The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-09
MANY LINES
IN DANGER
Staples Which May
Become Very
Scarce.
STRIKES CAUSE
SHIPPING DELAY
San Francisco Dealers Notify
Customers All May
Not Go Well.

Fears of a shortage of many staple
supplies haunt the minds of merchants
The strike of the Transfers at San Fran
cisco followed and joined as it Is now
| by the coming out of the Water Front
laborers, has caused notifications to al
| most every large dealer In the city from
its Coast connections that there will be
| Mail yesterday told this story to most
of the wholesalers, but there is hope
that before there is any complication a
solution will be found which will permit
unloading vessels as of old.
Merchants say that the prospective
shortage will be felt first in timed
goods, meats especially. There is said
to be only a fair supply of smoked meats,
and feed is placed in the category of
short. Hay is in fair supply, consider
ing afloat and in stock, and fresh fruits
and vegetables viii be in need of replen-
ishing before the strike is broken. ac-
cording to the present outlook There
was shortage of some brands of cigar
cites and whishys, but the Sierra
brought a new stock, which may last
until free shipments are resumed.
Already there is talk OF corners in
various lines but merchants who See
any chance for trouble IN replenishing
their stocks, have taken the course of
cutting uown large orders, so that their
warehouse supplies may not be exhaust
ed early. The plan appears to be that
there will be given no chance for spec
ulators to buy up all the available sup
ply by giving to any one customer only.
what is absolutely necessary. There is
some talk of securing supplies from an
other port than San Francisco, if the
next mail does not tell of a resumption
of work by the striking teamsters. This
would mean large orders for portland
and Seattle, though the fact that there
is mediation offered and practically ac-
copied in San Francisco leads to the be-
lief that there will be no long continued
battle.
One of the short supplies is said to be
feed and hay. One large consumer yes
terday purchased 100 bales of hay, with
an order for feed to match, to- preclude
any chance for shutting down on the
rations for the horses Another tried to
secure the same supply but it is said that
while assurance was given that there
" IL VIC LO hOLliSe III tAAc supply Tie
amount asked for could not be delivered
now.
The Increased use of gasoline and dis
tnlate has made that grade one of some
Importance and there was rumor yes
terday that attempt would be made
to corner the market. An order for 100
cases was refused by one firm yesterday
but assurance was given that there
would be no regular customer of the
house who would not be given enough
all the time for his engines. With this
he had to be content. James Gordon
Spencer, manager of the Pacific Hard
ware Company, said yesterday that there
was atfoat and in warehouse for that
firm enough distiIlate and gasoline to
supply the market until the middle of
September. Should there be any failure
to keep up supply, however, he sad
there would be simply a refusal to book
large orders for immediate delivery.
Mr.. Archibald Young. of Won Hamm-
Young Company, sale tnat while he could
not say what was in ware Sc and
what was afoat. there would BE- no DIFF
ficulty In meeting the demand - 10 a
combination it is said that there m s-hr
be one but for the reason that if the
dealers would Genuine to raise prices
the customers would simply buy direct
and thus take away trade which would
mean more than d small advance + the
prices obtaiRed