Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-08
IN THE LOCAL MARKETS
SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CAUSE OF HIGH PRICES.
Storms in the West Result In Scarcity
Of Neat Here-Supplies
on Hand.

The severe weather Of the past few days
has not improved the situation in the local
markets. prices being even higher than
they were a week ago. 1t Is stated that the
condition of the roads in Virginia and
Maryland is such that the country people
are unable to do much hauling, and their
inability to reach the market causes a
shortage in the supply of country butter.
eggs and other products. The storms in
the west 1t is remarked, have been the
means of making meat scarce here, and
higher prices are quoted. There has been
an advance of aboat cents dozen in
dealers think the price will decrease as
soon as the snow disappears and the haul
ers are able to resume their work.
II paid 30 cents a dozen for eggs in case
lots this morning" dealer remarked to a
Star reporter, land it Is absolutely neceS-
sary to sell them for IS cents in order to
make anything when the handling and
breakage are considered.
Butter is still scarce and high, prices this
week being about the same as quoted two
weeks ago. Dealers say it is difficult for
them to get as much good butter as they
can sell. Elgin butter is quoted at 40 cents,
cheaper grades selling as low as 30 cents.
Meat Dealers Dissatisfied.
Meat dealers are very. much dissatisfied
with the present condition of the market,
the scarcity of the meat having caused
prices to'increase. They think. they are for
tunate, however, that the demand. is not
great.
Most people have an idea that meat is
in greatest demand when the weather is
coldest" a butcher in the market said this
morning, but such is not the case. More
coffee and other hot drinks are consumed,
and people are fond of hot stews at such
times. the stews requiring less meat than
roasts." -. -,
Beef has advanced 81 hundred and pork
shows an increase of about S1.5O since last
week 1t is stated that local butchers have
only small quantities of meat on hand, but
there is no likelihood that the supply will
be wholly exhausted before shippers are
able to get additional supplies.
Poultry is Plentiful.
Poultry is plentiful supplies being more
than equal to the demand. Even the bad
condition of the roads does not seem to
have prevented country people from ship
ping their stock of poultry to the local
market. Dealers quoted turkeys this morn
ing at from 20 to % cents pound, an ad-
vance of cents since last week. IT is
likely, however, that there will be plenty
turkeys to be had tomorrow at Is ana ~
cents The increase in prices, 1t Is stated.
Is due to the weather and the advance IN
the price of meat. Young chickens are sell
Is not unusually high for this season. and
fowls are quoted as low as 16 cents. Ducks
are 20 cents, capons % cents and geese are
16 cents pound.
Fish dealers are complaining about the
absence of Potomac fish, but they have
plenty of fish from other waters to supply
the demand Much of the fish supply at this
season is frozen stock. and 1t Is therefore
not so good as the fresh-caught stock from
the Potomac Fresh cod that has not been
frozen is in demand at 121s and 10 cents a
pound Spanish mackerel are 20 cents
pound and Boston mackerel are 80 cents
each. King mackerel are quoted at 10 cents
a pound but they are almost too large for
the average family, most of them being
bought by the keepers Of hotels and res
taurants. Salmon steaks are to be had for
25 cents a pound and halibut for 20 cents.
A local dealer received three boxes from
Seattle, Wash, yesterday. containing 1.5O0
pounds of halibut, $64 being the freight
charges upon the shipment.
Wild Ducks and Fruit.
Wild ducks are more plentiful than they
were ca rlier in the season, but most of them
are so thin that they are almost worthless.
Quail are scarce and higher, 40 cents each
being the price asked.
Indian river oranges are getting less plen-
tiful each day, but the demand for them is
as great as 1t was earlier in the season.
California oranges are becoming more plen-
tiful and cheaper. and they are being han
died to a greater extent by the street
hucksters than are the Florida oranges,
be had for a quarter dozen, the better and
larger fruit selling as high as 60 cents
Florida grape fruit is more plentiful and