Evening star., 1905-10-27
PRICES NOT LIKELY TO BE VERY
HIGH.
Apples and Potatoes High, but Fruits
Are Plentiful and Cheap
Other Products

ner. Dealers who were seen by a star re-
porter stated that the prices this year are
as cheap, IL not cheaper. than they were
this time last year with the possible ex-
ception of potatoes and apples. Last year
potatoes and apples were unusually plenti-
full and were correspondingly cheap. but
this year the wet weather affected the po-
tato crop and made them scarce. With
their scarcity they are not as high as they
were several years ago, dealers retailing
them at % cents a peck. The best apples
are selling at 60 cents a peck, but inferior
stock Is to be had at lower prices. Good
apples. the dealers say, are very scarce at
this season and they will probably be high
all the winter. The Information from Chi
cago says that Thanksgiving this year gives
promise of being anything but an occasion
for giving thanks on the part OF the small
householder. the man who works for iiv-
ing or the moderately poor. to say nothing
of those extremely poor who have been ac-
customed to the treat of rabbit stew at the
soup kitchens as means of stimulating
their gratitude. Not only are prices soar
ing on what may be called the celebrant
viands of the occasion, but the adjunct ne
cessities are also mounting upward at an
alarming rate. Mince meat will either be
forsworn this year or 1t will be necessary to
eschew the apples, as the price of the fruit
has almost doubled as compared with last
year. Inquiries at markets for all kinds OF
viands revealed an increase of from 10 to
20 per cent-over last year and in every case
the expressed opinion was that present con-
ditions were favorable compared to what
might be expected In the immediate future.
/. Price Of Turkey.
Everybody who can get a turkey for
Thanksgiving dinner will purchase fowl
Of that species. At this time local dealer
stated, 1t Is impossible to tell anything
about what prices will prevail at Thanks
giving. They are now retailing at % cents
a pound. which is no higher than the price
asked for them this time last year. He
thought that they might possibly go as
high 25 cents before the holiday season
begins. but. he said. there is no way of an
ticipating what the market will be. 1t will
be merely a matter of supply and demand,
and while no big shipments have yet been
promised they may be made in time 10
hold down the prices. Long Island ducks
are selling at 22 cents pound, no higher
than usual, and young chickens are to be
had for 90 cents. Roasting chickens are Is
cents and fowls IL cents pound There is
not much to be had in the line of game
just yet, although the season for wild ducks
and some birds opened last month. Wild
ducks have not appeared along the Poto-
mac in large numbers, but gunners have
killed a few mallard and smaller ducks.
Ortolan as fine as dealers ever handed,
are selling at 1.25 dozen, and they will
be on the market for another month. Many
Of the birds are as large as quail. The sea-
son for quail will open next Wednesday.
year, especially in this section. 1t is said
that there will be shooting Of the birds
permitted In North Carolina this year and
this will mean that once source of supply
will be cut of.
Fruits Plentiful and Cheap.
While apples and potatoes are higher than
usual there are other things In the line of
fruits and vegetables that are unusually
plentiful and cheap. A slight increase in
the price of Concord grapes occurred this
week, but Tokays are so cheap that they
more than overbalance this increase. A few
Malaga grapes are also In market. and the
prices asked for them range from 20 to %
cents a pound with bright prospects for
lower prices before Thanksgiving Jamaica
oranges are to be had at from 25 cents to 80
cents a dozen, the prices being considered
cheap for so early in the season. Florida
grape fruit Is selling at from cents to Is
cents each. Peaches and pears are getting
scarce and will soon be out of season. Gran
berries and celery, to accompany the
Thanksgiving turkey, are plentiful and
prices are about the same as they were last
year. Tomatoes are getting scarce and cor
respondingly high. The best of them are
now retailing at % cents quarter peck.
Spinach Is more plentiful than ever before
and dealers are selling 1t at 20 cents peck.
Good cabbages are also getting plentiful
and cheap prices rule. Local dealers never
knew lettuce to be so plentiful it has
been during the past month. Thousands of
baskets have been shipped to other mar
kets, and still the supply is far greater than
the demand. Dealers say there has been no
increase in the price of canned goods with
the exception of tomatoes. They are much
higher than usual, but corn is cheaper.
Canned and dried fruits show no increase in
price as compared with the prices last year.
Raisins currants, citron and evaporated
fruits with but few exceptions, are selling
at prices about the same as those of last
year. Prunes are quoted at an advance over
vear's pricpS but figs dates and
have not yet demanded increased prices and
dealers think the prices will be about the
same last year.
Increase in Butter Price.
Butter dealers expect to increase the re-
tail price of that commodity within a few
days, making 30 cents the standard price
for creamery butter. The wholesale price
increased some little time ago, but dealers
did not take advantage of that increase to
raise the price to the consumer. Extra
fancy butter is scarce and difficult to get at
any price.
There is reason to anticipate that the
price of butter will go as high this year as
1t did last winter" remarked a dealer In
the Center market. 80 far eggs are con- |
cerned," he added, nobody can tell what |
turn the market is likely to take at any |
time. They may get higher and they may |
be cheaper later on than they are now"
Strictly fresh eggs are scarce, the best |
white eggs being quoted at 35 cents n dozen |
in New York Storage eggs are plentiful. |
and the various grades are to be had at diff |
ferent prices. some being sold to the trade |
as low as IS cents. Complaint is made that |
many storage eggs are being sold along The !
country lines at the markets for fresh stock |
thereby practicing a deception upon the con- |
sumers. Eggs are now retailing at from % |
to 33 cents dozen, the more expensive New |
York stock not being handled to any extent |
in the local market |
The meat market is easy. and lower prices |
are predicted. With the opening of the |
game season next week. 1t is stated there |
will be a decreased demand for meats and |
prices will therefore decline. 1t is stated |
by dealers that the prices are lower than |
they were this time last year. and they |
have no reason to believe that there Is to be |
an increase before Thanksgiving that will |
make beef too high for use in mince meat /
Fish are somewhat higher than usual this 1
season. but the supply is more than equal |
to the demand. Dealers are complaining |
that the fish trade is not as good as usual |
at this season, although there are many
strangers In the city.
Anacostia and Vicinity.