The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-06
.GGS ONLY RATION
Showing DECLINE
nd That Is Due to Early
Worms Being Caught
by Hens.

Although some slight relief has been
5elt in the price Of food necessities, Que
81 part-,to conditions prevailing IN the
fhaney markets, those who are looking
4or a sudden slump which viii make
+ iuch, difference in the outgo OF lhe
average family are in for disappolnt-
shenr Most OF the declines so far maze
nave been gradual and the events OF the
6ast few days have been only contrlbu-
Nry. The crash in foreign exchange
fhereby reducing materially the pros
nect OF exports Of foodstutfs, mas ~
Set been more prospective than actual
according to the best posted jobbers
and dealers, there Is small occasion 10
Expect general dumping of holdings, as
Die financial condition of this country
s too strong and the purchasing ca
pacity of~the public too great 10 JUS
lily expectancy of such.
s II is generally felt that the peak OF
Drices has been seen, but any decllnes
are probably going TO be gradual ~
he bulk of items used on the lamlly
tlble prices are practically without
ehange
One of the largest declines has been
III eggs, but those who know attrlpute
This to the unusually warm spell DUR
ing January and so far In February,
which has caused-the hens to get busy
Earlier and increase the supply INC
Putting off of some of the export de-
hand helped, but the weather man was
slhe chief factor Local wholesale prices
IRE around SO cents Dozen win
chances of lower in case there Is no
sudden turn in weather. Cheese anu
BUTTER are PRACTICAL vat prices ruling
for a couple of weeks, although much
below the seasons highest levels.s
Poultry prices are steady and hlgh,
Dive fowls being quoted around 81 to 80
scents a pound wholesale, with geese,
ducks and turkeys high in proportion.
Provisions have shown but little
change during the past few days, nav
ing some time ago declined approx
mately % per cent from their hlghest,
due chiefly to failure OF the foreign
buyers to take as much as expected, the
anain cause having been deprecated
purchasing power. Local packer repre9
ssentatiVes would not be surprised TO see
some decline from ruling levels They
are now selling dry salt ribs at ABOUT
III cents pound, the decline IN the
8sneculatiVe market not having Deen
felt much yet. Hog lard is being sold
around "a to rs cents, which is a shade
Mchoaper than the best grades, Of com.
bound are quoted. Hams are quoted
III so to SO cents a. pound, while break
last bacon is around 40 to IS cents, ac'
cording to quality.
In canned goods there have been no
changes recently, and nothing suggests
hope of.reuch soon.
81 The sugar situation Is beyond the
81 over of even the shrewdest to predict,
although there seems hope that some
u ehef may be had if Cuban shippers
#can get into the market freely. They
haYe been having labor and transports
hon troubles and the available supply
Iii the commodity is very limited and
Ancertain.
II Transportation difficulties also seri-
ously affect the price of grain and
Afeedstuffs. Flour on the local market
Els quoted at wholesale from $3.50 to
isis barrel, with apparently small
Ehance of naterial change from that al
Though hope is held out that with freer
movement Of wheat and reduced ship
lnent abroad there will come some de-
cline. Corn meal is steady around s.
4he barrel, and the financial indepen,,
hence of the corn belt does not lend
much hope of important decline, as the
high price of that grain has not been
#due to big exports.
al Vegetables are steady and apparently
will remain so until the South begins
q to add materially to the existing. sup
4ply. which will be many weeks yet
q Prices of such are affected very little
7by exporting conditions.