Waterbury Democrat., 1901-07-19
MEATS TO BE HIGHER.
Beef and Pork Markets High, With
 Strong Indications of Advance.

Strong Indications of Advance.
 People in this city may expect to pay fancy prices for beef before the end of the summer Already the mar ket has slightly advanced i'll this par ticUlar, and dealers say that indica- lions are that before long prIces will jump higher. They say, however, that there is no danger that any considera- ble advance will be made as long as the intensely hot weather continues. These indications are supported Ill q great moisture by the extreme drouth which continues to prevail within the corn and cattle belt and the fact that the burning heat of that section pre- vents the shipping of meat to the East in good conditions. The supply of the wholesalers has begun to diminish somewhat, but this will not be felt by the public immediately. When 1t is felt and the demand for beef increases cattle will be rushed to market as consequence without any regard to their condition. and as q result people will first notice change i'll the quality of their beef. The demand which in few weeks will begin to increase, as it does every year, will also be another substantial reason for increased prices outside of the existing Western condi- tons. The dealers have been selling closely for a long time, and although the advance, when it does come, will, in a measure, be compulsory, it also will appear ill the nature of an oppor- tunity. There is no possible way for the consumers to avert this inevitable increase of price as it is hardly possi- ble for them to lay i'll supply. The wholesale prices are advanced slightly almost every week.
 The pork market continues higher than 1t has been since the Civil war and at present there is no chance for let-up in those conditions. Live hogs in the Chicago market have been sell ing for $615 per hundredweight. Fat backs for export trade, secured in dry salt hold to the extremely high rate of S% cents, ranging from twenty to twenty-five pounds on the average, while the medium fat backs, ranging from fifteen to sixteen pounds, are sell ing for 8 cents. Pule lard is 9 Is cents, wholesale, and plain hams ill round lots are sold to the retailer at 111a cents, the wholesal price of the skin bdcks" being 1212 cents. The later price at wholesale of fat salt pork is $16.50 per barrel. Lean salt pork com niands the enormous rate of $1S.50 per barrel All hog produce is extremely high, and in no present danger of a decrease, but with every indication of further raise. The lamb market, whole sale, is worth about II cents.
 The probability is that the higher prices In beef will be almost strictly confined to corn-fed cattle, which now dominates the market at a price be- tween H,a and 31a cents. by the whole sale. Grass-fed cattle hold their own at the respectable and convenient rate of cents. Chickens have jumped from II to 16 cents.
 The way the entire meat business is conducting itself at present leaves the retailers very little margin for pro- fit, and that meat prices will soar. is looked upon as certainty by them.
 The destruction of the Western crop by the great drouth is responsible for the rumor that flour, also, will De high, | and. as consequence. local grocery dealers are interested tS some extent. | Hartford Times.