The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-03-25
BUSINESS In New Orleans.

The following excerpts from Dun s |
Review of M arch Is, showing general
aud market condition sat New Orleans,
will prove of interest:
General conditions-Jobbers and
manufacturers in all lines report con-
tinued Improvement. In some lines
business is still below what it was a
year ago, notably in groceries and
provisions, but in others the movement
| is quite good. Country merchants
are taking a more hopeful view, and
| in a number OF instances where orders
have been previously cancelled re-
| quests have been made that they be re-
instated and goods shipped imme-
diately. Retail trade is quite good,
having been stimulated by visitors to
the carnival.
| Cotton-Cotton advanced steadily
throughout the greater portion OF this
week, quotations for futures at one
time being 1888. Later the future mar
ket reacted on unfavorable cables from
| the English market, but the decline in
| futures has not affected the spot mar
ket. Futures closed only II or Is
points above aweek ago, while spots are
| up e-sixteenths and are selling at
considerable premium over futures.
The spot market is very firm and hold
ers are very strong in their determl-
nation TO maintain prices. Receipts OF
cotton for the season amount to 6. 437,-
OPS bales, against 6,571, 449 last year.
| Stocks at all ports are 62,Ol9 bales,
against 612, $3.50 last year.
! Manufacturers OF fertilizer in this
section say til at the demand for fertll-
| izer this year from cotton planters IS
1 not only much below what it was last
i wear, but that the sales are under the
! average for several years past. This
in a measure is accounted for by I'M
| favorable weather conditions, which
would have prevented farmers from
hauling fertilizer to their properties.
Sugar planters are all using increased
supplies of fertilizer and the planting
of cane will be very materially in
creased, which will require the use OF
great deal of fertilizer and in meas
ure offset the decreased business from
cotton planters. Other conditions,
however, are such as will prevent the
planting of anything like the cotton
acreage under cultivation last year.
While a large portion OF the smaller
! planters realized the highest prices for
their cotton and are probably as free OF
debt as they were a year ago, the
small merchant or middleman who
took this cotton in settlement Of debts
has sustained some heavy losses, and
lmany OF them are still carrying large
quantities of this cotton. These
merchan or middlemen are not in
Eposition to make the advances hereto
fore made to the small farmer and
planter Most of the large planters
also have large part of their capital
tied up in cotton, which probably was
taken from tenants at high prices, and
they are not in a position to operate
as extensively as last year. Commis-
sion merch ants and factors have larger
accounts on their books, which they
will have to carry over, than they have
had for a number of years. Most OF
the commission merchants are also
carrying large quantities Of cotton for
/ account of the strongest Of their GUS
toners, and are therefore not in a
position to make the advances hereto
i fore extended to the large planter and
the middleman or merchant. Last
! wear at this time conditions were such
that almost any small farmer, tenant
or even negro could get almost any
thing in the way OF advances he de-
sired. Agitations for the reduction in
acreage may have some influence, but
i not much. Actual conditions prevail
/ ing in the south will have more.
! Weather conditions are likely to have
| a great deal to do with the yield Of
cotton for 1905. It is exceedingly diff
fcult to fill large orders for cotton at
the present time at anything like pre-
i vailing quotations., and in fact pur-
ehases of any special quantity of cot
ton are usually above quotations. The
weak holders appear to have been
/ eliminated and the planters and other
owners of cotton who have holdings in
this section appear to be disposed to
hold on for much better prices.
sugar-The market for plantation
sugar has been rather dull, with prices
a shade easier. Receipts have been on
quite a liberal scale and buyers were
scarce, except at concessions. Refined
sugars also were dull but unchanged.
tMolasses and syrup were in fair de-
mand, sales being equal to receipts.
Rice-Receipts OF rough rice have
been small, but the demand has been
sufficient to absorb all offerings at I'M
, changed quotations. There has been
no Oh ange in the market for clean rice,
the demand being principally for export
grades. Trading has been of limited
proportions. Receipts Of rough rice
for the season were l.196,5 sacks.
against 1899, 1873 last year. Receipts
of clean rice were 467, OPT pockets,
against 332, 1862 last year. The Louisi-
ana crop movement to date is reported
bv Dan Talmaoa5s SIMS as fallnws.