The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-01-26

boston, Jan. -. -Ihere Is no material
change in the butter market from last
week. Trade continues light and prices
are about the same. though it is difficult
to give a reliable range Of quotations on
the bulk Of the receipts AS usual at this
time OF year. only a small proportion of
the make can be called strictly extra, and
after passing this kind the market La in
buyers favor. Receipts, though not yet
very large. are running ahead of last
year, and under the operation Of the light
demand for a week or two past, some Of
the fresh supplies have accumulated.
This leaves the market In a doubtful
condition, because II the butter coming
along this month cannot be cleaned UP
no real basis Of values can be estab-
lished. Buyers appear to be working on
the supposition that prices will soon be
lower, and take only just enough to carry
them along from week to week. But
nobody can tell what the future will de-
velop. The winter season Is not over
and severe weather may yet be expert
enced, cutting off supplies and causing
n scarcity. Or an export demand might
spring up, taking off all our surplus
stock. But If receipts continue to ~
crease, and the foreign outlet Is no larger
than at present there is not much show
for better prices.
Receivers differ somewhat on prices
All agree that the demand is light. and
that ii is hard to move the bulk of the
receipts a 19 to 20 cents. But some are
short on strictly fancy quality, with new
milk flavor, and this they say they could
sell if they had it at 2011 to 81 cents. A
little OF this kind is coming from New
Hampshire and taken by regular Gus
toners, but it would be misleading to
quote il as a basis for most of the in
voices arriving.
The cheese situation continues firm
but without much activity. Buyers are
still taking small lots as wanted for Gu
rent requirements, with sales OF best
northern at II to liz cents. Holders are
ne: ircng sales because they look for
better prices when the demand increase
This is usually a dull month in the cheese
trade but there are about three months
before any good new cheese can be OBJ
tanned, and il is expected that before
that time the stock of old will be very
low. if not all cleaned out
There is a good demand for fresh eggs,
and receipts are quickly disposed Of
! The principal sales are at Is cents al
marks, and 10 cents loes off These
prices cover receipts from Ohio, IL
linois. Indiana and Michigan Fancy
eastern were scarce and ranged little
higher. The cold storage stock is re-
| duced to 4546 cases and has very little
influence on the market
The pOSItiDp a bpa Is nrettv Ary,o
though the market is quiet. Carload
lots. pea and medium. 81. 30G1 32lk: yell
low eyes. $3.50 SO. red Kidneys. 81 $50
| 100: California small. white. s1a0Q2;
Lima. 46i &c per III tobbing 10c more.
Flour has ruled quiet for more than
a week. and get the market is very well
sustained. Mill shipment prices are at
$4@4.30 for spring wheat patents. with
one or two fancy brands Sc to lOc more
Trade committee prices are: Spring
wheat, clears, S3Q3.bo: patents. S4G475:
winter wheat, clears. S3.40Q3S5:
straights, $9.60G4; patents, s3S5G440.
Cornmeal. oatmeal and the cereals are
little changed with trade quiet
Corn is only fairly steady. with re-
| cepts more free Offerings on track
here are little more abundant
Oats are quiet and rather easy, with
offerings more liberal
The hay situation is mentioned as
tirmer, with the supply better work a
up. Rye straw is pretty firm. with mill
feed firm: Hay, 3SG14: fancy jobbine
lots. $15416: rye straw, $ad10; oat straw.
seas.
The market on hogs in the west is
reported firm, and pork products here
are firm for that reason. along with a
very fair trade. Boston packers have
made a pretty liberal output OF hogs
for the week. the killing total amount
ing to about Al 400, preceding week. 10.
600; same w k year ago. 46.lO0 There
is reported to he a better demand fol
Boston packed pork products for the
markets abroad. The total value of the
exports of these products for the week
was about $4425. 600. preceding week, $l4o.-
600, same week a year ago, $3.50 900
Pork packing in the west has been
someN hat increased for the week the
total having been about 565. 900 hogs
preceding week, 100000 same week
year ago. 100000. Since the new pack
ing season began. Nov. l, the pork pack
ing in the west has amounted to g.
S35,uOU 0OkSt same lllnc a year ago, p
5S5, 900; increase, 1880, 900.
Beef has continued TO be quoted at
firm figures here. with reports from the
west indicating still higher prices paid
for cattle. Trade has been dull how
ever, with choice cattle scarce and hard
TO find.
The arrivals Of beef here. though stu
small to stop in this market, are a little
larger than noted a week ago the total
for the week having included l40 cars for
Boston and 100 cars for export. total OF
300 cars; preceding week. 131 cars Tor
Boston and s. cans for export, total OF
216 cars; same week year ago, 1874 cars
for Boston and lis cars for export, a totai
of 272 cars.
The mutton market has been dun Of
late under full supply, and prices have
receded little: Lambs. 7@S12c; Brigh
ton fancy. SG9C; muttons. 512 d7c; Rrigh
ton and fancy muttons. "a 7Ac. yeals,
Q10e; fancy Brightons, 10G10hC.
Poultry has been a little flrmer OF
late, with choice chickens and fowls. as
we'll as turkeys bringing good prices
Turkeys, western, iiQl4c; northern. u,
16e; chickens northern, l2al6c, west
err. 10GI2c. f"wls, northern fresh. 80
l4c. western. lQal live fowls, SQsIfc.
chickens, SU9c, ducks. 9Q12c; geese.
10al3e.
The game supply ~ pretty fair with
trade also fair. Prices are pretty steady
with little coming forward The job
berS and heaters quote at: Whole dee
SG1Oc. sadd -. l2Stl4c grouse 81. 25QI -
per pair. ul,"a. SI.5oQ2 per doz canvas