Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-30
IN THE LOCAL MARKETS
DEALERS ANXIOUS ABOUT FATE
OF THE POULTRY BILL.

Retail dealers In poultry are anxious
about the fate of the bill which is intended
to prevent the selling of undrawn poultry.
On the benches in the markets this morn
ing there were piles of undrawn poultry Of
every description. Some had been killed
only yesterday or this morning, but most
of it had been shipped from distance
or had been in cold storage several weeks
IF the bill passes one of the dealers
said, st will be q long time before you
will see SO much poultry in the local mar
kets again. A fowl that is killed, scalded
picked and drawn in such weather as this
would get sour and unfit for use after 1t
had been exposed to the air several hours.
1t would simply mean a matter of impos
sibiity for hotels and restaurants to keep
sufficient fowls on hand to supply their
trade from day to day, and would also
mean that a number of dealers would have
to go out of business.
The passage of the measure would mean
that the western packers would find an
other outlet for their stock, and without
the western stock at this season or the
year the prices here would be about double
what they are now Mechanics and labor
ing men generally would have to do with
out chickens and turkeys and only the
wealthy would be able to buy them. Com
plants are now made by the average buyer
who is charged as much as 70 cents a
pound for a chicken. What would he do
if charged 40 or so cents a pound?'
Danger Of Losses.
1t was explained by the dealer that live
chickens sufficient to supply the demand
cannot possibly be brought here and ship
pers are not going to incur extra expense
and run the danger of losses by the spoil
ing of their stock. The enactment of the
law he stated, will mean the loss of thou
sands of dollars annually by the local
merchants. He also said that a drawn
| fowl that is kept upon the bench several
hours before being delivered is calculated
to. show the effects of an undesirable
change. Turkeys and capons are quoted
at IS cents a pound today, but with the
enforcement of the provisions of the pro-
posed law. the dealer remarked they would
be about 40 90 cents a pound.
Broilers are also selling at % cents a
pound. Long Island ducks are to be had
for 80 cents and ducks from Maryland and
Virginia at 20 cents pound. Baking
chickens are 20 cents and geese IL cents
pound. Sunday Is the last day of the sea-
son for wild ducks and the left over stock
will be kept In cold storage until the be-
ginning Of next season. Buyers Will have
to depend upon imported game for their
for the imported game are In advance OF
those asked for the domestic stock.
Varieties Of Vegetables
A big Improvement has been noted in the
condition Of the vegetable market during
! the past two weeks. North Carolina furnish
ing some produce for tho first time this sea-
son, early York cabbage and asparagus be-
ing added to the list. They will have the
effect OF lowering the prices OF similar prod
ucts that have been received from Florida.
The cabbages are quoted at from 3 to ID
cents a head and the asparagus at 60 cents
| for a large bunch. Smaller punches are to
be had for 10 cents each.
The first Bermuda onions OF the season
have arrived and they find ready sale at 40
cents q quarter peck. Potatoes from Ber-
muda are selling at Is and % cents quar-
| ter peck. Celery Is becoming scarce and
high. selling at from B to 15 cents. 1t Is
stated that q great demand for celery in
New York caused some of the local dealers
| to ship their stock there last week to get
advanced prices. Tomatoes are more plen-
| tiful and cheaper. selling at from is to y
cents pound. Rhubarb Is quoted at 10
cents: cucumbers from TO 20 cents, and
egg plant at from s to is cents.
Apples are scarce and high, with no pros
poet OF getting cheaper until summer.
1 Strawberries are to be had at from Is to IS
cents quart; oranges are about the same