The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-25
GALVESTON STATEMENT
LOCAL MARKET REVIEW.
Office of The Post,

Houston, Thursday, March a.
With the city in the throes of primary
election, no street cars running and every
body On the qui Vive for war gossip business
was today not brisk. in fact it was dull.
That the commercial world is expecting
hostilties is evident. shippers are already
taking out war risks on merchandise bound
TO foreign ports
The st. Louis Republic says that one of
the largest exporting firms in that city wired
New York company to know at what rate
certain consignment of grain would be in
sured to cover the possibility of loss in the
event of war. In little while the answer
came back that the rate would be one-quar-
ter of one per cent added to the regular rate
covering loss from all ordinary causes
On parcel shipments from Atlantic ports
this is an increase of 80 per cent in the rate,
the regular rate on ordinary risks being a
quarter of one per cent. The regular cargo
rate is five-eighths of one per cent from At
lantic ports and three-quarters of one per
cent on from the Gulf ports. while the par
eel rate from the Gulf ports is fye-eighths
Of one per cent
In teegraphing for the war rate the firm
referred to sent the name OF the vessel in
to be a ship flying foreign flag and in all
probability the rate named is less than could
be secured on grain carried in American bot
toms.
The reason for this is that in the event of
actual hostilitics with Spain ships carrying
the American flag would not be as safe from
attack by Spanish war vessels as would be
those OF neutral power. About the only
risks foreign ships would run would be the
possibility of going over torpedo as Spain
would not dare to attack a vessel sailing
under the flag of another Nation with Which
1t is rot ut war.
In all insurance contracts AS they stand
now there is clause providing that the
holder is Unidentified against loss from anv
ordinary cause but a paragraph protecting
the insurance companies against loss caused
by war Is included. BY paying the additional
one-quarter of one per cent the simmer e.,t,
protect himself from loss even should the
vessel carrying the grain be attacked and
sunk by Spanish war vessel, or from any
one OF the numerous accidents that are likely
to happen to merchantmen during time of
conflict between two powers.
Trade Notes.
Very little is doing in fruits either in tho |
way of city or country trade.
Young chickens are in active demand and |
scarce Prices are consequently strong.
Receipts of Strawberries are liberal and |
reports say the coast country crop suffered /
hut little from the cold SLAP
! An advance of &c has been made in rome
The change was made some days ago. bur |
was oountermanded only to be again adj |
vanced
Coffee options are lower than at any tim.
in the history of the trade. Holders how
ever, are not uneasy, as green coffee improves
with age and an advance may be looked for
Prices on eggs, nncer an improved demand
ana lighter receipts. have advanced to s1jsr
per dozen. Compared to other markets This
is iuli high. Returns on consignments
shipped 10 New York quoted prices there as
10 cents flat. -