The San Francisco call., 1910-10-23
The RaisIn Situation

4 many HOUSE IN The CalfOrnla ra1sln trade
has the following 10 say of conditions in
raisins;
both raisin growers and shippers. early in
the season there a big difference OF opn
ION, even among the shippers themselves, as
to the years tonnage
while it was generally believed the crop
would fall somewhat short of that OF a year
ago. the percentage varied anywhere from 5
conceded at the present time That it will be
about % per cent less than 1909.
Certain of the packers believing that the crop
would be but little, if any. short of year
ago. have been consistent bears from the be
keep the market down to level consistent
with what they thought It ought to be. 1t
is reported they have sold freely. but Judging
from the cost in the primary market such sales
have been for the benefit of the growers. only
there have been few opportunities this year
TO buy goods in the sweatbox at prices that
would admit Of selling seeded loose rafsins
for the prices that were ruling when the heavy
sales were made.
interests of dull trade. slack demand, and that
the jobbers were not interested. and yet In the
ments to date show that they have been rec
An ACTIVE MOVEMENT
AS there was a heavy carry over of raisins,
which, however offered at exceptionally
low prices early sales 10 the trade were made
at figures that were attractive enough to induce
heavy huving: neither the trade the ship
pers realized appreciated the fact that the
goods were going into consumption at a lively
'sThe reports spread early in the season of
big crop. which were later found to be in
in curtailing consumption. but if short
lived at best. for consumers realized that
raisins were about the cheapest things on the
list and their demand for goods compelled the
jObheTS TO purchase freely.
Figures submitted by the transportation COM
panies show that in May 1909. there were
something over 1.500 tons of raisins shipped out
Of the state. and in Nav. 1910. over 1900 tons:
while in June the difference was more pro-
nounced In 1909. during the latter month
there were over 900 tons shipped from the
state. while June Of this year shows over 1000
tons an increase that Is simply remarkable;
this indicates thing very decidedly, namely.
that rsisins are gaining in popularity and are
In July. which is usually considered dull
month the shinments for last year were some
thing over 100 tons while for 1910 they were
over . 400 tons; in August of 1909. something
2 400 tons. while In August of this year
over 5000 tons. When we take into considera-
ton that the two months named are from q
dried fruit STANDPOINT considered the dullest of
the year. these figures are worthy of the most
e4ls-1i A BEAR CAMPAIGN
The campaign for lower prices was most
Der. and no stone was left unturned to CON
vince the buyers Of the country that delay in
purchasing would make them money and thst
price If they only held Off. Again the ralsin
buyers answered these bear arguments by Tux
the TRANSPORTATION companies returns. which
are over 1900 tons for September OF last year.
and over 600 tons for September OF 1910 The
same tactics have been pursued during the
month of October, and the figures given show
that for the first half OF this month the ship
ments greater than that OF last year by
over GOO tons and we believe the balance Of
the month will show equally surprising
increase.
''The above figures, furnished by the trans
portation companies. available 10 anyone
who cares to Investigate and therefore be-
yond question, and a per7isal OF them will con-
vince anyone that apparently the only people
who believe that the crop is an enormous one
and that prices will go to abnormslly low
figure. are the people who are dispensing the
information.
THE ADVANCE LEGITIMATE
There has been no BOOM nor any attempt
so far as we can find out. to create any
commodity this season. The advance that has
occurred IN most lines has been because of the
demand for the stock and while the reports
OF the past week are quite uniform in that
business IS quiet when the matter is pressed
home nearly all shippers report they are do
ing more than a year ago"