The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-10-04

Al iadex to the Condition Of Trade
Generally.
FIRST sElRMIsH IN The SUGAR WAR.
The Trust Cut Prices and the Oppo-
ALTON Quicl<Iy Met the Enemy.
Pecan Corner Denied.
Office Of The Post,

n thu United States should decide to hold
ali the possessions wrested from Spain during
late war this country would rule the world
on sugar. The big plantations In Louisiana
and Texas would be at a disadvantage, as the
cooIe and native labor of Cuba, Porto Rico.
Hawaii and the Philippines is paid little or
nothing. in fact little more than 1t costs TO
feed an American field hand on farm. Tho
German beet sugar industry would also he
completely knocked out. This condition Of
affairs 10 being carefully considered by all the
great sugar interests of the country With a
view to future operations.
At tho present time interest centcrs In the
prospective war between the trust on ono
side and the Arbuckes. the Molenhauer and
National refneries and the Dcscher interests
on the other
Usually at this season. Just before new
sugar comes into market and when the de-
mand for canning and preserving Is heavy.
sugars are firm and higher. This year the
war between the rchners has started and
cut has been made. The confidential" prices
quoted TO jobbers last week the latter think
were simply bait and all over the country
the bait was swallowed, each Individual think
Ing he was getting sugar l-l6c less than his
competitor. Later In the week. however the
Hbh'i taih' iNih uluti INC "opupii' dut u
general reduction OF X to 3-i6 followed--aftcr
a large number OF jobbers had bought freely
Thursdays New York Commercial says
There was considerably stir in lower Wall
street yesterday when It was reported that re-
fners quietly cutting the price of gran
uated sugar This report was telographod
throughout the country and many inquiries for
definite Information came in Immediately 1t
looked n n the ionr Threatened wi hot
the sugar refining interests had begun In
earnest The street was much excited over
the rumors OF the cutting. Al the sales Of
fcos OF Arhuckic Bros. the American Sugar
refining company. and b. II. Howell Son ~
Co.. the latter representing the Molenhauer
and National renneries, 1t was said that
positive denial would be given TO the rumors
OF cutting prices OF graduated sugar. 1t was
intimated. however, by n certain party who
is close TO inner circles, that preparations are
no doubt being made for Just such cut as
was rumorcd yesterday. Prices OF certain
grades OF soft sugars. In oversupply. have
been shaded from l-l64lsc. but that Is not
out OF the usual custom, when stocks OF such
sugars accumulate. as they do not keep well
But that does not have any Significance as
to its bearing on the sugar war. If cuts are
made. however. on granulatei sugar which Is
generally refined largely ahead of demand. 1t
will be taken the first skirmish firing In
tho sugar war, Hence the interest and cS-
element yesterday when it was reported that
cutting below price lists was being quietly
done Gtanuiatod remained stationary at 5lsc,
But what Of the future?
The Louisiana Cane Crop.
The Louisiana Planter says; A great dea,
OF rain has fallen throughout the sugar dis
,rict during tho past week. though the earlier
part Of It rot. dry and sunny. This
weather conditions have not therefore, beer
such as to hasten the maturity OF the cane
which Is now an&iously desired that II may
be in ut condition for sugar making II tn,
weather should be predomlnantly cool and dry
from until the middle of the month. whcr
some q our earlier campaiguers viii star
their mills It viii have an exceedingly ben
ehctal effect. ripening and swcetening Tho
canes which the heat and moisture OF Sep
TENDER have kept green and growing.
M Corner An Pccnns.
The following is from the New York Com
mercsl:
Local merchants say that tho report TIM
the pccau crop has been coruored by St Lou
dealers Is absurd, and that there is as mucl
stock on hand in this city as In st. Louis
Prices now range at ihc IL pound As tn
but no local dealer looks for an increase o
over or cents above the present quotation
Henry NJ. Day Of Bennett, Day & Co. salt
yesterday while / do not doubt that tn
St Louis houses may hold the amount OF pc
cans stated in the reports. they can not pos
sibly corner the market and although tn
crop " short In the largo producing States
prices am confident. will not advance abov
slsc for the best grades.
Trade Notes.
Everything In tho produce line was dul
today. with little demand for poultry,
The market is practically bare OF banana
and cocoanuts. and none are expected TO
some time.
According to cables from Sicily new Gro
fberts are held there at ais.
II is said the cotton seed oil mills are pay
Ing SO a ton for seed at stations in the int
rior regardless OF any freight rate advantage
In tho shippers favor.
1t IS reported that there are further heav
shortages In deliveries In Puget Scum
salmon.
There is much stronger feeling In tn
canned tomato market and an early advanc
Is looked for.
Prospects for the French walnut crop ar
reported TO be unfavorable and higher price
are looked for.
orange crop is speedily ripcning, and IL
expected that the yield VIII be the large
ever experienced In that territory.
Tho first authentic report from the islam
W
amount to l,SS0000 boxes. The fruit il say
is somewhat above the average.
New crop Sicily lemons are not expected
arrive before November 10. and 1t may
Ave days later before the first are received. :
The Sacramento Fruit World says that gree
fruit shipments from the coast for this sel
son have already fallen behind last year
record $50 cars.
Advsces from Malaga state that the crop
lemons there is very short and the demar
from Germany and Europe Is so great as
rpise tho ideas Of growers 10 point while
will admit OF little II any expert business
tho United States The price at the date
the letter was lis Cd c. and Z.
prominent New York broker In speakir
Of the lemon market said: What the peop
New Canned Goods
We have made larger purchases
than ever before, and our first car