Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-17
BANANA MEN
ARE At OUTS
TWO TRUST CONCERNS THROW
FRUIT ON MARKET
BUTTER Is NOT CHANGED
Eggs Remain Steady-Fish Too Plen-
tIful-Fresh Fruit Arrives-Fancy
Potatoes Scarce-Texas
Onions Are Due
BUTTER is NOT CHANGED

Onions Are Due
Los Angeles fruit jobbers are Won
| derng whether war has developed
in the banana market On Saturday
| bananas were being generally sold at
&c, 3hc and 3 1-3c a pound in bunch
lots and this too on classification in
quality From inspired southern
sources it is learned that the inde-
pendent banana growers, with head
quarters in New Orleans, has selected
certain markets to give the banana
| trust go for the trade, and Los An
geles is the spot for attack in the
| southern part of the Pacific coast.
Those who seem possessed of in
formation say that the independent
growers are slaughterlng prices, first,
| because the stock in Central America
is large, and that they must keep
their ships employed even at small
profit, and second that the fresh fruit
| in the east and on the coast meets
the banana and that prices must be
sacrificed to market the goods. How
ever correct these views may be the
fact remains that those dealers who
handle trust goods are meeting this
competition and slaughter. The
market is demoralized, and peddlers
are taking the overripe and culls at
low prices Shipping is in limited
quantities Last week the receipts
reached ten carloads being really
four carloads in excess of require
ments. This causes stocks to be large,
and every banana room of any con-
sequence in this city is filled. 1t is a
war that interests the consumer, but
hits hard the cash account of the
participants.
| BUTTER NOT LOWERED-Butter
dealers say they will not adhere to
the As cent price for valley creamery,
as the butter board on Saturday again
made this price. Storing must follow
and the trade in general says that
prices are out of proportion to condi-
tions. Butter King" Smith says he
has 10000 pounds of butter to sacrifice
and more to come, and plenty of back
ing, as he intends to stand on his
price of 40 cents a roll.
CHERRY SEASON OPENS-I re-
ports that have come to Los Angeles
from the north are correct, the coming
cherry crop will be only one-half of
the usual amount. Today the cherry
season will open with blacks being Of
fered at $4.00 for a box of eight
pounds. They come from Vacaville.
1t is said that the recent cold rains,
when the trees were in flower. buds
were injured and knocked off, render
ing the prospects for the Royal Ann
crops one-half, for the black cherries
one-half, and that the small white
cherry will yield only one-fourth of a
crop. Shipments are going east, and
until this demand is satisfied the price
will be firm and the supply limited.
EGGS UNCHANGED-On the pro-
duce exchange Saturday the egg
quotation committee again fixed the
selling price of eggs at 81 cents for
California ranch. Demand Is reported
steady, and supplies are ample for
all purposes. If prices will advance
this week Is a conjecture. Northern
eggs 1t is regarded serve to keep
prices lower. Some storing of locals
is reported.
Cheese is steady at former quota
tions Receipts indicate that local
make is about normal, and that de-
mand takes all supplies. 1t is re-
ported that cheese makers are await
ing the outcome of the butter -mixup.
Lower butter may mean lower priced
cheese.
POTATOES SCARCER-In this
market fancy California potatoes are
scarce. Only a few carloads are in
stock and job about $500. Colorado is
affording relief, and though not of the
best, yet they find an open market
owing to general scarcity in this sec
ton and on the coast. Colorado white
beauty are held at $1.4O. and rurals
and pearls $1.25@1.35 Shipping is
still the order of the day as the local
new crop is not figure.
All onions are firm and scarce.
From Texas this week will come two
carloads of reds and Bermudas, that
will go on the market from $4.75@5.00.
Demand, of course, is active for any
onion.
FRUIT IN GENERAL-Although
strawberries crowded the market on
Saturday the demand took the offer
ings. Gardenas and Monetas were
firm at 5c@6c a box and fancy Tropi
cos cents. In this week it is said the
receipts will break records as the
fruit is prime and ripening fast.
Dewberries are again % cents a box,
and raspberries a luxury at 80 cents.
Tangerines are firm at $1.25@1.35 a
box; lemons at the top; $1,65 for fancy
navels grape fruit sl'sO@2OO for
Gooseberries are due in this week,
but the crop is late and red currants
will follow a few days later.
Rhubarb is in good supply and
choice 9Oc@$1.00 a box. San Jose is
sending the Jumbo kind. Demand only
fair.
In the general list of vegetables
is 1OcQl2c pound peas |
4 cents fiat; wax and string beans |
ScQ9c; caulihower 75c a dozen; celery |
60c@70c a dozen.
Mexican tomatoes, 2hc@3c a pound; |
local tomatoes, slow at 75cQ$1.00 a box
and $1.4O for fancy shipping.
APPLES FIRMER-Although fresh
fruit is more plentiful and bananas
glut the market, the tone of the apple
market shows strength. Several
varieties are out of market, principal
~ Arkansas blacks, bellefowers.
red pearmains and plppins. ON
Saturday an advance was made