The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-03
FURS NOT HIGHER.
Topeka Dealer Says That Prices
Are Down.
Indications That Market VIII
Go Still Lower.
REPORTS FROM EAST.
Says They Come From lover
stocked Manufacturers
Last Year High Mark in Prices
Was Reached.

The press dispatches from eastern
markets to the effect that there is an
advance in the price of furs, is en-
phatically denied by T. ]. Brown, a
wholesale fur dealer of 126 North
Kansas avenue, who says the prices
are from twenty-five to sixty per cent
lower than at this time a year ago. In
fact, Mr.. Brown claims, there is every
indication that the market will go
still lower and the wholesalers are not
buying to very great extent
The high price of last year" said
Mr.. Brown, was the highest ever
known and has reduced the consump-
ton of furs and the supply of raw
skins and manufactured goods is quite
large at this time both in Europe and
all eastern markets Parties who have
manufactured goods on their hands
have been persistently circulating
stories to the effect that the fur mar
the public and dispose of their goods
at something like the price they paid
for them a year ago."
Then Brown proceeded to introduce
several dozen quotations from whole
salers all over the country to prove
his contention that the market was In
shaky condition. Here's one from
Chicago concern that knows what It
is talking about" said the Topeka
man as he unfolded a yellow sheet
ana nanue0 IL TO Vlsltor lot MS IN
spection. when the firm says the
market is so and so, you can ship your
goods on their statement" The cir
cular read:
1--WE don't want to be pessimistic,
but conditions at home and abroad in
the fur trade are not as promising as
they have been. Our Leipzig repre-
sentative cabled to use today to reduce
prices or stay out of the market. We
advise you to use due caution and If
the market changes for the better we
will advise you promptly"
This circular quoted Missouri-Ka
sas skunk furs as follows: $2.25, $1.S5.
80 and 40. Muskrats, "a, "a, IA
and .06.
Now" said Brown, eff people will
dig up their last years reports and
see what the quotations were a year
ago, they can very easily tell the con-
dition of the market. These drops in
handling about 1900 furs a day and
shipments coming IL from every Sec
ton of the country. Look att that
stack of mail"
Come From All Over Country.
Then Brown exhibited a list of ship
ments from every section of the coun-
try to the Topeka wholesalers. There
were bear, beaver, marten and lynx
skins and hundreds of the more COM
mon furs. The shipments came from
Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Iowa.
| Montana, Canada, Pennsylvania and
the Dakotaos. Upstairs in the store
rooms, Brown showed a visitor more
than 10000 furs which were being
prepared for shipment to the eastern
markets.
1--WE handle about 10000 furs in
| the winter months" said Mr.. Brown
| land it is not difficult to figure what
we stand to lose when there is q
| two or three cent drop in the market
every few days. We have tried to
keep the prices up with the markets
in the east, but if a person stays in
the game at the present time, it is nec-
essary to keep both eyes open. Here
| is telegram from st. Louis that
came yesterday" The telegram read:
The late collection of Kansas, Ne
braska and Iowa rats have sold here
the last two days at zoe to 22c and
the strict central rats at 25c to zee
These are late fresh collections
Skunks and opossum also continue
to decline from sale to sale; also mink
and In fact everything In the fur line. y
| after a man receives these reports
each day." said the Topeka man, "he
cannot understand where the manu-
facturers find the basis for their re-
| DOrfs''