The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-01-16
North Y0kiH|Q Markets


| blood in the veins of commerce as well
as in the veins of humanity Trade
| in almost all lines has been sluggish
| and slow ever since the holidays, and
\ in some there has been absolutely
nothing doing. Commission men and
| wholesalers are taking n rest They
| sit around the red-hot stoves and
swap lies about this being mild COM
pared to the winter of umpty-seven,
or figure on what the people of the
Sound are doing for hay and potatoes
| They are not buying very extensively
for two reasons. In the first place
the ranchers are not tearing their
shirts to get their stuff to town this
kind of weather, and in the second
as one of them puts 1t, what's the use
of buying when you won't be able to
ship for God knows when, and maybe
by that time the market will be q
! whole lot different from what it is
now?
There Is little kicking at this time
on account Of car shortage on the part
of the shippers of this city. They say
that cars are not plentiful, and can
not always be obtained when wanted,
but by giving the company two or
three days notice they can count with
a reasonable degree of certainty on
having them here when needed. It is
the weather that is interfering with
shipping. To forward car Of pota-
toes to the Sound or Spokane at this
time would be assuming a big risk,
and If they froze the consignee would
be set back some 500 to $500. Spuds
are spuds at this time. They are scarce
articles on the Sound-any kind, and
especially the Yakima kind Children
cry for them, and they are treasured
and handled with care, Just as the
people of this valley fondled their
black diamonds before the late excite
ment. Local dealers quote them at
$14 to SIT ton and will pay more
when the weather moderates so that
they may ship in safety. Over on the
Sound the retailers sell them at the
rate of $50 to $22 ton. 1t is stated
that the receipts of potatoes from CAL
ifornia this season were very light
while the Alaska and oriental trade
called for more than ever before It's
a cinch everybody will plant potatoes
next year.
Last season about this time the
commission men We're securing the
country for onions, and paying record
breaking prices for them. The price
went up $40 "a ton in less than
three weeks and before the crop was
all taken any variety of onions in
good condition brought $75 ton. and
NJ
paid $50 for a few choice lots. This
year onions are Comparatively plentl-
full. and the price is low. Shippers can
get all they want at SIS to SIG ton,
but there is good money in raising
them at that.
The apple market is in a satisfac-
tory condition, so far as both the pro-
Queer and the middlemen are concern
ed. The demand is strong, and while
1t is not safe to ship Just at this time
this fact cuts little figure. as there
are ample cold storage facilities for
handling all that are brought to town.
One dealer estimates that there are
now in storage about $4,000 boxes Of
fine apples of the better varieties,
mainly Yellow Newtowns, winesaps
hlSSOuTl IlpplnS ana ben Davis. quo
tations vary according to variety and
size, running from 60 cents to $3.50
a box. The Sound cities are anxiously
waiting more favorable weather and
will take several carloads.
There are good many pears, all
of the Winter Nellis variety. in stor-
age for which the demand is strong
Shippers are paying from 81 to s1.20
a box for these. and would gladly buy
twice as many as are offered.
The hay market has taken on mark
ed activity within the past 10 days
The Sound is suffering from a hay
famine, and the dealers there are will
ing to take anything they can get. IN
this city s14 to SIG is being paid for
alfalfa. and good timothy brings 500
1t is probable that the hay market will
remain active and the price high for
several weeks.
Good beef cattle are scarce. and the
price for cows has advanced to s2.75
and even So; steers are quoted at So
to 1925.
The following quotations show the
trend of the prices in the local mar
ket