The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1917-03-15

4N1hoO11, lHOItODA1, MANU-
ued easy last week but with better
tone prevailing than that of the pre-
vious week. Dealers reported that
there was somewhat improved in
curry coming from the outside and
that local business was on better
basis. The buying tone, from the
tone Of the reported inquiry, seems to
be regaining confidence and to have
assurance that the people have not
boycotted the potato but that the cut
in consumption is merely due to the
prices which the law Of supply and
demand has dictated. -
Last weeks lull, in the opinion of
the leading Chicago operators, was
purely the result Of fright on the part
of the buyers, from the wholesaler to
the retailer. Their supplies were cost
ing them much more money than they
were accustomed to pay and as soon.
as the daily newspapers said boy
colt they decided to sit back and take
on no more supplies until the stocks
on hand were exhausted. Because the
market, previous to last week, had
been steadily advancing and indica-
lions pointed to even higher levels,
the buying trade had speculated to
considerable degree and bought ahead
Of their requirements. The result
was that the slump found them with
a fair volume Of stock on hand which
they are now moving out before they
WILDE in the market for further sup
plies. The retailers seem to have
made but little concessions in price,
and in some cases done at all, the
past two weeks over the week prior
to- that when potatoes moved we'll in
CARROTS at SOC more ,bushel.
Many of those in the trade, who
are in touch with the situation in the
various producing states, seem to
think that the market is due to re-
cover to it's formal levels at least.
This opinion is reached by the esti-
mated requirements Of at least 40 per
cent of normal in connection with the
supplies yet held in excess of seed
stock. It is estimated that figuring
out TIE seed requirements, the amount
yet held back is light in all sections
of the country.
The western potato market is weak
er. Reports from Seattle, WASH, are
to the effect that there is we'll de-
fined undertone of fear of futures.
Spectators are not buying. There
seems to be a belief that farmers in all
the potato growing districts of the
United States are holding back more
potatoes than previous estimates have
indicated and with the opening of fav-
orable weather they will turn them
loose. This of course, is mere conjec-
ture and there is no way of finding out
about it until the potatoes are thrown
on the market as the quantities in the
hands of each farmer would be small !;
but possibly important in the aggre-
gate.
Operators are not the only ones who
lose money on potatoes. The pro-
Queer, at least one producer, the much
talked-of "Potato King" who has
been accused of manipulation to keep
up prices in California. The state
ment of George Shima, Japanese
farmer, who probably is one of the
largest operators on the Pacific coast,
having an annual planting of his own
from 1000 to 5000 acres, is evidence
that the consumer, the dealer and job
Der, does not experience all of the
difficulties and troubles. Sometimes
the producer "gets his a-plenty."
3zsLast year." said Mr.. shima, II lost
$4,000 in onions. I had 10000 sacks
stored in Stockton, 10000 in San Fran
cisco and $4,000 in Los Angeles. On
ions were cheap and nobody wanted
to buy. I shipped onions East and
could not get the freight out Of them.
I lost 100000 last year, when two late
frosts killed my potatoes after they
were planted and up. It was my loss
and the public didn't complain. The
first frost came May Is and the Sec
ond May 81. I had to go to Oregon
for seed for replanting. It cost me
100000 for seed alone, to say nothing
Of the cost of labor and other expens-
es. This year protect myself by
carrying over enough seed to replant
in case Of late frosts, because I would
not be able Ito buy seed in Oregon
this year. .'..... H..
: There are, according to the best