The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-01
PRODUCE TRADE REVIEW
YEAR WAS SATISFACTORY O MAR
GINS OF MODERATE SIZE.
Speculation i'm Onions Resulted In
Considerable LOss-COnsumptiOn
of Early Fruit Large.

written for the Journal by Kurt Neumann.1
To give a review of the produce trade of
1903 is difficult, in that the fiscal year in
cludes the latter half of one season and the
beginning of another, as the produce deal
er's year really beginsgJuly ].
The beginning of 1903 found stocks heavy,
both in storage as well as farmers hold
ings. this applying particularly to apples
of the inferior 1902 crop. Infected by fun
gous,' the crops of New England, New
York and Michigan We're in no condition TO
hold up until spring and the consequences
were a slaughter such as has not been ex-
perienced in years, and this was made even
more disastrous by the warm weather dur
ing March. Later the market reacted, but
such a small percentage of the original
holdings were then in dealers hands that
but little of the earlier losses were to be
made up. The crop of 1903, early estimated
as far short of last years but much superior
in q%ualiay, found buyers very cautious and
anxious to retrieve past losses.
Consumption of early fruit was heavy,
and at the present stocks in storage are
considerably short of the same time one
year ago. Holders are firm in their views
and higher values are expected soon. In
fact large holders throughout the country
are already prOphesying a balance on the
right SlQe OF IHelr DIOUL anu loss account
Jan. /. 1903, found heavy supplies of
onions throughout the United States. The
previous falls crop had been a good one in
all sections, from the Connecticut river
valley to the Middle States. Indianapolis
dealers were heavy spectators and met
with severe losses. The crop of 1903 was
nearly as heavy as last years, so that at
this writing storage men are not anticipat-
ing very flattering returns for their invest
ments in that line.
Doto+oog ,-If1o 80 % Iba o,xfa-+ oo,,
moGities handled, have shown no extreme
profits or losses the past year. AS they
are generally bought and sold on the mar
ket, little If any speculation is INDUCED in.
Taken as a whole, the year has been a
very satisfactory one for the trade in gen.
eral. particularly SO for those who specu-
lated to only a small extent and accepted
whatever margin the market afforded them.
The holiday trade has been very salts
factory in this line. Christmas week saw
numerous blockades of wagons In South
Delaware street, which is generally indica-
tive of good trade.
With the close of 1903, dealers are look
ing forward to their annual outing, the
convention Of the National League of Com
mission Merchants OF the United States,
which this year gathers at Louisville, where
we believe will be heard general expressions
of success during 1903.
As a produce market indianapolis has
forged 10 the front and now stands in the
class of top n0tckers." Dealers have bet
tered their facilities for the purchase as
we'll as the sale of goods in the building
OF warehouses and Ioading-sheds at produc-
ing points, thUs enabling them to by direct
from farmers, eliminating all middle mems
profits and enabling the sale of goods on
Commission row at only their own profit
between the grocer and the actual producer.
In this respect Indianapolis produce deal
ers have made more progress than can be
credited to a good many larger cities. Two
prominent dealers can boast of facilities
that few Indianapolitans would believe
them TO possess, such for instance as the
leasing or owning of refrigerator cars for
their exclusive use, which permits the
movement Of p~erishable property regard
less of weather and car scarcity. Many
other equal advantages might be mentioned
aid space permit.