The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1916-11-16
POTATO SITUATION
The Local Potato Market is Firm and
Receipts Have Been Good
the Past Few Days.
Shipments Light-SOuthern Pacific
Explains the Car Shortage
Other Spud Notes.

The local potato market continues
firm, and there has been practically
no variation in price since last week.
Farmers are being paid from $1.25 to
$1.35 for all varieties except Triumphs
which are bringing from $3.50 to $1.55.
Receipt have been good, but there have
been few shipments, due to shortage
of cars. A few loads Of potatoes were
not properly covered while being
hauled to market and the spuds froze
as result.
The carlot potato market was steady
i'll Chicago last week and seemed to
have recovered from the slump which
started two weeks ago although price
levels were still under those which pre-.
vailed just prior to the development
of this easier feeling. Receipts in Chi
cago ran lighter than those Of week
ago, in fact the receipts for the early
days of the week ran about third
under those of the previous period.
At loading stations material de-
crease was noted in the receipts in all
the central northern states. Many
points in Michigan, Wisconsin and
Minnesota report that practically all
stocks have been shipped except those
that will be needed to take care of the
local seed and table stock demand.
Some stations that cleaned up at the
top of the market two weeks ago are
said to have sold so close that the re-
manning supply is not sufficient to care
for local demands until the next crop
is produced.
Operators continue to have consid-
cradle trouble in getting cars, and in
but few instances have they been able
to get as many cars as were needed
for any Of their many stations. From
present indications it seems no relief
is in sight and dealers have come to
the conclusion that the situation is one
that will have to be dealt with
throughout the winter shipping sea-
Eso1.
: For the first time in several weeks
the New York potato market was slow
last week and prices showed a decline
from the opening of the week to the
close. The election might have had
something to do with this as New
York was pretty we'll wrought up over
the outcome and very few business
men attended strictly to business.
The car shortage is explained by the
Southern Pacific as follows:
''The volume Of business from the
Pacific coast has predominated east
bound through the year for the past
several years. AS a result Of the
closing of the Panama canal and of
the congested condition existing
along the Atlantic seaboard, the sit
uation has been accentuated. Rail-
roads in the West have been unable
to secure the release and return of
their cars in eastern territory. On
May 1, 1916, the total number Of cars
Of all ownership on the Southern Pa
cifc lines represented an equivalent
of only 80 per cent Of that lines own
equipment. kilograms were sent to
all lines owing US a balance, request
ing the return of the cars and plead
ing the urgency Of the situation.
These kilograms have been repeated
and the request reiterated through
out every month since that time.
The eastern lines have replied that
they would do everything possible to
return the cars and relieve the stu
ation Some assistance has been rem
dered. On September l the total
number of cars Of all ownership on
Southern Pacific rails represents an
equivalent to SO per cent of the cars
owned by that line. The congestion
in eastern territory, together with
the great industrial activity due to
the war, and the resulting demand
for cars in that territory, makes it
more difficult to obtain our equip
ment or it's equivalent. All cars fol-
the Pacific coast territory must OF
course come from the East. In this
respect the lines operating on the
coast and without eastern connection
or without termini in the Middle
West are at a decided disadvantage
for the reason that a large proportion
Of the products Of the coast is fol
eastbound movement and all cars &C
beyond the lines of the owner"
Bakery Changes Hands.
A deal was closed this week where
by G. E. Raiche disposed Of his bakery