Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-02

| pOOSCulB VI UuSlnSSS, QeaIeIS In Tie
wholesale district heaved a sigh of
relief when the weeks market closed
"It was strictly week of unpleasant
| weather conditions" was remarked by
a wholesaler, land such conditions were
| trading.
never known to help trading.
There are many retailers who SIM
ply will not drive through snow and
slush to make purchases unless 1t Is
absolutely necessary to do So" ne add add
ed, probably depending upon the sales
of canned foods to take the place Of
uncanned commodities"
| Just what weather conditions will pre-
vail at the opening of the approaching
weeks market Is problematical. Should
| the streets be sloppy, dealers anticipate
| quiet trading, but If the snow has
cleared away a different condition is
anticipated.
Prompt work on the part of District
authorities to clear the streets OF snow
was fully appreciated" commented q
dealer. Similar storms many years
| ago probably would have meant an
entirely different state of affairs.
Effects Of Storm.
"Years ago." the merchant added,
"a snowstorm of any magnitude meant
a terrible drawback to merchants, but
with the advent of motor trucks and
improved street cleaning apparatus
| things are different. and business does
not suffer so much"
Only q slight decrease in receipts OF
certain commodities the past few days
resulted from the storm. Some haulerS
of poultry, eggs and farm produce from
Maryland and Virginia, especially those
living far distant from State roads and
boulevards, were delayed or prevented
from reaching here on schedule time.
But railroad trains and steamboats,
continued to rum" observed dealer
land the two public utilities could have
landed any quantity of commodities
wanted, and on short notice.
1.-THE day for storm OF Few days
duration seriously interrupting bust
ness" he added, has passed"
While conditions during the week
| were not wholly satisfactory, according
to merchants in the wholesale district,
they were not wholly unsatisfactory. In
the commission house district the cold
weather demanded the taking OF extra
i precautions against losses as result OF
| freezing.
It became necessary for the removal
of most supplies Of fruits and vegetables
| indoors or to places where canvas pro-
tections prevented freezing. Merchants
were given such ample warning OF the
| approach of the freezing weather that
! they were able to avoid losses to any
considerable extent.
Retail Demand.
Yesterday morning there was the
usual week end demand for commod-
tiles for the retail trade registered. Re-
tailerS were on hand bright and early,
some wanting supplies for their Satur-
day breakfast trade, while others ap-
peared later in the day for supplies for
trade later in the day and to have
enough left over for the beginning Of
business tomorrow.
There was no heavy boosting Of prices
during the week because Of the appear
ance of the snow, dealers reported,
prices Of most commodities continuing
during the week without much change.
Principal interest, according to mer-
chants, was In the egg market. It had
been expected that prices would reach
q much lower market by the close Of
the week, but the appearance Of snow
probably kept them as high as they
were reported at the close Of the weeks
market.
Prices have been due for a decided
drop the past month";" was the suggeS-
ton Of wholesaler, land such a drop
is bound to come before long"
Dropping Of the wholesale prices was
followed by cheaper retail prices, AL
for specially selected hennery stock still
prevail. Prices of commodities at the
close Of the weeks market were re-
ported by dealers as follows:
Butter-One pound prints, 42a43;
tub, 41a42; store packed, 25a3O.
Eggs-Hennery, 38a39; fresh selected,
38a39; current receipts, 36a37.
Poultry, alive-Turkeys, young, 32a
80; old, 27a28; Spring chickens, large,
2Sa30; medium, 28a30; broilers, 32a33;
Leghorns, %; fowls, 26a30; BOOSTERS, 20;
36a38; old, 32a33; Spring chickens, 35a
81; broilers, 38a40: Leghorns, So; fowls,
30aS2; ROSTERS, 22a23; capons, 35a4O;
| ducks, 28a30; keats, 50a60.
Meats. fresh killed-Beef, 23a25; veal,
%; pork loins, 20; fresh hams, IS:
fresh shoulders, 20; smoked hams, 25a
81; smoked shoulders, %; bacon, 25a26:
lard. in bulk, 1914; in packages, 1917.
Live stock-CalveS, IT; lambs, Is.
While growers In Belgium, Cuba.
California, Florida and Texas are sup
plying quantities Of fresh fruits and
vegetables to local dealers, hot house
products from States in the North and
West are supplying show vegetables,
chiefly tomatoes, cucumbers and mush-
rooms. Some Of the hot house plants
from which supplies are being received
are located at Terre Haute, Ind; Ash
tabula, Ohio; the Kenneth Square
neighborhood OF Pennsylvania and
Boston, Mass.
ut is an interesting sight to visit
any Of the green houses" observed q
local dealer, particularly the one in
Terre Haute. where cucumbers are pro-
duced in house covering 80 acres,
and 1t appears almost next to impos-
Sible that the large show vegetable
can be raised only a few inches from
deep covering Of snow from time to
time during the Winter"
The dealer explained how the vines
are trained overhead, and the cucum-
bers are very large. The cucumbers
| packed for shipment, 1t Is stated, to
prevent spotting. Boxes Of two dozen
Of the vegetable the past few days
sold around IS and IS.
Other Vegetable Prices.
Receipts Of hot house tomatoes the
past week have not been very heavy,
according to reports, as was the case
with the cucumbers. Mushrooms con-
tinued plentiful and cheap, however,
receipts having been fairly heavy most
of the current Winter season. Yester-
day they were offered at from IS cents
to $1.10 a basket of three pounds
| Another product of the hot house
attracting attention is rhubarb. Re-
ceiptS the past month, not exception
| ally heavy, were reported by dealers
as the best stock ever offered in the
local market. 1t came in small boxes
Of approximately five pounds and found
ready sale. Small quantities of polk
Il 1aNA