Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-20
J0BBING TRADE IS IN HEALTH
Full CONDITION
Eggs stesdy-Butter Cleaned Up
Onions Flrmer-AiI Fish Scarce
Strawberries Weak-Potatoes
steady--came Wanted

after the holidays has continued
steady and strong, except for the in
| terruption caused for day or two
by last weeks storm. orders have
been well distributed over the list of
staple commodities, but perhaps the
canned goods line has displayed more
activity than any other branch Of the
grocery business. The distribution on
orders from the local and nearby trade
has been notably large, but the vest
ern and southern demand has been
exceptional for the season.
II do not know how to account for
the unusual demand for goods in jan
uary," said member of 81 leading
! jobbing firm. "unless it is that re-
tailers allowed their stocks to become
more depleted than usual toward the
end of last year The severity of the
winter so far may account for the in
creased demand for canned goods the
consumption of which is always great
er under such conditions. There is
| nothing remarkable in the demand
for dried fruits, which is, to be sure,
better that we expect ordinarily In
January, yet not noticeably active"
ROCKY FORD OFFICERS-At
meeting of the melon growers of Ar
kansas valley at Rocky Ford last week
fed eration of all of the cantaloupe
associations in the valley was organ
lied Sixteen associations entered into
a compact to demand an advance of
so cents cash on every crate. additional
payments to be made according to
the price obtained.
| 1t was decided that the acreage is
to be less than last season. The per-
manent officers of the association are:
President. w. M. Wiley; vice presi-
dent, ]. E. Gauger of Rocky Ford;
secretary, w. B. Ebbert treasurer,
Phil Erickson of Rock Ford. These
officers and Fred vint constitute the
executive committee. The attendance
was large and deep interest shown.
| SPOT TOMATOES FIRM-The spot
tomato market has been slowly gath
ering strength all during the week,
and while the week opened with some
standard maryland size) tomatoes to
be secured at 60c factory, it is closing
with practically no goods obtainable
at Gle less the discount. There is no
doubt that the feeling in tomatoes in
this immediate section was influenced
by the severe storm which blocked
mails and traffic for a while. But at
the same time the outlook is considered
brighter by packers No high prices
nor sudden advances are expected, but
a gradual improvement, which is so
long overdue, is thought to be COM
ing on; 621ac is the market for Mary
land standard tomatoes at this time,
with considerable amount of very
nice quality goods obtainable at this
figure.
BUTTER is F'IRM-Receipts of but
ter are still large and the demand for
both coast and valley creamery leaves
little surplus at the end of the day.
All during last week shipments were
l.. i
condition will exist this week. A
weaker point must come and prices
doubtless will go lower, but with
scarcely enough in storage to feed Los
Angeles a few days it would appear as
if steady and firm market would
prevail until the natural increase
commands a recession in quotations.
1t is said that orders to be placed
are week behind owing to scarcity
and that coast creamery has sold free
ly at 55 cents a two-pound roll. Pre-
dietions were made on the street Sat
urday that no further advances would
soon occur, as dealers are taking the
situation and future possibilities into
consideration.
Reports from Chicago say that the
butter market remains firm, with
every indication for an advance if
consumption will stand for it. Small
lots have been sold on change for two
weeks higher than quotations. Most
of those who have butter stored are
reluctant about withdrawing and there
is some complaint about getting
enough JuneS to go around.
Sigmund Bros. are said to have
cleaned up their holdings with about
$4,000 to the good. Packing stock
is now running out at around 21c and
many dealers say they would take ten
times as much as is in sight.
Lepman & Heggie have been buying
packing all the time and are said to
have gotten a large lot in that will
make them a nice profit.
1t is thought that most of the stor-
age stock is being held for the Lenten
season, as that time usually sees the
highest price. Meantime the oleo is
going out faster than it has in ten
years.
EGGS AGAIN STEADY-Receipts of
California ranch eggs were so light
Saturday that the egg quotation COM
mittee on the produce exchange left
the selling price at % cents. Case
count eggs are not considered, as all
eggs are fresh and not from storage.
Demand is active and dealers are gen.
orally short. This leaves the market
to open the week today in healthful
| cOnQlllOH. ICCSlplo
! this week the chances are that the
price will recede, but If the demand
| is as great as during last week a
steady market may be in prospect.
Receipts since Monday until the
close of Friday were 1902 cases of eggs.
These are northern, as well as local,
and is greater than the receipts for
the previous week, that only reached
| 1774 cases.
Chicago advices regarding eggs say
that during the past week the egg
market has again proved to be con-
undrum that has put even the Oldest
dealers to guessing. 1t seems to have
been a case of guessing what will hap
pen next,
The first four days of the week
brought only 5633 cases of eggs to this
market as compared with about that
number in one day during the same
period last year. Monday there were
1882 cases listed on change and it was
an easy matter to decide that the
price should be 34c for prime firsts
and S6e for extras. Tuesdays prices
were unchanged.
There is a wide difference OF opinion
as to whether or not there will be any