Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-13
IN THE LOCAL MARKETS
PRICE OF SPRING CHICKENS RE
MAINS UNUSUALLY HIGH.
Shortage in Tomato Crop-Very Few
Potomac River Fish Being
Received.

The anticipated decrease in the price of
spring chickens, which. It was thought.
would occur after the Fourth Of July de-
mand had been satisfied, has not material
lied. Spring chickens are no cheaper than
they were a month ago. and dealers say
they see no chance for a lowering of prices
in the near future. The cause for the prices
remaining SO high none Of the local dealers
seems to know. The finest of the stock Is
bringing 2S cents pound, and very few of
the "springers." as they are called, are to
be had for less than Is cents.
why we should have to pay % cents
pound for live chickens at this season of
the year" a dealer remarked to Star re-
porter. IT can't understand, but that Is just
what we are doing. Never in all my years
of experience in the poultry trade have
known chickens to be SO high at this sea-
son.
There seems to be about as many chick
ems coming here this year as usual, with
the exception of the Tennessee stock. This
year there is not more than one carload
coming from that state to three or four
that came last year and in previous years.
1t is possible that there Is shortage of
chickens in Tennessee this year, but even
that should not have so great an effect upon
the local market.
AL over the country.
But" he added. 1.-The scarcity and high
prices are being experienced all over the
country. Chickens are entirely too high for
the packers to put away, and II is not due
to such cause that prices are high. Cold
storage stock is to be had at prices much
lower than commanded by the fresh stock,
and the prices of the fresh stock are so
high that there is no reason for raisers to
fc ia to hat f|n r{o
are higher than they have been at any time
since the war
1T is said by the dealers that the young
chickens are in great demand In the sum-
mer time, people getting tired Of meats
that have been on ice for indefinite periods.
The sale of fowls, they say, has an effect
upon the meat market and decreases the
sales of slaughter-house products A young
chicken that would usually sell for % cents
Is bringing from 35 to 40 cents this year.
1t is thought that the sales of chickens
all over the country have increased since
the publication of the Neill- Reynolds re-
something to do with the present condi-
ton of the meat market.
Whatever the cause is,'' dealer stated,
I'm afraid there is not much prospect of
decrease In prices during the present sea-
son."
Other fowls are also scarce, but as the
demand for them is not so great at this
season, they are not exceptionally high,
ducks are quoted at 20 cents. y
Shortage In Tomato Crop.
Market dealers fear there is going to be
decided shortage in the tomato crop
In this section this season.
Here II is the 18th of July a dealer
remarked this morning. land branch to-
matoes are selling at 10 cents a pound or
40 cents a quarter-peck I-never heard OF
such a thing before In all my experience.
Usually at this season tomatoes sell at
about 20 cents a peck, but peck of them
now cost more than S1.50.
And" added the dealer, I'm afraid the
crop is not going to be large enough to
want them for canning purposes. Thou
sands of bushels of tomatoes are canned
by housekeepers every summer, and I'M
less the late crop proves a great improve
ment over the early crop I'm afraid the
consumers will pay rather dearly for the
canned product next winter"
Irish potatoes are not so plentiful and 40
cents peck Is the price asked for them.
String beans and cabbage are plentiful ana
cheap. Cabbage are selling at from to
ago they were being sold at 4 cents a
pound. Corn is getting more plentiful as
the season advances, the product of farms
In this section selling at from % to 30
cents dozen. Cucumbers are plentiful and
cheaper. selling at 20 cents dozen. Very
market this season, few barrels having
been received from North Carolina. They
are retailing at 81 peck.
Apples. peaches berries and plums are
plentiful The market, It is stated was ac-
tually giutted with peaches one day this
week. While there are many good peaches
being received here from the south, dealers
say. many more OF them are of inferior