The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-30

Prices q Commodities and an Index to the
Conditions Existing n the Markets.
WILL USUAL COTTON ADVANCES Be MADE
upon THIS Issue tO u Great Extent
Depends the sise OF the Next Cot +
ton Crop Business Ii Quiet.
Office Of The Post,
Houston. Thursday. Docember ..

Office OF The Post.
Houston, Thursday. December %.
While II is too early TO figure upon what
will be done next year. there is still con-
siderable speculation being INDUCED In re-
garding the acreage Of the next cotton CROP.
It Is generally conceded that during the last
year or two. while the cotton acreage was not
materially cut down. the farmers diversified
their field crops and raised many articles at
home they had in former years purchased.
TO great extent the size Of a cotton crop
depends upon the merchants. They have
heretofore looked upon cotton as the only
article that II would be safe to lend money
on and have thus compelled planters and
tenants to put in more cotton than they
otherwise would have done.
Now that the merchants can SEQ that the
farmer who has diversified his CROPS. raising
corn, meats, poultry and vegetables Is pay
ing up his debts. will not a general loan be
made instead of one solely ON cotton.
Early In the picking season II was chron-
iced in all the cotton producing states that
renters who had drawn advances all during
the spring and summer were abandoning the
cotton, fields because they. could better afford
to hire out and pick for tho large land owners
who were offering good prices In cash Tor
cotton pckers. II this desertion of the fields
was as exhaustive as represented viii II not
tend 10 cause merchants TO be more con-
scrvative next season in advancing cash and
supplies to tenants who raise nothing but
cotton as a marketable commodity and move
out and desert the CROP when they can earn
cash working for someone else? The average
planter is anxious to raise all he can on his
land and will branch out Into general farm
Ing II the merchant or banker who makes the
advances on the unGrown crop VIII not de-
nand that only cotton no taken as collat-
eral. ISL
Cotton OF situntion.
The following is from the OIL Paint and
Drug Reporter
las we have outlined in our market re-
ports for the past six weeks. the choice
grades OF cotton oil are becoming more scarce
as tho season advances. This arises from
the poor quality OF seed generally through
out the valley and Atlantic sections, There
IL. however better quality of crude oil In
Texas. which is making a fine grade OF re-
fined oil. Western packers. refiners and soaD-
makers. realizing that the off grades of crude
and refined oils were cheap. have been fres
buyers for january to March OF Texas oils.
thus relieving the pressure to sell in that
section. i Western soapmakers who are
usually alive to opportunities Of this sort.
have. bought largely Of on crude at prices
ranging from IL to 13iac loose I. q. b.. which.
when compared with taliow at the present
price CT SIC, makes a cheap soap grease. as
the cost OF refining. this grade OF oil dos
pottexcsed &c per gallon. Lard the past two
weeks has pursued AN upward course. and
tnerc are those who believe the &c mark is
only the question OF time. This Is giving
more stimulus to trade In all the greasss.
and the position OF cotton oil Is iuItner
strengthened by the fact that a very largo
early in the season. and there are further
evidences of reduced supplies from the dunn
aee to the top crop by the present severe
eBesidcs the demand from Western sosp-
makers. already referred TO and which has
been much more important factor In the
ats<~t r.s. lxrs
indicated by the business dcipEsin this mar
ket. there has been an UNUSUALLY large de-
mand this seascn tor tho better Trades OF
prices readily obtaiuahle for this grade.
Franco is taking large quantities OF white oil
This SEASON for soapslaking and this - re-,
for bleaching, Germany. on tho other hand.
10 a free buyer OF on aradss pi white oil for
her soapmakers. There are5inxfiy in the trade
who predict that choice gradss OF summer
yellow will sell before May l at 30r. with the
present scarcity OF this class OF oils, together
with an increased demand for Whit oils and
winter yellow. and there are certainly en-
coirsping Indications that the fond hopes OF
the trhdr in this direction may lie realized.
IL must not be overlooked however. that the
production OF reddish ard of grades OF sum
rer yeiiew VIII be nnuausiy large this sea-
ton. both IN tho valley and aluDg the At
laptic.. AS this oil must be sold 1t is prob
sble that the margin between this clasN AZ
oils and the higher grades will be wider than
has usually been the case In former Seasons"
Trndc Setes.
Poultry continues 10 oycrsupply. and de-
maud for chickens is poor.
Staples are at stAndstill. fluctuations IN
the speculative markets not influencing spots.
Seedless musr2tel raIEins arc reported to
be very scarce on the spot and supplies on
the coast arc said TO ba exhausted.
Stocks Of feedicss California rnisins on the
spoi nre reported to be closely cleaned up.
and there is reported TO be little left on the
coast.
Imports OF salt mackoreI at Boston to date
have amounted TO o2.0i6 barrels. against u.s. ais
bsrr,ls for the corresponding period In 1891
and S1.03i In 1895.
Egg quotations are nominal. Commission
men can not dispose OF receipts as fast as
they come In and stocks arc growing large
and demand smaller.
With all the commercial travellers with
drawn from tho road until after New YEARS..
there is absolutely little doing In any line OF
business. Such few orders as are received
are for small lots and no activity is looked
for under a fortnisht.
Tho canned goods market is considered "a
be In > very healthy condition and holders
Of spot stocks are firm In their views. ex-
pressing confidence In the future Fruits Of
+ al kinds are scarce but the strongest feel.
tax u IN yesetables. particularly tomatoes
corn and beans.