The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-12-29

following the plan of the Southern cot
ton growers, have agreed upon a COM
munlty OF interest to protect their hold
ings.
This agreement has been brought
about by combination of circum-
stances. The pack of 1904 was largely
in excess of the ordinary demands of the
trade, and consequently the market of
futures in the spring of 1905 was ham,
mered down to the point of the cost of
production. Prices did not long remain
stationary, however, as sagacious buy
ers were quietly absorbing every offer.
| The reasons for so doing were we'll
founded, as recent developments proved.
The low offering of 6212 cents for futures
had the effect of a small acreage for the
pack OF 1905, because Gamers could not
afford to pay the growers a sufficient
price to warrant general cultivation of
the raw product.
Conferences looking to agreements to
protect their holdings were held in Balti.
more last week by Eastern and Western
Gamers and their representatives.. Among
those who attended these conferences
were: Frank Van Camp, president of the
Van Camp Packing Company of Indian
apolis; Charles c. Crazy, president of he
Illinois Canning Company, of Hopes
ton, ILL.,; Frank T. Stare, president OF h,
Waukesha Canning Company, of Wau-
kesha, Wis; Harry c. Gilbert, of Gettys
and Gilbert. St. Louis, Mo; J. w. Ander-
son, of ]. M. Anderson and Company,
wholesale grocers of St. Louis, Mo.
Their representatives who have charge
of the Eastern interests are Smith, Rouse
and Webster. of Bel Air, Md. Arrange
ments were perfected to protect the pres
ent holdings, and it is said that the mar
ket will take care of itself, being only
governed by the ordinary rules of de-
mand and supply, and will receive no ar
tificial stimulus.
"a thorough investigation by the par
ties interested discloses the fact that
with small hold over, the present mar
ket was augmented by the pack of 1905
with less than 100000 cases of toma-
toes, much of which was sold on futures
to the 5000 wholesale grocers in this
country, at low prices, and have been
going in consumption on the basis of last
years prices. These 100000 cases in.
clude all sizes and quantities. gallons,
seconds, and second number three. Re-
ports further show that there are today |
east of the Rocky mountains in the
hands of packers and other holders out |
side of the grocery trade, not more than |
!, 100000 cases of standard No. tins, |
and not more than 125, O00case of these
are being held by packers whose views of |
the markets are stronger than those |
holding the balance of about l, 100000. |
The short acreage this year had its eff |
feet in the production, but another rea-
son even more patent accounts for the
small pack in Maryland.
Delaware and Virginia. During the six
weeks that the plants were blossoming
and forming the young fruit there was a
tremendous rainfall, which washed the
pollen from the buds, rendering the vines
except the lower branches,
which were protected somewhat by the
growth. To show the shortage of the
crops it is only necessary to recall that
in ordinary seasons the raw product in
Baltimore brings from to % cents per
bushel Last season the prices ranged
from 80 to 90 cents per bushel, averag-
ing about 90 cents, so that the actual
cost to local packers was about % cents
per dozen, owing to the scarcity of raw
Another unusual feature of the toma.
to outlook is the reluctance of packers to
for futures of the season of
1906 This is largely from the fact that
farmers lost so much money last year on
account of the short crops that they are
oath to make any arrangements looking
to their future cultivation. The ordinary
field crops are SO much more certain, al
though the opportunity for big profits is
not so attractive. Illustrative of this
arge commission house states that it
seems TO be impossible to buy any futures
at price that would ordinarily guaran-
zee the packer a good profit"