The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-22
c%orToNsEED PRODUCTS.
Market for Oil, Meal and Cake Is
Promising.
REPUBLIC

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Memphis. Tenn. March 2l.-Al the cot
tonseed oil mills in the mphi district,
with a few isolated exceptions, are lew
shut down. and will continue so until after
the planting season.. when there Will be
another short run to crush the surplus
seeds over and above planters require
ments. The total crush thus far this sea-
son. according to records in the Cotton Elk
change, has been 5000, as against 10000
tons at the corresponding time last year.
Eight or nine thousand additional tons are
expected at the mills after the planting sea-
son. which will leave the crush of the Mem
phis mills about - per cent of last season.
There are no accurate figures to show the
exact crush of the mills in the Memphis dis
trict outside of the city proper. though 1t Is
generally believed in wei!-informed circles
that they will Tot show as great a oer
cent of loss as the Memphis mills. Their
entire crush last year was 5000 tons, and
since they have operated at full time dur
ing the season. and as there are more mills
this year than before, it Is thought the
crush will be approximately the same. 1t Is
a w~ell-known fact that these mills. located
by the side of the large cotton plantations.
have paid large enough prices for seed this
season to control the movement of seed in
their territory. and for this reason they
have been better supplied. as q rule. than
the Memphis mills.
The market at this point is now frmer
than for months. with prices of meal. cake
and oil showing advancing tendency. With
In the past three months there has been an
advance of 2 and 3 cents .on prime crude.
~ AtA diA IA uihAiiS sVio" ciss
go cents per ton on meal and 10 cents per
ton on cake. The cause of the better feel
ing is the disposition of buyers: both do
nestle and foreign. to clean up the market
as nearly as possible In order to fill up all
the shortages in their requirements be-
tween now and the time the next crush will
begin. The better inquiry Is coming from
the foreign consumers. as has been the case
throughout the season.
With reference to stocks on hand there IA
little either in cake or meal available. as
the market is well sold down. both for I'M
mediate and future delivery. The exhausted
condition of the market may be shown by
is with difficulty that an order for 5000 tons
of meal can be obtained for delivery in
April and May. Notwithstanding the fact
that this firm operates extensively in all
portions Of the Memphis district. as well as
In Texas. As a result of this condition
there are no concessions obtainable. as buy
bids are not in line with their views.
There Is a more abundant supply of OIL
on the market than of either cake or meal:
The mille1s Of the city have been bullish all
the season and nave shown little or no dis
position to operate at the prevailing low
price. Their views are still firm and are
oeinE further strengthened by a disposition
up all available stocks as rapidly as ac-
ceptances can be obtained.
While the market for the remainder OF
the cotton list is In such a healthy condi-
ton. hnters are perfectly ~lifeless. with
prices seeking a lower level in sympathy
with the break in cotton values. The trade
in these for the entire year has been fiat
on account Of prices being up to a point
where they are prohibitive. The Inter con
sumptive trade has substituted something
else for Hnters wherever possible. leaving
the latter neglected. The recent decline has
brought Inter material more within the
reach OF manufacturers of mattresses. col
lars and all such articles where padding
ana wadding of a cheap character is used.
but there Is still little disposition on their
the lower figures now current. When linters
reach a level above 2 and q. cents per
pound they are diverted from their natural
miilmen from this source. This year has
been a striking illustration of this point.
Hides and Leather.
New York March - HID. .+.,dv Y,.th.,