The Washington times., 1909-11-26
Dealers Report Increase of
More Than One-third
Over Last Year.
HIGH PRICES DUE
TO WARM WEATHER
Easy Market at Christmas Time
Anticipated AS Result of the
Thanksgiving Business.

With every produce house, wholesale
and retail. In Washington, reporting
that its sale Of turkeys ranged from
one-third to a half more than last year,
dealers today without exception, declare
that the turkey trade this Thanksgiving
was the heaviest ever experienced on
the local market.
One firm, which has been operating on
Louisiana avenue orfthirty years, and
!, Is one of the largest poultry houses on
the market reported that in the two
; days preceding Thanksgiving, it dis
posed OF $4,000 worth Of turkeys, princi-
palIy al retail. to local consumers.
This amount was fully one-third more
than that brought I'm through the firms
sales last year. And last year was the
banner year Of the concerns twenty
nine years.
Unanimous Opinion.
A round Of the poultry markets this
morning bI ought the same story from
every proDr tetor.
"Absolute'S the best Thanksgiving
turkey ma .ket washington has ever
known" declared one dealer.
The higher the fowls went. the more
e they seemed 70 be in demand, and they
prices" said another
The turkey trade this week has
convinced me absolutely that times are
becoming prosperous, and there is more
money in the country than is generally
believed" continued a third.
Practically all dealers take the view
that there viii be an easy market on
fowls at Christmas. Experience teaches.
they declare, that a stiff Thanksgiving
market makes an easy Christmas mar
ket, and vice versa.
In speaking OF the unusual market
OF tie week, d. P. Collins, a large
3 produce dealer on Tenth street, this
morning said:
Increase of $1,000.
MY accounts show that I sold more
than $1,000 worth Of turkeys. principally
at retail. during Monday. Tuesday. and
Wednesday This is fully $1,000 more
than the amount i realized from last
years sales. Some OF my wholesale
customers duplicated their orders two
and three times before they were able
10 satisfy their retail trade.
The high price on the fowls seemed
10 make them all the more in demand,
and practically no objection was made
10 the stiff quotations. Apparently,
every person wanted turkey and had
the money 10 pay for It. IN my opinion
Il will be a long time before Washing
ton ever experiences another such mar
ket. If ever"
Market, put In his Thanksgiving order
Tor the birds. making il slightly heav-
Ter than last years, as he inquired de
mand would be heavier. When the
FOWLS were delivered he disposed OF
them so rapidly that he had 10 put IN
a second order. which was nearly as
large as the first This consignment
also disappeared, and Mr.. Burns was
forced 10 order a third lot before he
finally was able 10 meet the heavy retail
demand.
Due to Warm Weather.
The one reason assigned for the stin
market is that the warm weather which
prevailed last week, when Thanksgiving
shipments were being prepared, neces
STATED an advance in price, in view OF
the risk incurred in making shipments
at that time. The Increased price bad
20 be maintained all along, until the
turkeys finally became the property OF
consumers, al wholesalers were forced
30 protect themselves, after paying
warm-weather-risk prices, and retail
crs likewise.
Last year. at this time. turkeys were
much cheaper, and consumers felici
tated themselves upon what gave prom.
ise Of being an easy Christmas market
By Christmas, however, prices had
scared 10 almost unprecedented heights
Unless market tradition is upset
Christmas prices this year. dealers say
wiH uc cheaper than they were Thanks
EirinE- It ls pretty well settled thai
ther. are plenty OF fowls I'm the country
and WITH demand slightly decreased
through yesterdays heavy Consump-
tion, d Is believed prices will be gaugel
accordingly
me heavy Thanksgiving trade prac
tlczlly depleted the stock Of turkeys or
the market, and with supply none toe
heavy today, the firm prices continued
10 Zee maintained, ard dealers say doubt
less viii be through the rest Of the
week