the free list would be made
dutiable. Among these are teas and coffoos.
Tho Inter Is used more generally than the
former and would yield good revenue. 1t
is among the possibilities, therefore. that all
American houses who are now long on cof-
fec on a declining mnrket would reap big
profit as their stocks would not be subject
to the duty which is almost certain TO be
imposed in case of war.
The Arbuckles have been buying heavily
in Rio recently on a baais there Of 5ls cents
. pound It Ia this cheap coffee which is
roasted. Very little of the finer grades arc
parched. The great bulk OF the roasted COM
fee is bought from O 10 az ceuts a pound
and frequently where ground coffee IA sold
chicoryi is mixed In. This is the coffee which
is retaled ut an average price OF II TO 10
cents pound. Let person purchase green
coffee which sells Mt 10 to Ii cents pcr
pound, 'parch 1t and note tho difference.
These cheap grades are fast perverting the
tastes Of consumers the trade says, aud In
few years there viii he no incentive to
produce or Gull the coffee for higher prices
Not long since customer was in the Of
fce OF Carson. Sowall & Co. and the qucs-
tion OF coffee came up for discussion The
gentleman complained that he was paying
high price for parched coffee and was get
ting poor coffee to drink, member of the
FIRM gave him n sample Of green coffee which
is sold nj wholesale for So cents a pound
and should retail AT not exceeding igIs cents
a pound.
To-day he was In the Office Of Carson, Sew
all q Co.. and in speaking about the coffee
said that he was astonshed at the difference.
lie says he now buys green coffee for half
the price he formerly paid for parched cof-
Zee and gets twice the results.
Many readers of The Post have thought
printed quotations were incorrect, They see
the prices quoted ranging from to "A cents
and can not see why they should phy such
high prices aud still not get good coffee.
Green coffee improves With age, while
roasted coffee deterorates rapidly and loses
strength. When 1t is parehcd In large guam.
t'tee some parchers use about three gallons
Of water made from watermelon seeds 10
each sack OF parched coffee, rhIa adds
weight and the glazing 1t giyes enables tho
roasted kernels to better hold their strength.
Cotton Ou Review.
The Williams a Flash Co. of New York.
in their circular of March IL, shy:
In eur circular of April 10, 1887 Just oae
year Bgo, we wrote:
That liquidation OF some 800 barrels of
prime summer yellow from ntore lad forced
the marked TO 2aisc, and that this weakness
aisi decline Ind Immediately been cabled to
Europe, This leading to bids from there be-
ing loweIad.''
And this statement exactly dts the situa-
ton today, the decline this week being The |
result of exactly the same conditions Re. |
sales by spcollntors here broke tho market |
to 22isc. aud while 2sc Is generally asked |
the buyers IN Europe have now reduced their !
bids to Y TO 2slac. mud are holding OF in the
expectation of holders hen finally being |
forced 10 meet their views, hut on the other
hand. ,thcf conditions are very different
from those OF n year ago. Lard Is fully lis |
to lAG per pound higher. There is n good |
expert demand for talow. and we think that
the cotton seed oil mills In general have sold |
their production much more freely. and in
consequences have small stocks on hand and
neither are tho stocks held here in store,
anywhere near as large as then Patience on
the part OF holders OF oil would At least
prevent further decline, and possibly lead
advances Tho tono OF the crude market M
also easier, as buyers OF this grade having
fair stocks ON hand or contracted for to ar
rive. and seeing this dullness IN refined nro
inclined either to reduce thoir bids, or on
tirely withdraw from the market, preferrng
TO see how the eat Is going TO jump before
adding to their present HOLDINGS
We quote prime yellow at 22ia to 2sc: OFF
yellow " To 22'aci prime crude In barrels oD
70 .otac: loose at mill i5,s to 16iac. according
to locality.
Trade Notes.
Bank clearings today showed a good in |
crease for the first time In ten days
Receipts Of eggs are still liberal and prices
rarely steady.
Poultry is In good demand md t,r,<avs NJ,
wanted. 80
Strawberries are coming In freely and son,c
MIRA rancy berries were on SALE but pricus
aIe weakening. Fancy prices are not being
PAID IN the Northern markets.
Merchants are feeling the effect OF tho
street car strike severely and are anxious
Tor It's speedy settlement.
Grain and feedstuffs are Arm Mt full qua.
Eations. W. 'u'-
Butter ut Elgin. that is the genuine ar,,.
ne, declined " cent to ~ cents there
Meats were u shade weaker at primary mar.
kets but not quotably lower on spots.
HOUSTON WHOLESALE PRICES.
tOr A0un0 Lots Of Stanlc I T
Commodities. - i
TnAee quotations arc revised daily. ana thc,.
Sfrectness can be rolled upon. Tho prices ara i
- ruling IN Houston Wholesale markets.. 4
HEAVY STAPLES.
AMnuNITIoN-Powder per key. uoon
- ssek Il. Is: buck. d.s sS - Aesi drop shot.
1Ac0N-.Extre short clear. In sacks. SIC,
xc; regulars eHQ6Nc; boxed &c higher:
- 715s; breakfast bacon 50. 0s4c. W.
AAG1lN0 AND TIES Loss than car lo,,
Nm Houston: BaSgIpS, Glib, exc; az Tx
ke Ties. Arrow, lb-ib. ooc; Delta. Ii. SAID
0A AZ wrapped, basis "a. Ss.@6ac; !
CoFfEE-Rio and Cord0ya I0.sspI1c. ,a,r
~ prime sA @sc; choice siaQSEo; fancy s
9Sf1tt peabsrJy H6ld1&c. Rohsted cares, | ,
Irbrtkie's Ariosa. basis 100 ID cases, ioisc
sl 4 = y cases. 1910 delivered; Apex
yLouR-Empiss MuIs. Houston: Dawson. I
2 lo.e 49,