New-York tribune., 1907-10-27

pert said il was evident from the records or
sales last year that the annual consumption OF OF
eggs cost New York about S22,OO0OOU. While
Father Knckerbocker's butter bill might De
roughly figured at S23OOOO00
Vegetable and fruit dealers throughout the pig
market districts dismissed inquiries regarding
their by saying that prices were @ tne
same a year ago" comparison OF lIe e
market reports of last October with those Oh
this year, however. show that there has peen d
slight increase in the price OF most VegeIa1 1
Maine potatoes, which were 81 90 and 81 - ID
sack last October, are now quoted at from q 80 ~
to 81 10 wholesale Long Island p0ldloeS &c 3
also gone up from the rates OF Sl 80 anu r e., o
last year to 81 and 81 p now. Apples onions, @
carrots and beets are virtually unchahgeu i ~
price but pears are now from So to 81 barrel
about 81 more than they were last yeaIi DE- D.
nard Abel, one of the largest dealers' . salu - .
terday that pears seemed to be the most eA-
pensiye of native fruits this season, as COM
pared with prices in other years +,
California fruit also has gone up poW 1iL,o, W.
the auction room at Pier No. 20. North River
where there is held the daily sale OF CaH1orIlld
fruits this was apparent all through the week
from the prices paid Here two auctlol coilI u >
panies take turn and turn about in d1sposlng OIL
the fruit which comes consigned TO them from
California shipping agents acting Tor lhuiVluIs "a
growers From a. m. to 9 a. M every DAY tue i
dock is crowded by prospective purchasers VIM
look over the crates of grapes and peaches oo OF
whatever other fruit is in season. Ihen at .
o'clock they repair to the big amphlthealre Oh
the second floor of the pier building ana MAKE
their bids The bidders are from New Jersey
and Connecticut well as from New hoIh,
and include not only jobbers but also 'pushcart
kings" as Louis Zeltner calls the men VINO run
from twenty to hundred barroWs on the East
Side e,.,
After three hours excited bidding samuel
Thomas the auctioneer for the Fruit AuclIon
Company said to a Tribune reporter; an ouL
California fruit is selling here at from 40 cenIs
to 81 more a case than it brought last year
The reason. think, is the shortage OF the East .
ern fruit crop. 1t seems to me that lhe IdIIllls
off of the peach and pear crops mere III IIle I'dst
is because the farmers have failed 10 set oul
new orchards or properly care for the OLD ones
While the crop in the states along the <AtIahl!C
has been dwindling year by year. the I'll,
growers have been increasing their output nc ne
California crop is good, and we are receiving
in New York an average of twenty-five carloads
a dav for the five selling days in the Week
And so ii appeared from these ana oIllSI
dealers in the commission and jobbing traue
that while most sorts of produce had gone up
in price the market would adjust itselr aiter
the holiday trade AS dealer expressed II
'T'bere can't be a food trust In this sort or
stuff 4 few years ago Armour & CO. trled 10
oct into the produce business and control It
as II does the meat trade. 1t was TOO @much @
work Meats can be handled In large quahlIllG,s
and kent indefinitely. Produce varies 100 Iiuch
in quality and keeping properties beslueS'
every man with little truck patch can raISe
Vegetables and chickens. Moreover, he can get
to the buyer who wants the best through Ile
iobber who caters to that trade.
"A person can't form an accurate ldea OF llIe
market by comparing trade reports. Very otteh'
If prices seem higher it is because shippers nave
found il doesn't pay to transport second grace
goods New York gets about the best In TINS
line for the lower grade vegetables ana eggs
are likely to turn out a total loss, whereas the
high grade goods. even if injured IN travel are
usually worth something.