The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-22
WEAKER Y A 1 / :! | / J.
DEVELOP ON EGGS
DEMAND FROM STORAGE BUYERS
rs NOT AS HEAVY.
Butter Holds UP to Strong Range
Of Values Dealers Are Anxious to
Keep Closely Sold Out, Nevertheless
Il Slump Is Due, but Not in Sight
as Yet,

The butter situation shows some conditions
that are not pleasant to contemplate. Ihe pre-
yatling high prices make life a Gurded TO the
retailer, because he not only has to handle on
close margin, but Is developing a 'holdup'
reputation among the housewives who patronize
him, on account Of the way the grocery Dill
swells up every time she orders butter. The job
Der also, who has to handle on margin OF from
u half to a full cent per pound, finds he is doing
a large volume of business In dollars and cents
that does not show UP 5 per cent mpgin. All
Interested are anxious to keep from under any
great holdings, from the maker to the rettler,
and the consumer who puts up for creamery eX-
tras can at least depend upon getting fresh
goods. There Is not streak Of grass in the but
ter as yet, and it will probably be at least two
weeks or more before grass goods will be COM
ing in to any great extent. There is doubt
but that values, when once started on the down
ward course, will drop precipitately. But the
wise men Of the trade do not even pretend to be
able to say when that contingency will develop,
and are just keeping still and selling goods on
arrival, RECEIPTS locally are not showing any
Increase on tops, and are undoubtedly lighter on
the low grades than they were 30 days ago.
While the drop in eggs has not been of serious
proportions 1t has been brought about by the
falling off in the speculative call from the east
restricting the outlet comparatively to consump-
tive channels. The opinion is quite universal
among buyers that egg prices are too high to in
sure profit on holdings. Eggs now cost close
to SO per case, when ready to go into coolers,
and after storage, insurance, interest and other
chargest are paid it means that over 20 penis
per dozen must be secured for them in the fall
10 get pack the money on the original invest
ment to say nothing of profit, which is con-
sldered quite important proposition by the
investor Local storage houses report that their
rooms are filling up very slowly, and good
proportion of the stock put away is on account
of some of the larger hotels and restaurants
VINO buy and store each spring enough to supply
their necessities for the coming winter A still
1urther decline will likely give more impetus to
CO fhofS i.
that the drop vii. be at all serious. There seems
! to be no indications favorable to holding, and
conservative view Of the situation would sug.
gest prompt shipping of supplies on hand
Cheese is quiet. There are only moderate
holdings OF old goods to work off, while arrivals
OF new makes are unimportant Prmost of good
quality is scarce. F,.ss-
Arrivals Of chickens continue moderate The
demand has been ample to care for all arrivals
ana values show little better range than at
the opening of the week. Turkeys especially are
wanted. but at the same time any great offerings
would depress prices quickly. The call for broil-
ers has been satisfactory. and values have held
up strongly. Chicks under a pound in weight
VIII not bring quotations, and should be kept
meats the entire list shows slight Declines Veal
, OF fancy quality is comparatively scarce, but
the market has been flooded with fair to good
stock, which has moved out slowly and de-
pressed the whole situation. Mutton and lambs
j have also been in generous supply, and while
! not showing any great accumulation, dealers
+ are not able TO secure the figures that marked
! the opening of the week. Quite number of
milk, lambs are coming, selling at from lac to
lSc per pound according to quality. Very few
country dressed hogs are coming.
/ Fruit trade for the week has been fair, but
! hardly up to expectations for Easter week
Green vegetables are high some lines, but
are very reasonable on others. Asparagus and
wax beans have nto been plentiful enough tc
! supply the demand, and have been forced higher
IN price. Some of the old vegetables are also
higher. notably carrots, cabbage and onions.
| In fruits the list shows but few changes
Oranges are higher on, Mediterranean sweets anG
seedlings Apples reduced to four varieties
Pineapples are slightly lower. The extraordi
narily heavy demand for Strawberries forced u1
prices the closing days of the week Reports
are to the effect that ample arrivals Will be or
| hand next week, and prices will be low. ii
not lower, than ct sany time the past ten days
The first express receipts of California cherries
| are in, the first few boxes selling around s.
per box, but $50 to So will probably be the
ruling prices next week. Carlot receipts are
I expected fully two weeks earlier than last year