The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-02-09
IN HUB MlanN ETS.
a Firm Tendency Shown In
Dairy Products.


and Lamb supply In better shape
Vegetable Qnot,~ ious.
Boston, Feb 8-The improved tone
noticed last week in the butter mar
ket has been sustained, and the ten
dency continues 10 be in favor of sellers
This is particularly noticeable in higher
grades. which have been kept cleaned up
for several days but Ii extends more or
less to the meaiam and lower grades,
which have been taken to a fair extent
by exporters, and which are in much
smaller stock than few weeks ago.
The export demand has been the prin-
eipal source of strength to the market
1t took off the accommodations which had
been clogging up the channels of trade
for some time previous and has left the
way clear for the fresh receipts, Which
have been comparatively light for Il
week or two past. The severe weather
has kept the make within limited
bounds, and if supplies do not too rapid
ly increase a healthy movement may
be looked for during the remainder of
the month.
The advices received from New York
and the west impaired a stronger tone
to the market, and dealers whose in
voices ran small were inclined to hold
out for slight advance, but 1t is hard
to find anybody who has obtained any
higher prices than last week. This
statement might be qualified by except
ing a few fancy lots, which receivers
say they sold at Il cents. But in the
great majority of cases 20h cents was
the top selling rate for wholesale lots
of Vermont and New Hampshire and
the quality had to be full extra to com
mand that price. A good del of the
northern supplies were not salable at
over 20 cents, and some ranged lower.
There is no change in the cheese sit
uation. Demand continues moderate
and prices are steady on the basis of II
to 111a cents for choice northern. Stocks
here are steadily being reduced, and
holders are AS confident as ever in their
views. Montreal advices indicate a
strong market there, with prospects Of
higher prices in a few weeks. Although
the Liverpool quotation here has run
along at 40 shillings for week, cables
to Montreal quote finest cheese at 81 to
% shillings, with a good consumptive
demand
The market for western eggs is firm
at 20 cents for best marks, with ~ to
1872 cents for lots slightly affected by
frost. Eastern are in light supply, and
selling at 20 to % cents, with a higher
range for fancy new laid. Receipts
quite moderate and all We're pretty well
cleared up. The stock in cold storage
is reduced to 2047 cases, against 225O
cases same time last year.
There has been heavy trading in wheat
the past week but early prices begun to
decline, and have gone off about cents
for the week, or what amounts to a good
part of the gain in the wheat speculative
markets sin, the Path of January. Gov
eminent estlna tes OF the crop--the final
one-putt!"H thu yield at about SO, 600, 900
bushels larser than the trade expected
was the feature that started the decline
followed by the idea that prominent
holders were wanting to get out. Then
followed an estimate that showed THAI
the coming winter wheat crop is to show
a still greater increase.
Such causes have been sufficient to
drive down any speculative market, but
all the time there has been an under
tone of firmness that has really amounted
TO good deal of strength which is likely
to be more apparent as soon as the pres
emf speculative turn and profit taking is
out of sight. Foreigners have con
tinued liberal buyers of wheat on the de-
clines from day to day, and the total of
exports for the week was .000, 600 bush
els over the preceding week. There is
not the least doubt but what America
still controls the export trade in wheat
with the promise OF only small supply
from any other countries.
Receipts of wheat from the interior
were larger but II is curious fact thai
cash wheat has not declined as much as
the future months, and that the millers
have been liberal buyers ON the decline
The flour market is very duh. as il al
WAYS is on decline in wheat. 1t isa
rather curious feature of the trade that
more buying is donc on rising markets
than on falling. the trade Immediately
losing its courage. unless stimulated by
rising speculative markets Spring
wheat patents. mill shipment. may be-
quoted at A0450. the latter price for
the best known TO fancy brands. Trade
committee prices are easy at: Spring
wheat clears, S3.2QQ3T5. patents, $4.l0
OATS; winter wheat. clears. s350q4:
straights. 33.600420; patents. &4Q4.5O.
Cornmeal is rather easy. on the DO
sition OF corn, though quotations are
unchanged. Oatmeal and cereals are
quiet and rather easy.
Corn is easier. with trade quiet The
speculative markets are fractionally
easier possibly more IN sympathy with
wheat and corn than from facts con
corning the oat market alone.
Hay remains quiet. with only the best
hay firm in prices. Straw is dull
though steady. Mlllfeed is easier. Hay.
sS9l4; fancy jobbing lots. s15Ql6; rye
straw. a9@16; oat straw, S6QS
The pork market Is fairly steady. with
the tendency pretty firm. Boston pack
ers have made slight decrease in the
number Of hogs paoked for the week. the
total being about 80. 900; preceding week
$4,000; same week year ago, A 600
There IL very good movement OF Bos-
ton-packed pork provisions and lard into
export. the total value for the week hav-
ing been about 500 900 preceding week.
$3.50 600 same week "A year ago, 3l65. 600
Pork pae King in the west has been kept
up to exactly the same figures as previ-
ously noted. according 10 the figures Of
the Cincinnati Price Current. the total
packing fui 'ho week having been 536 900
hogs; preceding v EEK 535 900: same week
a year aga. -a.oeu The total packing
for the winter season 10 date has been
Z. 1905 0o0 same inp. a year ago, 1856. O0O.
Increase l25o.ouo
A auist homt trade In beef is noted.
with the markets OF the west firm