The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-24
TRADE ACTIVE
AT THE CLOSE
BUYERS WERE LATE PLACING Or
DERs THIS YEAR.
Turkeys in Good Supply and Prices
Well Maintained Chickens Selling
Better Than Usual at Holiday Time
Butter Firmer on Tops-Egg situa-
tion Unsatisfactory to AL Concerned.

While the movement of fruits for the holiday
season has not been up to average years, the
past rev days business has done much to i'm
prove the showing. For some unaccountable
reason, consumers are evidently ignoring the
butcher and baker, as well as the fruit han
dier, ana spending their money for gifts. Neither
Guy nor country trade has come up to expecta-
tlons, but may augur a better movement later
on, during the seasons that are usually quiet.
christmas trees and greens have proven good
sellers and In this particular instance the amount
handled shows good increase over former
years. NUTS are high, the walnut crop being
snort. snort, and most orders have been cut down,
dealers evidently prefelring to run short than
to go over the holiday with lot Of high-priced
slow selling stock on hand. '. .>'
The price Of turkeys is considered reasonable
ana the outlook today is that all desirable
OF retailers year ago fully one-third Of the
receipts OF fancy had to go into freezers to pre-
vent total loss. This year early prices did
not prove exorbitant, and the stock moved out
fairly we'll right along. A slightly lower price
developed the middle Of the week but the slump
was not great enough to entail any loss to the
shipper, and at the same time encouraging buy
Ing locally. fair number of large manufactur-
ers are presenting their employees with bird
this year. but the practice is not prevalent as
few years ago. Medium grade turkeys are in
big supply. but are not an important feature
IN the market outside Of the fact that they will
comprise the bulk OF stock which will not
clean up today. Some beated shipments will
likely come in, but the trade is looking for the
amount to be lighter this. year, it has for
some time impressed upon shippers the impor-
tance of getting stock in early. Quotations on
chickens, both old and young, have held up sur
prisingly we'll. one favorable feature being that
| there has been good call from freezers for
cholce stock and they have greatly assisted In
geese are firm, and veryth1ng desirable Is
cleaning up in good shap.
| Eastern markets advanced a point on cream
! cry extras, and the local market responded
quickly. The call Is Of good proportions on all
| top grades, and supplies of stock suitable for
table use are not excessive. Receipts of extras
are running above those of last week, but the
demand shows sufficient additional activity tt
care for them. Packing stock buyers are taking
all fresh sweet makes around 15c, in some cases
paying quarter cent higher for an extra large
The egg proposition is a difficult problem tc
solve just at present. Weather has been
weakening feature and receipts have run up tc
as printed each day the claim that arrivals are
larger does not seem to hold good, but the
printed figures only comprise freight receipts
while the great bulk Of stock now coming II
thru the express companies. More than the usua
amount of fall eggs has been held in farmers
hands and they now being forced into mar
ket. Not being properly handled or cared fo
they not acceptable to the average run O
consumers. causing retailers to handle eithe
guaranteed new laid or the storage article. Val
ues all lines have slumped about Is pc
cent for the week, there being seemingly nothing
to give the market any strength. Consumer
object strenuously to paying 3Oc for good eggs
as was necessary when fresh jobbed at from 26
to 2Sc. but when they find they unable t
get nice sweet stock they cut out hen frui
entirely, except where their is absolutely nee
essary, the demand suffering thereby and value
60 bump. IL" '~
A good call exists for cheese of the top grade
Orders are beginning to come in for heavier quar-
titles, showing that many retailers have abou
sold out the stock purchased in the fall. TIL
list shows no price changes for the week, outsid
of higher range on top grades of domesti
. Swiss. -~'s ..'.~a.'- -
Dressed meats are steady. They have bee
neglected somewhat for poultry the past fey
days, but the supply has not been large on an
line, allowing values to be maintained fairl
satisfactorily. Rabbits. are coming freely an
prices are lower on jacks.
Potatoes, onions and cabbage are quiet. Som
better shipping inquiEy exists on potatoes. bu
has not affected valuesgto anEs noticeable extent
Squash are about cleaned up. Green vegetabl
list is firm all lines. Green and wax bean
are higher also cucumbers. .?a0''.
Oranges and lemons show no price changes
There is a genrous supply in sight. which /
not moving out rapidly enough to satisfy tn
receiver. The apple market is gaining in firm
ness some varieties averaging fully SOC pc
cleaned up and advances will be probable fror
row on good quass While large orders wer
placed in ample time for a big supply of ba
nanas for the holiday trade, shipments hav
been delayed, and really fine shipping banana
have been scarce for several days past, causn
great inconvenience to the shipper and an
noyance to the country dealer. Cranberries hav
held tn last weeks figures. The demand ha
been comparatively moderate. Sweet potatoes
pineapples and grapes are unchanged. New
York pears out of the market.