Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-09-12
the PRICE OF SUFFER-

The PRICE or 0uTTER
There are few stronger evidences Of
improved business conditions than the
advance In the price Of butter during the
past few weeks. There has been severe
drouth 10 portions Of New England,
reducing the quantity Of pasture feed,
but this 10 not sufficient reason for the
advance. The quantity Of butter made
10 New England has very little effect
upon the general butter market. The
great grazing sections Of the West have
been transformed into butter producing
sections, and butter 10 sent from those
sections by the trainload. Butter 10 an
article OF consumption that can be great
ly curtxiled when hard times demand
strict economy, and its use will expand
when conditions become more favorable.
The development Of the sheep and stock
raising industries has taken away =
large supply OF butter that had ite
effect upon the general price and alto
gether we think the outlook for price Of
butter during the next few months ex-
ceptionally good. The Elsin Dairy Re
port says:
EARLY In the season this year IL was
ter 10 this western territory would not
be ~ large ~ u was the preceding year.
This fact seemed to have . certain in6u-
.ence upon the speculative buyers, result
ing In higher prices during the storage
season than last year by some consider
able. In comparing receipts 10 the cen
tres where our records are kept, we 6nd
that takius Chicago, New York. Boston
and Philadelphia, there has been fall
ing of In receipts Of from to l0per
cent; nearly 10 per cent. That II taking
all together. Some of the cities have
received much less and others more.
The consumptive trade does not seem to
have increased TO any large extent over
last year. so that although there is not
80 much In store In some localities, there
II more In others, resulting In feeling
OF uncertainty regarding the future.
With the extreme drouth OF the short
crop In Continental Europe, there Is .
demand for consumptive trade in Great
Britain that has already taken out Of our
market some 40, 900 TO $4,000 packages
this season, and 10 seems likely 20 con-
tinue to require large supply to meet
their everyday requirements"
With these different factors influencing
our market, aud with the shortage In
supply that must be felt from now on,
it would seem that we may look for .
Of our present range OF
values, and possibly an advance may be
had. Tslking with one Of our largest
operators last week, reports from his
factories show q falling OF Of over Is
per cent from that Of month ego. Some
even more. And ~ the general run OF
factories are afflicted In the same way, II
would indicate that We are to have .
shortage In the make for the next month
or six weeks, or possibly longer. Last
year st this time, although we had 60
we're drouth, we had but little extra out
side demand, and with large amount OF
goods in store, the positlon was not strong
as it seems 10 be at the present time. This
brings US TO the storage problem. Last
year those who put In the right class OF
goods, and disposed Of them In the
proper way, made good prodt on their
investment and some money on the
although the range Of prices
Was lower. This year with the gsner-
Ally improved conditions prevailing, and
with the consumption demand more than
su fficient to absorb the current make, we
see no reason TO look for any lower
prices than prevailed last year compar-
stiveiy y.-Maine Farmer. /