Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-02
PAST YEARS PRICES.
Many Important Articles
Showed an Increase.
An Interesting Analysis Of Government
Statistics.
Comparison Of 1904 March Figures
with 1908.

Washington, May 1.-Prices of nearly
all the great classes of domestic pro-
duction have materially fallen during
the past year, the chief exceptions be-
ing cotton, wool, wheat, corn, oats and
refined petroleum. on the other hand,
prices of imported articles for use Ill
manufacturing have advanced during
the same period. This statement sum-
mariZes in Il few words the picture of
prices today compared with those OF a
year ago, as presented by the Depart
ment of Commerce and LABOR through
it's Bureau Of Statistics.
The Bureau of Statistics has for
many years published in its Monthly
Summary of Commerce and Finance
quotations of prices of about fifty lead
ing articles entering into the markets Of
the United States. One-fourth of these,
perhaps, are imported articles. and in
clude rubber, hemp, ssal. jute, raw silk,
raw sugar and coffee. The articles of
domestic production which 1t quotes
include pig iron (Bessemer and
SOUTHERN, bars of iron and steel. steel
billets, steel rails, tin plate, petroleum
(crude and refineO, refined sugar,
copper, lead, zinc and leather. The
quotations presented are in each case
those for a given day of each week in
the leading market for the article
mandolin most cases New York,
though in few articles, such as beef
CATTLE Chicago prices are named, and,
in the case of certain manufactures of
iron and steel, those of Pittsburg are
presented.
The latest issue of the Monthly
Summary OF Commerce and Finance
presents a study of these prices, and
also shows the prices from week to
week, running back through the entire
year, and thus enables a comparison of
prices in March, 1904, with those of
March, 1909, for certain dates in that
month, in many cases as late as the
25th. A study of the prices thus pre-
scented, comparing those Of the latest
available date with those of the cor
responding date one year ago, shows
an increase in prices of about one-half
of the imported articles named and Il
decrease in but two of the number,
while in the articles of domestic pro-
ductiOn, numbering some thirty, prices
are less in March, 1904, than those of
March, 1903, in practically all cases eX-
cept cotton, wool, wheat. corn. oats,
beef cattle and refined petroleum or
kerosene. as this product is popularity
designated. while steel rails show no
change in price.
Curiously, while beef cattle show an
increase in price, family beef shows a
marked fall in price. Texas steers are
quoted in the Chicago market at $3.50
per hundred-weiSht for the fourth
week of March, 1903. and at So for the
fourth week of March. 1904. and native
steers are quoted at $3.50 in the fourth
week OF March, 1908, and s5.75 for the
corresponding week in March of this
year. Yet family beef, which was
quoted at SIS per barrel in the New
York markets in the fourth week of
March, 1903, is quoted at $3.50 per
barrel in the fourth week of March.
1904. Mess pork. which was quoted at
SIC per barrel in March. 1903, is given at
S15.50 in March, 1904. Lard, which was
quoted at 10.5 cents per pound In
March. 1903, is given at 10 cents in
March, 1904. Oleostearin also shows a
fall from 10 cents per pound in March.
1903, to I cents in March. 1904; tallow a
decrease from 81 cents per pound in
March, 1903, to AS cents in March, 1904.
and refined sugar from 4.61a cents per
pound in March u, 1903, to As cents on
March 10. 1904.
Turning to manufactured articles prac-
tically all those quoted show a reduction
Pig iron Tessemer) shows n fall from
So. 10 per ton in March. 1893 to s1425 in
March 1901: Southern pig iron. from 81
per ton in March. 1903. to 1915 in March
1904; iron bars, from = cents per pound in
steel bars. from 1.6 cents per pound in
March 1902, to 1.4i4 cents in March. 1901
steel hilets. from s32.50 per ton in March
1908. to 81 in March 1904: tin plate. from
81 per box of 100 pounds in March 1903. to
1885, Per box in March, 1901; leather toak
middle weight. from IS cents per pound in
March. 1903 to - Gems in March. 1904
while steel rails as already indicated, show
no change. Metals used in manufacturing
show in most cases a slight decrease-cop
per. from Is cents per pound in March
1905, to EST cents in March. 1904; lead
from 4.67i4 cents I'm March. 1908. to 4.6oi.
cetns in March. 1904: zinc, from 81 ments
IN March. 1909. to 5.121f cents in March,
The chief articles Of domestic production
showing an advance in price are cotton.
wool. wheat. corn. oats. and kerosene
Cotton, shows of course, the largest ad-
vance, from 9}i cents per pound in March,
1905. to AK cents in March, 1904: wool,
Orio Xxx. from 81 cents per pound in
March, 1903. to % cents in March, 1861;
wheat. No. rcd winter. from ST: cents
per bushel in the New York markets on
March 20, 1902, to N.O1fa on Mach II. 1901.
corn No. :. from 57la cents on March -.
1906. to 5SA cents on March II. 1904. ana
oats. No ,. from 43l4 cents on March 10,
1903. to 1872 cents on March II. 1904: re-
fined petroleum tkeroscne). from 1Ta cents
in March. 1903, to 11.51A cents in March.
1904
Imported articles do not show the gen
eral reduction apparent in those Of do
nestle production. Coffee (Rio. No. y
shows an advance from 512 cents on
March 21 1903 to SEA cetns on March %,
1901; Japan tea. choice. from 26 cents per
pound on March %, 1903. to 2S cents on
March ~ 1904; sugar. centrifugals of 90
polarization, a very slight reduction-from
3.s212 cents per pound on March 2s, 1905
to $50 cetns per pound on March a, 1901;
manila hemp shows a slight increase
from cents per pound on March .. 1903
to 9ls cents on March q. 1904. Sisal hemp
decreased in price. from sls cents per
pound on March %. 1903, to ~ cents on
March y. 1904. Jute shows no change in
price during the year, India rubber,
Para, fine. new, advanced in price from
81 March 81 1902 m