The Somerset reporter., 1899-03-16


QnIet-Pork and Lard STEADY - Beei
Very Quiet--Mutton Prices II Buyers
Favor--onotat ons on Vegetables.
Boston. March 15.-Wlth light receipts
and steady demand the butter marke
has developed more satisfactory tone,
and all desirable grades are cleaned up
better than last week. A slight advance
has been obtained in some instances but
In general way the Improvement is
mainly owing to the fact that fresh ar
rivals have not increased as fast as was
expected. Buyers are in no mood to re
spond To any higher prices as they
naturally look for increased supplies OF
new make from this time forward. and
know that if they advance rates now the
drop Will he all the greater in a short
time
Still, it must be admitted that the
situation is favorable for the mainte-
nance of prices for a while longer, because
desirable lots of held butter are pretty
we'll sold out and because the demand
for fresh make Is steadily increasing.
There is considerable looking around
for desirable lots of both fresh and held
creamery. In several instances 2112
cents is paid for fine lots of Vermont and
New Hampshire In small packages, and
the right kind can not be bought for less.
But only limited portion of the offerings
come up to this standard, and the bulk
of the receipts range from 81 cents down.
Although the quality of the make is i'm
proving and a larger proportion shows
new milk flavor there are still many de-
got it-p late a
the views of buyers. The standard of
excellence, too, has been raised, and
What would pass for first-class butter
few weeks ago is now no more than Soc
ond rate. Boxes sold at p to % cents
The cheese market maintains a strong
tone, With a fair demand from the trade
Sales OF best New York twins have been
at 12la to 12S4 cents. and large sizes at -
to III cents. Holders are Indifferent
about selling except at a further adj
vance, as stocks are small and in few
hands. and no supplies of any consc-
quence are held in the country. But
few summer lots can be bought under
II cents. The Liverpool quotation has
been advanced to 81 shiiiugs, and this
is still considerably under the parity Of
cost there.
Receipts of eggs have further in
creased, but all offered SO far have been
quickly cleared up and the market
closed bare on supplies. Sales yester-
day early in the day were at Is cents
but the price soon advanced to I51a
cents. which was the closing rate for the
best western. Eastern choice sold at
IL cents. A year ago the price WAS
down to II cents, and a carload was put
into cold storage.
a small lot of new maple syrup was re-
ceived from Vermont yesterday. and was
sold a 81 per gallon. New sugar is ex-
pectcd every day, and the first lots will
probably bring IA to Is cents per pound.
As the receipts increase the price Will
be lower.
Beans are firmer, with still stronger
prices quoted The demand is also bet
ter. Carload lots. pea, $3.50 1.371a; yell
low eyes. Sl.5501.60; red Kidneys $LS5@
1.90; Califoi ia, small white, $l9OQ2:
Lima. DC per ID; jobbing, Toe more
Flour has ruled dull and easy for sey-
eral days, and the decline in wheat eul-
minated in lower prices from number
of millers. The general feeling in the
flour trade is that the turn is largely a
speculative one. and that sharp re-
action is TO be expected. 1t has been
feature of the market that shipping di-
reetions have been coming in freely. es-
peeially on the best known spring pat
ents. plainly showing that the johbers
and groeers are in want of flour
Meal and the cereals are generally
quiet. with little change in prices.
Corn Is considerable easier, under the
influence of the government report The
report says that the corn in farmers
hands as estimated. aggregates 100000
600 bus, or 4l.G percent of last years crop
The proportion of the total crop mrr-
charitable is estimated at So percent.
Here the quotations on corn are some
what easier.
The market on oats is rather easy.
though for hardly the same reason as
prevails in regard to wheat. The offer
ings here arr not large. aud large stocks
are not claimed in the country.
Hay has continued quiet with only
the best hay reasonably firm. Straw is
pretty firm for the best rye straw Mill
feed is about steady: Hay, $Sd14 fancy
jobbing lots, $15@l7; rye straw, $6aS.
The pork and lard markets are steady.
have made a fair output of hogs for the
week, the to,al Kill amounting To about
"a 900; preceding week, 80 500; same week
last year, 81, 100 There has been a good
movement of Boston packed pork pro
visions into export for the week. the total
value having been about $235, COO pre-
ceding week, $4,000; same week a year
ago, $3.50, 600. Pork packing in the weat
has been somewhat reduced the total
kill for the first week in the summer
packing season, beginning March 1, be
ing 400 600 h IS. preceding week, 425 QUO
same week year ago 395. 600
There Is a very quiet market or beef
with prices rather easy, with the single
exception of the very best heavy cattle
which are scarce and firm.
The supply of beef coming forward for
this market is small, the total for the
week having been but 124 cars for Bos-
ton with 81 cars for export. a total of
21S cars; preceding week, 1i4 cars for
Boston and IS cars for export, total Of
229 cars same week year ago, 132 cars
for Boston and 55 cars for export. a total
OF 1871 cars.
The mutton market is only fairly
steady. with prices rather in the favor
of the buyer Veals are quiet with
prices easy: Lambs, 6l26Sc; Brighton
fancy. 7@S1Ac; muttons. 512@7c: Brighton
and fancy muttons 6@712c; veals 7Q9c.
fancy Brightons, 9aloc.
The quiet poultry market has con
tlnued, with little change in prices nom
inally: Turkeys, western, 10@13c; north
rru l2GI17c. chickens northern 19m17p.