Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 31, 1881, Page 13

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1881—-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES. terlal prospority of tha country, ‘The trade af Chicaza tas shown large anil gain, and in ho your hag the inersase been so grok ainthoone now eloslie Now, breworle: rave sprint ti fall the great. Nor and Chicago reaps Ube benvilt at tele trade, pur trade Tt Pacitic Coast haps has targely jnoreasel) NOC Tess thie 6,000 Iinies hive pees distributed from thiselty. ‘Choir tint tiful calor, doticate flayoy, anc fing handing qrakes than 8 strang fryarlt, a uso far they pavo esenped tho lind oF the Eastern speec- lator and manipulator, Chieage cuts ne feure this year In oxport- {ne hops, but her trade with the Weatorn States fing npererated 16,000 bale 000,000 Tbk, rep dhol $70.00, ginnlng ut the ha it ah 2: adyaneed to Soe3Ic, bat lin {iithey cover a wide range, say fram 1d Be for low K mit cose tor prime, and 2 a for strictly choice, with light stocks on antl. about enting no ensl value of + Prices hi Htietunted, ‘a HIDES. DINING JANUANY, FEDUARY, AND MANCI teavy dry hides ranged from 103g@ive, bath ander large oipis of fallen ov vinrrain dry hides. ‘ho market declined (a @ik, remaining at those figures until August, when, a detter demand setting tn, prices re- actel to 1IGY@NIZe, ut whieh prices trade fing boen actlye all through tho fall mouths, Bindian dry hides have rangud from 10@2o. throughout the year, The supplies have been about the usual quantity but the quality has somewhat deterlorated, owing to the fact that the stoek-gruwers have erossed the orlg- Inal Toxns cattle with blooded stock, and tho restlt 1s. bettor beef but poorer hides, New Mexican dry hides have been handled some during the past year in this market, also Arizona aud old) Mesican hitttes, but the quantity of nelthor ig very large, awing to the fact that they are comparatively wn- known and unappreciated hore; while the freight from that teaton is nearly $4.00 per 100 ths. Lleht-dry titdes ave Deen in small demand by Western tanuora this scason, con- sequently, they have mostly zone Into the Eastern inarkets, ‘The supplies of Montana and Upper Missouri River hides have been very Inrge, and will probably continue to-in- crease as that country is opened up to settte- ment by tho raffroads now penetrating in that direction. ln buitalo and bison hides there has buen a large trade in this market. During the winter the hunteys struck tho northern herd nnd the staughter was very rics xcecding 100,000 head. About 75,000 hides were taken, 7 por cent ot which eame tuthls market. ‘The hynters, on the 1st of December, WERE STILT. PURSUING tho herd, but it had at that mo been driven so far back fram the means of prompt trins- portation that it was doubtfatif the supply of hides from that quarter will be ag large ag that of Inst season, Viewed from Ar, Bergl’s standpoint, tt seems somewhat sollish to oxtorminnte these nimals for the main purpose of procuring holr hides. ‘Ihe oceaslonul hump steal that Ig eaten by the hunter fs too tsi icant to botaken into necount. Whon It is generally known, howovor, that all attompts to utilize these wild rovers of the prairie by inbre jng linve proven tnprotitntl ts and ag thyonly teally valuablonort lon of them, commercially speaking, fs thulr hides, it is,evident that, for the present at least, these wild cattle must give way to the domestle herds, which will add toa much greater extent to the general enrichment of the country by thelr beuf anit duiry protucts. In green hides the market during the yenr has ruled quitu steady, During the winter and spring No.1 Neht fives sold ant OC In dine owing to the hides being of better quality, the price ad- vanced to U3fe, and In October a still further advance to tle was established. Heavy green gaited hides have beon in falr demand throughout the year, and prices have ruled firm both for prime heavy cow and steer hides, suitable for harness and sole leather, Packers and canners of beet in this city bave increased thelr capacity, and the siup- RY, of prime packer hides lins been larger hau ever before, ‘These hides are generally sought for by tanners a3 they aro very valu- ableng harness or soli: Jeather, and bring the highest prices, At tho end of the packing season of 1880-1881 the market price for this fines of hides wag’ 11@L1fe, At the oven- ng of the season this yenr 12¢ was obtained, and subsequently 12:7@ie%e was paid. Dur- ingthe month of December 12!¢¢ was the rutlig quotation, ‘The hide trade of'onr ofty continues to inerease and keep pace with its generat growth. "I'he receipts the past year lave in- trensed 6,000,000 Ibs, and the shipments ex- teed those of 1880 by about 11,000,000 Ibs, Estimates of regular dealers make the nunber handled during the year ubout as follows: a Hin «aii eon 3,85 Bry countsy 10,000,000 4,500,000, Green couutry., ,000, Total.revesey .«+108,500,000 $10,800,000 HOME CONSUMPTION, Chicago ts yearly becoming n grentor con- sumer as wollas receiver of hides, ‘Today Yor tannories turn out more leather than any othor partleniar locality in the country. Not only ig the leather manufactured hore, but the same stock finds n constantly In- creasing demand at ouy vory doors from the numerous mantfactories of boots and shoes hat are springing up in our midst. ‘Tanners ot m much closer selection here than do hose markets farthor from the supply, The dry-hide market has especially tn creased ditrlug the past yoar. A few yours ago St, Louis hud the ‘monopoly of this branch of the trade, but now things are re- yorsed, and Chicago gots the bulk of the business, sil the Torriorles pouring the, bulk of thelr stock into our market. Durlyg’ last winter nearly * 100,000 BUFFALOES WERE KILED In the Yellowstono country, and tho hides of all these animals found thelr way to this market, one dealer receiving 45,000 of them, hnost of which wore tanned Into robes, class of goats for which this city Is becom {ng the leading market, Many of the robes YO here manufactured Into coats and sent nck to the ‘Territories for uso by the front- iersinon. ‘Two-thirds of li the deer and nnte- Jopo skins find thoir way here, the quantity handled Jo this clty belng very large. PRICES, ‘The following table will show the range of prices during the several monthsof the year: Sy P).ELS Ss) S| 2 lasiasl 2] 8 Blonth, e|* §5193| 2 g BLE EE] S| + ERE BERLE! a Og] BAZ]10 [eo [IS 104 of ay OX [20 i ir | se] 836 108 Beg] Ose] bat] toss O55) OR wad | iG} 034) BAYT ins iy eH iN] lt ria ttt SALT. THY YEAR 188t doca not tell so salty n story on the wholo ns, that of the year Iminedintely preceding. While the saving quantity of this Indispensa- blo article of commerce lins been tho same, the bulk of perlshablo things to be saved either has not been go largo or the things Moresald have gone to decay for lack of tha aavior, Prominent dunters explain tho alight falllng off in tho trade by attributing it to the semarkable meteorological conditions experienced tho past.year—tho savere winter At the outset, the summer “drouths, and lat: terly tho ungensonubly warm and rainy weather of tho fall and early wlator—all those comblaing, they clalin, to reduce tha consumption of this article In the country Uistricts, more especlally In those tht have do rallrond commuateation with the larger markets, The ree hts of domeatio salt difring the r, according to the reports of dealers, Were about 1,050,000 tris, and of forvign duty-paying salt 101,818 pris, Llyeryool sult, used by tho cnrers of fino ments for the English market and for dairy purposes, lias ranged at Gest. 15 per bag for ground, $1.05 (¢L.80 pur sack for tine in brown gacks, PLASC .OS por sack for fing white. ‘Lhe average price of domestic salt for the Pra Jas been $1.15 for that In barzels and $0.00 ver ton for the bulk recolpts, The hnpertation of Turks Island and other Coarse salt was niall heavier thin the year , devious, the receipts here belng 10,200 tang, pilees for which®huve ranged from” $9.00 to 10,00 per ton, aguinst a range of $9,00@914,00 ber ton lust year, Most of the ting salt handled in this market ved from Michigan, where the supply djueats tobe almost Inexinunitlily, New Ws are conthually belag sunk In the Sazl- how sexton, tapplng the great saline basin ‘hut underlies so many illes of country Miorenbont, The onpactty of the entire salt pradtalng tarettory is at present doveloped Ss about §400,0X) bry, Mehtnn, according to the report of the State Salt Inapee! pro- tlueed of all Kinds vt salt the pat year 2,10, 200 dayta, agaist 2,070,593 bris in” 18du, mint : {a 1870, Ri An extensive bed of rock snlt tins begn found to tnderlle a radius jaf fifty miles round about Guderteh, Can. ‘This has thas far heen wtiilzed only by borkyg, turning on streawa of water, puniping th ont anal, thon oxtraeting the ailine propertivs thern- from. Whon this Immense depostt ts tapped by shafts, whieh will probably le done soon. ator titer, the price of salt must necesaarily be greatly cheapene VEGUTABUS, THADE IN for.Tors during the yenr was n, fairly profitabte one, The crop of- 1850, though not remarkably envy, was superior In condition, and kept well throngh the winter where properly eared for, Tho recefots fronts’ the Enstern States durhiy the early part of the year were aulle Hberal, and hit the effect of keeping down the price of the article In this market. Durlug the months of January, February, and March potutoes ranged from We to Sia per bn by the car-lot on track. In April the price advanced, the average gure for the month belng $1.00. In May the average pried was Oc, and during the sinnmer months the price ranged from 7c to 80e, For the remainder of the year prices have ringed higher, sellin ut We tn Oelober, and from that: adyanelag until $1,00@1.05 was reached about Christinns time. “Phe aw- erage price for the yent was B¢ ‘Sho receipts and shipments other colimn. Last year’s crop, in tho West, was matured under very ad yerse clreunstances, and was smalier than for several years previous, ‘The early rose varlels, which were ready for the market early fn Aeplenber, vere genernly in bottor condition than the peachblows, "The former ripened fast under the hot didy and Angust sun, and though those months were ghost destitute of rain the yleld was falr in bulk, though the dry-rot- mnady its-appenrance soon after digging, and in many instanees the merchantable value of recelpts on this mar- ket was greatly Jessened on this necount. ‘The peachbluws wera badly damugzed while in the ground by the October rains which came just oat) the ripening period, and continued se tong. ns to rene der many fields unapproachabie for weeks, during which thie the potatoes were inuch Injured, and in many lnstanees large fields wore abandoned as mot worth the digaing. ‘Thus the crop of lest year was not only Ight, bat the quality was as a general thing much below that of the previous year, Ontside of (illnels the supply fer this mar ket came largely from Wisconsin, Southern Minnnesota, ” Michigan, Canada, and the Middle States, the larger portion from the first-named State, and tho rest about In the order named as ta bulk of shipments. Beginning the Intter part of October, New York parties contracted for the importation of potatoes from Ireland, and under these contracts some half a miliion or moro bitsh- els were shipped, the price Inld down on tho steamer the other alde beluz Sie er bu, mating their actual cost on arrival in Now York nob far from Sve por bu. “These importations were principally disposed of at the port of arrival, and had no ef the Chicago murket othor than to slightly erease the receipts from Western Now Yorle and Pennsylvania, which supply would otherwise have gone Knst instend of West. ‘The Eastern markets ‘wero, in fact, fulrly supplied by the seaboard States, Canada, and Nova Scotia, forcing stock tn Weatorn New pork and Pennsylvania this way fora mar- kel OTHER YEOETAMLES. Tho Chicnzo market. was fairly stocked with miscellaneous vegetables ducing Inst winter, and prices wers reasonable through: ont. ‘The farly vegetables Inst spring were pri plenty, es being mitch lower generally than ly usual at that senson, Owlig to the oxtended — drouth of the stummer nud fall months, it was generally predicted on the ist of October that a yexetable fauine was fuevitable, Mid-October brought plen- liful rains, whieh, while they resulted dis- astrously to sonie of the “root crops, were of yast benellt to eabbages, beots, turnips, ete. that had vitailty enough left to reconmence the ripeniug process, Cabbuges esbcetaly throve wonderfully uider this plentifa pluyial appllention many folds tn our in mediate suburbs which had been given up ag lost renewing thelr greenness as if by magic, and finally yielding large returns to tho plantor, ‘Thus, while tho illoffeets of the drouth wore to a large extent offset by tho Intter rains, the crop was still a short one, and eabbiges conmanded fram $0.00 to 310,00 per 100, where from $2.00 to $4,00 only was paid the previous season. . ‘Turnips were plenty from early autumn throughout the entire winter, ‘Che tmparta- tion of this yeretable from Canada was very heavy, and shipments wero generally made ataloss to the producer, so Jow Was the rice of the article, prices ranging from 250 0 50a per bu, : Melons in thelr season were very plant and sold at reasonable figures, the close find- ing watermelons cepecially n drag on the market, subject to the buyers’ views, ‘Lhe squash crop was a good one, both as to quantity and quality, “ Onions were plentiful throughout thoyear, ‘The fleld of supply for this veotable 4a wide one, contig, 1g they do fram the North, Eust, South, and West, from the Northwest- ern States, tho Pacific Const, Now England, and the tropics. So thera are fow weeks Itt the yenr that wo have not the fresh onton aniong us to regale us with its pungent fla- yor, and melt to involuntary tears tho most obilurate eviile, "The vegetable supply as a wholo was rath- er bolow that of the yenr preylous; yet out side the potato crop, a8 above stated, the ylold was not far from an average one, : MEANS. i This New England Hisuny is far from bo Ing a stranger I Chicago, the trade in tt be- {ng more extensive perhaps than ts genoral- ly supposed, One firm in the clty ns han- dled over 15,000 bris the past year, which has beon one’ of scurelly, so far us the native bean is concerned, ‘The summer drouths porched up tlie rants to such an extent tliat, although tha bean is proverbially a dry, weather plant, Inst summer's long-continucd absence of fertilizing moisture was too mitch for ft, and the stulks elther dict outright, which was more gonorally tha nso, or pro- duced shrivelled and alrunken frult, much ofsit not fit fer market, ‘The yield, in the ‘West capecinily, was not more than one-third of an average, necessitating ship tho Enst, where the cropa turned outa little better, ‘The most noticeable feature in the trade of the past year was the tiportation of the common white bean from Germuny, severn! consignmonts of which have come to this city within the past three months, Tho cost of these furelyn goods to the jabber was not far from the jobbing price of the native articly in this city. —— POULTRY AND GAME. POULTRY WAS BUANCE AND WIGIE in the oarly part of thoyear, and this cond!- tlon continued with consequent high prices hito the spring and summer mouths, From tho Ist of September a more liberal supply began to como fn, farmors preferring to sund in tholr partially matured stock rather than foed It corn, which was then soltlug at vory. high prices, From Septembor up to Christ mas thie about three-fourths of tho usual number gent during that perlod wore ro- ecelyed, Taking the year together, however, the receipts did not aggregate more than two-thirds ofan average, Until Oct. 1 prices were Mah forall kinds of poultry, seldom going below 120 por Jb, ant oftener reaching 15¢ Aftor tho imiddle of October moro * Iiberal teeolnts caused Jower prices, and the bulk of . the sales from that date on were at a range of 6 @0e por ib, ‘Tho warm wenther expe. rienced between ‘Thanksxiving and Christ- nas cnused much Joss to dealers in poultry, who were often obliged to mark down thelr stocks In order to dispose of thom In acason to escape the loss of tha whale, ‘The game trade durhig 188l was vory une profitable. ‘This trade for several seasons past has figured up inthe agarexate some. where near $500,000, ‘This pene the cash value of: sites amounted to Ifttlo more than halt that sum, ‘Yo bexin withthe sight of pigeans was veryaniall, and thelr appearance. 1n front of stores of dealars in zaine during tho genson was an exception rather than the rule, Of grouse there was not more thin one-third the ustal supply, and of qual onty about one-half, Early in the season a few enpyae-back ducks made shilr appearones on the market, and sold at very high prives. Mallard ducks appear to Le the only speclen of winged gant that doesnot show élgns of iving way before the onward march of clv- firention and gunpowder, ‘The supply of eke Buchs thy full mouths was a ents from these do miueh larger Prie de 3 f sovuriy bravlous rad por Hog about rely, 3.00; qual $3.00; fsmalt ducks, $145, Of ven json the supply has nob been more tint one: third the average, the priey ranging from 1618. to He per tb for saddles, VALUE OF RECKII" THE FIRST SELLING VALUE of the recelpts of produce tn Oils elty during: 1881 was nearly an follows: Hreadatuita,.. Live stuek.. Aloohal, ote. Provisions, tation, i Rutter, enrose, tides, and, we Sods, potatoes, salt, and 1, cary Lis, poultry. apples, ues, ute, MISCEHANGOUB 66s ceseeeeone $5,700,000 192,00, 00, 1000 SAL PASE) ‘Total produce, Do tn 1820, Vo fae bb Do fn tk Do in 18) pela, ‘The increase fro: 000, or, about 21 percent, ‘That on brend- stuffs is only 9!4 per cent, It would have been greater but for the large Increase In tho percentage of low grades of grain, which has redtieed the average price of all grades to a miteh witer discount from the price of the speculative grade than In the year 1880, "Phe value of the revelpts of Immber, coal, aiid fish are not Included In the above, belt Incorporated in the following statistles 0! Wholesale santas. ‘The total welght of the farm producs re- eelved in this city i 1831 was about 6,215,000 tons, ngaliist 0,055,000 tons fn 1850, and 5,415, 00) tons in 1870, “Phe decrease of neatly, 64 per cent Js largely duote the filling off in tho veevipts of corn, We note that the ro- cults of Jumber, shingles, bath, coal, load, and plu-tron, would swell tho above total to bout 13,700,000 tons, or 31,300 long for ench of the 1455 dnys In tho yea! THE W HOLESALE TRADE. The business departments which for many years puat we have grouped under the head of “wholesale,” show a general Improves ment, but very irregularty distributed, Some nes have barely held their own In regard to the quantity of goads handled, sud one or two have even decreased slightly, as mens> ured by the sume standard; bat in most cases the faetof ligher prices has made tho nygregate of aalos larger than the provious year. ‘The great majority, however, show 0 substantial {nerense, and Jn several Ines the increase Is a handsume one, Only moderate profits have been the rule, as growing con- petition among themselves ns well ng with the merchants of other clties tends to con- Unnously shrink the profit on a given quan- tity of gouds, except In the few cases where prices nre secured by a monopoly, patent or otherwise, Indeed this paring down ig so close in some departnents as nlmost to exclude smallor | trad- ers, a paying business betng possible only where Inrgo sles reduce the cost of handling, ete, ton minimum. But our iner- chants, ag arile, are content with stnaller profits por prekage than those of most other eltics, and they have met with very few tosses In tho shape of bad debts, Collections have been. prompt except during thy earlier manths of the year and tho last one, In the spring the long-continued storms put an embargo on travel In the country for weeks togethor, and alike forbade the delivery of goods and the collection of cash on. goods alrendy delivered. "Tho Inst threo months have been marked as a rainy season in the West, and for somo weeks past travel ins ngaln been senrcely possible, which ns considerably reduced tho volume of busl~ ness, ‘Tho spring was really a theht time for some even prominent houses, mal Ing It necessary to borrow money or renew notes on a rather extensive senle, But hap- plly cash was plentiful enough to be at the ervies of all legitimate borrowers, and on relatively low rates of interest, ‘Thera ins been a Httle fnerease in the cost of transact- ing buslness otherwise, rents were advanced lnst spring, In some eases, nnd rates of waxes have stiffened perceptibly, beeause of the greator cost of articles of food, The comparatively slow movement. of produco towards a market, owing to the bad weathor which prevailed during a largo part ofthe year, hus hud a tendency to widen Mnes of credit; and the abundance of ensh In the elties, with correspondingly Jow rates of Interest, hag made some of our merchants Jess enreful in thts respect than they used to bo. But the position of consumers 18 so good. geucrally, 18 9 result of nearly three yonrs -of . prosperous thes, int tha retail dealer has-been abloto pay when the money was dne, Hence no evil has resulted from tho extension of credits, and there ins been a tendency to contraction within the past two months, owlng to: the tnanclal tightontng at the leading money contres, A. Brent many of the customers of Chieago houses pay all cash, and prefer to do so. ‘The whole trade would be beneilted: If the ox- clusively cash basis, thooretleally adopted a few yoarsago, were adhered to practi- cally. Many of our merchants have experienced grent UMleulty In Ming orders promptly, ow- ing to the searelty of frelght accommodations forahipmont. ‘This was partinlly Inctdoutal to tho rmaller movement of produce hither- ward, and in some degree owing to the ine creased pressura to send out the heavier Nunes of goods, ag lumber ond con, por the reduced room generally at command. ‘This dificulty actually lessened — tho volume of goods slipped, iu not a fow enses, ng tho comparatively freo movement of cars around us made frelght room less scarce from the seaboard to intorlor points than It was from this city. It required unusual en- ergy to roll up a greater volume of business undor these digndvantages, "Phere Is not” now stitch a pressure for bual- ness room tn this cityasa year ago. ‘tho pressure then was met by the orection of new | bulldiuzs, putting additional stories on old buildings, or tho extension of tho business aren In some localities, ‘Thera are stilt cnough indications of furthor widening out tomuke business property firm, but not so mitch of. it as to cnuse traders to look for a further Increnso In rents the coming springs And thera fs not imuch prospoct of increasing ex- penses In othor directions, Henco tho tend- ony can senrcely bo said to be towgsds tho larger margins of.profit on. handling goods that wero advocated n few months ago, We note as a marked feature of our whole gate trade that Eastorn inerchants havo now almost ceased to compete with ours, oxcopt bya change of base, ‘Thore has recently been aulte a hegira in thta dlrection, which in: large part accounted tor the pressure for room a year ago. ‘hey have elthur ostab- Hahed branches here, or moved bodily to this city, perhaps having branchos on tho sca- board, and now compete with Chicago mun in helping to-build up the trade of this elty. ‘That they have not acoompitahed more dur- iny the past twelve months is due to the fact that the oxtenslon of ¢the previous twelve months was enough for more than twoordinary years. ‘There js still a growlng; and many of our merchants are sanguine in vegard to the future growth, But it ean acareely be so rapid ns in 1879, unless under tho continuance of extraordinary conditions, ‘Phere is very little that is new to note In regard to the range of the business, | ‘f'welve months ago wo described our wholesale trade as reaching eastward Into Ohlo aud Penney} yanio, taking ly Michigan and Indiana a8 a ntter of course; supplying tho South so far as tho trade of that section Is desirable, not all of Its business-men being prompt payers; thking in ‘Texas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, the Valley-‘of the rent Salt Lake, Californta, Oregon, Da- kota, and Minuesotu, with the western part of the, British Doininions, In North America. We did uot mention! Iti- nols, Lowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, the trade of those Staten having long since sought this cltyas a matter of course, ‘There {3 Mttle moro ground [eft to oveupy, and about pho only extension possible ts on ground already occupied, bringing Iu tho few older merehants who still buy Keods on the seaboard from foree of habit, and sup- | both of frults and vegetables, The dette ey plying the new ones who open out as the vupulation Inerenses, Nevertheless, thera has been a oquarkcd development the past Uyelve months dour trade with the South west and Northwest, The opening of new. Hines of raflroad, or the extension of thase already in existence, has opened up many thousands of lles of new aren to our trade, The followlng figures are iutended to ap ply to the wholesule trade only, except that inn few minor eases it Is serreely possible to separate the wholesale from the retail, Our Hiqures cover only the first selling cost of the goods sold in this eity, second sales not be ing counted, even when mde by jobbers, GROCERIES, THE WHOLESALE GROCERY TRADE lias been netive and moderately remunera- live, ‘The oggregite of sales Is estimated at 877,000,000, nualnst $73,500,000 In 1840, and. $65,000,000 In 1870, ‘Ine {nerense of only & por cent over the trade of the former year ts fn part due to lower prices on some deserlp Uons of goods, eblefly ty coffees, sugars, and situps; unt it is mostly owing to the fact that the busiuess of 1880 was extraordina rly netlye, At the sane tue ft nust.bd¢ ad- inftted that the opportunities for extenston are Hot so.good asin many other deparciients of trade, becuse of a growhne tendency bn the purt of interfor storekcepers to order annny lines of woods direct freau the manus fucturers, tinder the hupression that the: thereby: sa! swiall wrodt, whieh Is ge: ally not the case. About forty tems are sagen! in the business; there are ne new H cept that four gentlemen dissolved hip during the year, and have cone nto business separately. ‘There re no patties to recor (HE about nm week no, whel a house of sone twenty years’ stand- Ing suectunbed to the effects of bad weather In cutting dow the volume of country.trade, The capita! employed in the wholesale and fobbi Hing Is about £7,250,0005 Inving been: but slightly tneren: y a part of the profits of the previous year, “She bad wentlior of the earlier months, the awitehmen’s strike, whieh suspended ratl transportation for a thie, and the lick of muple freleht-room afterwards, all tended to pdown the volume of sales. ‘The spring dullness was followed by 0 very aetlye sine ner, and during Sentember and the Just hi ot October the Ket writ Bovin ted ton des mand whieh if was dillenit to supply, ae in great niany dealers wanted to inerease their 8 bayond the polut necessary to current ty In the litter part of October busl- ess fall of, and It was very dail diuring No- vonber and December, with considerable In getting goods forwarded front Collections continued goud tlt sige. und then it beeame more dificult to gather in cash trom custom. ers; but there were few bad debts during the year. Vartles in the business report a material Increase in the Southern trade, and the peo- pig of that seetion have paid up more prompt: Jy than i some former years, A creat many goods have aso been sent to the extreme North and Northwest; while the develop ment of new otrees has made the Far Weat a very good customer to the grocery trade of this elty, ‘ THE SUGAR TRADE Was not altogether satisfactory, the sales having been much Tess Cian for 1880, and prices averuging lower sud very Mnsettled, The decrease in the dumand Is nsertbable to the partial failure of the frult and berry crops, and the “lower. average of prices was of course tho aatural re- sult of the diminished —consnuptlon. ‘The diference In prices would | have been oven mure marked but for the fuct that the supply both of domestle and forelgn attears wis less than for 1880, ‘ha control of the market has romulned largely in the hands of the Eastern refiners, and conse- atently the trade hero has at tues been se rlously lininpered by a Jack of adequate sup plies, though the evil was not as great as during the provions season, ‘The trade In fFilucose Js stendily growing fn tuportines, That commodity is now recognized na a legitinate article of trade, aud the only ques- tion now to be settled fs as to whether the chetsienls used In the retining process are eit {rely ellminated from the produet, Of sac~ eharlne propertles it -unquestionably ts deficlent as. compared with cane sugar, but that it possesses nutritions quallties in a, sufictently marked degres to entitle it ton prominent ‘posidonas an art clo of food igcqually well established, | “Che consumption of sugar in tho United States in tha year 1880 wns 000,000 tons, At tha be- einninu of 1881 standard A was quoted hore at Ug@b3¢e, but prices stoadlly declined wn- tiL tho clozeof Bebriary, when they stood at KE0Ige, ‘Thess were the lowest figures for the Sear. La Mareh a reaction set in, and the tipward movement continued until the end of May, when 10!y@o1o5ye had been reached. These were the “highest pricos of the yenr. In July the price had roid dawn to Wg@ i} and In July to Tales ae During st and September the market worked baci te 10?g@10ige, but since the beginning of November the tendency has been down ward, the clusing quotation belng W4@Oje. COFFERS havo sold cheaper than ever before. Since the beginning of the year, when commun to choice Rio was quoted at Wig@iwlye, tho course of the market hus becn alinost contin viously downward, At the latter ond of May they wore sellng at Wile, Auout the first of dune there wis a recovery of nbout }ge, uu in August the market again stitfen alike extent, but in September the pele re sumed thelr downward course, which was continued until Inte in December, when sates wore mide at 10@1297, ‘The avernge for the yeur was more thane below the average for 1830, whieh was regarded -us a pear of yory low oricus, - In splte of unprecedentedly law quotations tha trade was dull and dragging diiriuz most of tite year,and dealers pronounce itong of the most tnprolitable and generally uneatistactory they jinve ever experiencad, ‘The total imports of coltes for 1880 ware 440,- B27 ponds, valued ab $60,000,700 nt its forelzn cost. ‘The Imports for the clavon months ending with Nov, 80, 1881, were 2,171,- B42 bas. of the whole importa- ton Far 1880, vi THLTIS pounds, care from Brazil, $5,513,010 pounds from Vene- zeta, 28,0:1,008 from the Duteh East Indie 2050245 from: Tvyth, 19,254,218 from the Cen- tral. American States, [2,087,423 from the United States of Colombia, 0,878,525 from Mexleo, and the rowalnder fot’ varlous other parts of the world, ; THE TEA TRADE continues to grow, though tess raplilly than. in rovent years. Itenlizing that thelr’ trade with tho Northwest was steadily and surely belng absurbed by Chicago, tha heavy New York tea-nerehants linye resorted to the kys> tum of monthly auction sates, through which means, it fs useless to deny, they hive slice ceeded in rerutning a not Inconsiderable por ton of their “lost patronnge. ‘This alight change in the currant of te trade will untoultedly be met and overcome by our wideawake merchants, for that Chicago possesses dectded advantaged ag n ten-tlle- ributmg polnt over her sister oities on the Atlantic seaboard cannot be galusald, Tho foct that Chiengo morehants supply tea to tho trade as far cast as Rochester und Syras euso Wil satlatnctorlly disposy of tho ques- tlun as to whether successful competition with Now York is possible or not, Our dl- rect dupokis have Increased 10 por cent, amounting to about 220,000 packnyes. “Tho total lmportations now amount to 75,000,000 pounds annuatly, CANNED GOODS—PICKLES, THE CANNED GOODS INDUSTRY is nvery important one, All are awara of thia;‘but there are comparntively few who have any adequate conception of its magnl- tude, Itis only afew years elnce the busl- ness attalned suftlelont timportance to ree quire more than # passing notice, Fruits alone at first ocoupled tho attention of cans ners, but thoy have gridually extended the scopo of thelr busiiess until It embraces not only all kinds of fruits and vegetables, but meats, fish, and towl Many of tho greatest delicacies of tho culinary art are thus packed away for future use, by which means, the eploure and the invalld are enabled, both dn season and out of season, ta gratify thelr fastllous tastes with the chofcest products of the entire globe, Until within a compaty atively recent period the sales of cannut oous were tlinost wholly conthied: to the frome markets, but latterly wo live been grat: unlly and surely walning a foothold tn foreign conntries, Of the exports, Creat Britain takes the larger share, thou considerable squantities goto Ching and: Japan and the Sandwich Islands, Shipments are also mad to Moxico, Southern und Central Africa, Sir berks, and even us far away os Austraila, Tho : tO ‘BALES IN THIS MARKET for 1881, exclusive of canned meuts, amount To $1,800,000, which ty but litle ta oxeess ot the total fur 1550, “Phat the Increase was not Jarge Was not becausy of an absence of do- mand, for thatwas the most acthvoover expo rigneed, but here wag ashortage in the supily in the former was caused by the the wether during inst whiter, wh or less surtonsly dimuced: the fratt trees both tn mths white the decreased yleld etnbles must be chart y to the dry weather, whieh prevailed: during atigust ani tha greater part of Septembe Nevertheless, the season was the most prof able Unat Jobbers hive ever experienced, Exeoptlhg peaches, which were hi fy from the start, prices opencd mocorately low, erity of mere: they remained without important vartation nti along towards the Intter vart of July, when the ery of “a short crop” was ratsed, This eallet, out on) brisk speculative demand and started prices In an upward direction, Durlng August and September the demand was most urgent, and within tint perlod an advance in frults of from 20 to 598 per cent hind been estab: shed. ‘Thera were syne Has in whitelt the advan was even mnore marked; cherries, for Instance, showhy an appreetation of nearly 100 per cent, and peaches advanced tore than 81,00 per dozen, ‘Nhe advance In’ vegetables set tn alittle later—in Sep- tember—and amounted to Weer per cent Tt was nota profitable senson to eanners, A. very lnrge percentage of thelr product was eotracted at low prices, In auticipation of a plentiful crop of fruits and vegetables, As ghort crops were the rie and enhanced yale Hes R consequence, the business was elther done on an exceedingly sinall margin oratan actual toss. “Shere is une fouture of the trade that 1s Sueouraginit, Wa refer to the growing opposition to short weights, Year or two ago the practlee of putting up short welghts had been carried to such ex: tremes that it frequently occurred that ie go-enlled two-pound cans would not contain to exeved a spoontul of fruit, while the ae- companylag Hquor wag corresponiliigly tte tenunted. Consumers have at last aware ened to the Iniposition, aud are erying out ngtlnst Itwith stich vigor that packers cen- erally havo been constrained to abandon the lara) parva practice and return to honest welghts. "The following table shows the changes In some of the leading Ines of canned goats during the perlod between July 1 aud Dee. 173 Penchus, standard. e Green TURES. 200. L40G 1.7 Raspberrly: 1Atss Cherries, white Paty Bine berriva 6 15 Apples . 10) Tomntocs, atandar iy Carn, W eu ‘The trade In CALIVONNIA CAN ig rapldly Increasing, ‘The pack on che Pa- eltle const the past senson fs estimated at Tully 50 per cent larger than for any previous yer, and yet the demand for these goods has eel SO gTeat that not to exeved 4 per cent of the entire pack remulns In first hands, It ls unquestionably true, as claimed, that the quality of te goods ts better Cian that of te product of the Eastern or of the Southern ean nerles; {n the first place, because the flavor and the saccharine properties: of California frults ure superior; and, secondly, because inthe ense of the latter the canneries ure located as near as possible to the frutt plane tations, so that the fruit ts canned in a perfectly fresh state, Lust year's puck minowfted§ te 6,00 cans, f salmon eanneries alone there are over thirty wong the Colmnbla River below the cascndes that bave packed from 5,000 to 30,000 eases cach, aggrernting over 500,000 cases of a total value of $2,500,000, ‘The paok for 1881 was the largest ever known, amount- Ing to $60,000 eases, beim nearly 27 per cent larger than for 1580, the greatest previous yea. The total pack for the past four years as Deen as follows: ISRL 4s seen ooo Cases, rit TRADE has no more than held its own, | ‘Tha demand was Inrger than ever before, but te goods were not to be had, the drouth which pre- yailed during August and Bentember restilt- Ing Inazreatly dinluished yleld of cucnm- bers, aulons, cauliflower, and all other vexetadles used by our plcklers, It is esthnated that the seaspyn’s ~ crop was not tnore than three-fourths of an average, but the hierease in the urea devated to mardening was sulliclent to about make woud the deficiency In the yield, and tie year's sales are given at $500,000, which are The wame as tor 1880. ‘The season opened in tember nt $0.50 for mediin, 3850 for suinfl, and at $0.50 for ghorkins, which were not materially higher than the opening prices for 1880. But the unusnally aetive demand and the shortage In the supply soon stirted prices upward, and early In November the market lid advanced to $i.00 for meal, $11.00 for small, and $12.00 for gherklns, at whilelr fizures the year closes, As stocks are about all out of first hands, we are not likely to seo nny fower prices before the nexterop, ‘The leading packer tere assured our reporter that he could have dowbled his soles if he had had tha goods, nud that next yenr he should Inerensa hits plekling enpacity at least one-half. dn consequences of short stocks the New England trade, which within the past few years has attained very consid: erabie, pronortlons, was not looked after, the demand from nearer home far exceeding the supply, About $150,000 ary Invested in tho business. TOBACCO. JONBERS NEVOUT that they Wave had a more than usually pros- perous year, Not only has the demand been exceptionally active, but the businass of the past slx months was done on an advanelng market. During tho spring and early sum- mer prices were subject to little ehange, but that little was to the advantage of sellers, firmness having characterized the market from the start, Along In August, when It become apparent the drouth and other influenees would uatarially reduce the souson’s crop, prives began to work upward, ‘The advancing tendency of quotations called out an nniprecedentedly netive demand, and within the spar y days thomarket had Juinped up from4@se on plug, S@ 10s on thes ent, and 2@5¢ on sinoking, Later In the rene son, When it was found that the defleleney wwould not ba Ko great os the curly estimates had made It, the market lost much of Ita buoynney. Quite tw marked falling olf in the demund daring November and Decomber also tended to weakness; but as yet the market has not given way to any ap. preciuble extent, aud there does hot appear jo be any very cond ground for anticipating a decline, ‘Tho Intest estimates place the shortage In the 1881 crop at fully 25 por cent, which belug the caso the advatico ln prices of 10015 per cent fs tot unwarranted, ln Ken- tue Paarhiel isthe largest proticer-thatState furnishing fn 1870 38 per eant ot the entire crop—the deflelonvy is near: per cent, in Virginin over 80 por cent, in Pennsylvania mud Maryland about’ per cent; while Ohio ‘Tennesses are short some 35 per cent, Connvctleut shows oa slight | ied, While Wisconsin voporta the jnrwest crop ever pros duced fn tha State, ‘The tatal produetion of tobacco for 1880) was AT601,150 tbs, to grow Which 38,641 neres oF Innd wars re- aquired, Noxt to Kentucky, which ts ereditud with 171,190,784 lbs, comes Virginia with 70, O88, 800 Ibs, ‘and. then Pennsylvania, Ohta, ‘Tennessee, North Caroling, Maryland, Con necticut, Misgourl, and Wiseonatn In the or- der pained, Utinols Is credited with only 8,035,825 Ibs, ‘Tint CIGAR THADE was the most active ever exporisnced, and the demand has been for 4 better grate of goods than In past yenrs. Prices have not advanced In anything Hke the guine propor ton as far tobacco, but of late eiuar leat has ahown 8 estrone upward tendency, and amokers may as well propare themselves to vee higher prices for ‘all linea of cigars, The present price is scarcely more than 81.00 per thousand above the priecs of a yenr ago, In the mnnuiactire of eluant Now York City ts far in atvaneo of alfother polnta; Indeed nearly, if nut quite, one-hult of the entire product of the United States Is ninde there, Sho gunptoys in that departinent of mannfacture 35, pants, ane during the past year hos produced 826,00,000 cigars, ‘Ihe sales In thiy market of tobacco pal claire nino to $9,000,000, which ts ain Increase on 1880 af AboNE TS percent. ‘odo this laree bustness a capital of $1,800,000 Is required! ‘The year closed on a quiet but atrong market, at 87@00e for plug, wt 4 for tine-cut, and at H@so for ordluary smoking. Se DRIED FRUITS. TUR VALUE OF THE FOREIGN and donate dried frulta sold in Chicago during 1881 reaches tho Imposing total of $3,000,000, Of this amount considerably more than one-half was from. tho sale of foreign fruits, of which raisins, prunes, cure rants, and dates made up tho greatest bulk, For a number of youra Chicago has atouidl In tho very flrat rank a3 a frult-distributing cen- tre, ‘I'he trade may be satd to haya had its birth somewhere along fn 1805 or 1860; for previous to that time comparatively Itty trust, ether in a dried or fresh state, found ils wiy liither, During the pist ton yours tho bustiess hag expanded wonderfully. ‘The rapid settling up of the grent West is anne ally opening new markets looking ta Chleago for thelr snpplies, al uns auestionably this rity deStined 4 to be the largest frultedistrtbuting market in the country, More than at inition dotiars. nre now invested th the hunsiness, whieh was hever Ina mare prosperois condiuen, or showed uw healthier gruwth than at present, PHICES HAVE AVERAGED Hane than for 1880, both for domestic and foreign dried, the difference In domesties Delng the most moat frononiuced Indeed, there very likely would have been Bur dietle It any nd. vance in forelzn tried Ind ft not beer Uiat there was a partial fniture, aud 3 consequent enhancement of values of domeastles, a3 the forelgt fruit-crop was above the avernge, The raistn-crop was a full one, and of Foot aurallty, t an alton, impor. r hewn consiilerably anger than for (1880, prices “have heen mnalntained at a somewhat Maher point, During the frat six months of the year the Innrkel was very steady, ranging frum 84.05 @3.20 per box fur layers, but towards the close of Aine specntators cornered the New York market, and suder thelr manipulations prices were advanced 2250 within the space of two or: three duys. Prices contin: ued to appreciate until the mitdlan? Aneist. wher £2,65¢04.70 was the qnotation. London Jayers In the meuntinio had ailvanced S0@sie The new erop came in at abot 003.05 for layers and 10@108¢¢ for Vaten- elas, In November tho market dropped otf to 82,70 for the former aud to Oyeige for the Jutter, butenrly in December the inarket recovered: slightly, tlosing prices ave 2.75 and OsL0a¢e. AL tho elose of 1dsd layers were selling at $2902.25, Thesales of layer ralains, were much less than In former years, The present unpopnlarity of ralsins put wy In that style ds the reanit of the bad packing and short weluhts resorted to by growe during the past three or four years, Orig nally a box contained $2 1bs of frail: but the quantity was gradually reduced until 15 Ibs war about the maxima, and it was not in. frequently the ensea that a bex would not weigh more than 17 Ibs ne. London layers and Valenclas bave 1 hirsely substituted. Seeing that thelr trade, beenuse of the dis- honest welghts, was gradually sipping away from them, the packers of Malaga ralsins ed an agreement enrly in 1S8t that there- each box should contatn 22 pounds nat. nt the bayer Tf packers adhere to theagre volsins will no doubt again cue tite popu: lar fayor, though ft may well be danbted if the siles wilt ever reach the magnlinde of foricer years, Durliyg 1850 about 200,000 boxes of all kinds were sold tn this market. Though now abe 32 ver 1b Wher than a yenr ago, the average price of prunes wis not materially higher than for Isso. They opened at 4y@blge, where they remained comparatively steady wif(il tho iiddly of March, when there was je advance. Early in April they fell back to 43j@aie, and be- Tore the end the month to 43¢@6e. In June the market began to advance, “Tt caus tinued to move tipwird until the middig, of August, when it stood at Tn Sep tember they lost Ye, ‘The new crop_eame in at Wee03Ze, und tho your closed at TyCeitge for new und at G3egte for uld, Borneo and Seryla bad a very light crop, not over i per cunt of an averages but this deiiciency was nearly mide goad by the Increased produe- tion of Hungary and Bohemia A new feature of the trade is the substitution, by the Tungarlan wut Dohemlan trade, of bags th the pi cy Of the casks which formerly wero used exclusively in shipping these goads. ‘Phere 1s not only Wkreat saving in the first cost (imber belag searee and dear In those comtrles), but Th the matterof freight there Is also an line portant saving, It is nn advantage to the dealer, because the goodsare put up in sinll- er packages, and are therefore more auslly handled, Of Erench pranys there was a large supply, mt a glut was feared, but prices being low all were taken, California pruncs are besluning to cut some figure. The quality is superlor to the French article, and at the ‘same price would run it out of the market, It, however, will be some years: before tha supply of California: prines will” be suiflicient {to serlousty ulfect the prices of forelen guods, Sympathleing with other fruits Zante currants, though a full erp, hnve averaged higher than for the previous season. ‘The year epened at Hy@ Olge, where prices remalned during the first sfx months. In August there was tur adyance to Ois@H%e, and fh September che market move up to 4@ie, ‘The year closed at ON@U Ye. DOMESTIC DRIED FRUITS ruled pretty cheap for the first half of the year, owing to the abundant crop of 1850, ‘Apples espocinily were low, the best Eastern auirters nob getting above de until about ia Ist of July, while during much of the period between dan, Land that date 4y@i3fe were outside prices, dn July, when there was ne longer any doubt that: the apple crop would fall greatly short of tha average, there spranz up an active demand bolt Crom the home trade and from exporters, and prices at once hegan to fmprove. All through July the “boom continued, prives being forced up Be per pouney or from 44y@ie to F@ 98{e for sun-dried quarters, and Trou D@luc to 2@13e for evaporated rings, | ‘Theso prives drove’ exporters from, the market, and iso materially diminished die home consi) thon; and daring the vast tires months the trade has been stagnant. As is atways the cnse when the apple crop is short, tie supply of dried proved disappoltitingly Inrge; au fur some tine past there lins b yous feeling among holder: fias been no very serious bat any general attempt on part of holders to untold would questionwbly precipitate x decline of con: erably magulinda, It is estinuted thay not far from 59 percent of the driedapple erop Is ordinarily taken by exporters, Germany and Franee bolng the ‘principal buyers; but the extravagant prives nt which this season's crop has been held hus kept them out, of the market, and as a farge quantity of old trait was held over it is more than Hkely that Ae ulators (uy whom the bulk of the stock Ts hal) will ind the quantity much larger than will ty AS ‘oO break in prices, the un wy required to mect the cansumpllve tee mand at anything Hke present prices. Peaches openvd at 6@63g0 for halves, and re matned without finportantehange unl diy, when they advanced to Tg@ee, IS ber the inarkel moved Cup to 3a but ia November fell of to Tease. andelosed we eeiec Blackberries werecheap until Apri, when the reported surlous dante jugs to the crop prospects caused a shorp nue "e, rom ade Lie tho murket advan to KeMlge, ‘There it remalned until the litter ae ‘af duly, when the price went to L0@108¢ During Angust and September an advance of 4@¥e Was established, My@lio, beltue the prices current at the beglunug of Ovtas ber. Pitted cherries, raspberries, and all siuall fenity have avernged much hlzber than for 1880, ‘The year closed on 4 dull and gen- erally wenk miirket. GREEN FRUITS, - A Laut YIELD e marked tho soveral varieties under ‘this gen erat caption, ‘This was true of the entire country enst of tho Hocky Moantnins, With small crops came the consequent high prices, and the year 18st hus shown a higher range on frult Ginn have several of Its linmediate predecessurs, ‘Tho apple, our highest-prized and most do- mostleatedt of all the fruits, had a poor sen son of It, taken asa whole, In the West the hutter cliss, or table fruit, such as Baldwins, Vipping, ote., ripened tuo early, aan result of the contiitous hat weathar-ot July and Augtat. ‘Thus conditioned, these particular varieties word of i mixed quality, the. conte mon grade betag by far “the inost plentiful, ‘Che keeping quality of thase or- Uuarily-inuch sought varieties was xerlously lessened, and apples thot usnally are brought Jn the murket In February werd this year ox- d for aule before New Year's, the holders dinonished by the general appearance of the fruit that It was necessary to disposu of Itasearly ay possible. ‘Tho Iusset was an exception to this role, and thrived well, more especiaily in the Weat, though as n genera thing while this varlety” proved sound the wun Jos wore auiuilur than for seve eral years. ‘The ostiinated quantity. handled hore was 450,000 ris, Chicago will draw yory Ilxhtly on the East for the fast croy, for the reason ting that sec ton lias Indeor nogarnlns tosund elsewhere, ‘The yiold in New York was only medium fy quantity and the auallty wag, na general rule, mueh below that of the Western fruits, In the far Enst, cupeelally in the States of Maine and New Uampshire, the apple oult- ure, which had hngulahed for several yours under the annus! depredations of the eankur- worn, proved very successful, surprising the orchardista, who wore auticlpating another yoar of {ll-luok. ‘This surplus, however, oul gorved to supply a want in the large Enter narketa, and had no effect on the markets of tho West, In tact, nelther the East nor the Wost had any of this fruit for export, the Tit- tle going abroad bolug shipped from Cunaita, ‘phe price of apples dturlpg the eet hn avers aut $395 per bri, suid ranged from $1.50 to A = PEARS, PEACHKA, RTC. Tho pear crop in Tithiols was yery poor, while Michigan bad wsaly ylold, though We quality was mitoh below the average Considerable. gllpmonts of this fruit were wade from Western New York, thoso ro ed being mostly of tha Duchess. Most of thom arriverd in very poor order, and, a speenintive ventures, were far from ‘guceess~ ful. Prices ranged from 6O@s00 per basket, The pee crop, carly and Tate, though not adeetded failure waa far from an average bie and priced rnmed high thronghout the cutlre season. Most of the Southern fruit of this kind, shipned tn party, sUMMET, ne Fved here In an anmarkatabla condition, The Michtaan yield, though larger than ab festanticipated when the severe cold weather of the previous winter was taken Into account, Ee hardly more than hnlf a crop. ‘Tho ate alao Jacked tn quality, vory small por Hone of the many consignments to this mar Ai ohne, pails, le 3 actually aout lack. 2 al rice On 1 market was 60¢ per heokot. bs pee fenatneant CRANHEMMIES, Hberry crop In the West, aud the West menns princi pally Winconier ian Tes ferring to the cultivition of this fruit, was one of the largest ver known, the nggrecata sel footing Up about 125,000 bit. ‘ihe lost of the old crop sok at from $0.00@7.00 por bri, but these prices anplled only to the pare Ually decayed fruit which are naturally to he found during the inte whiter months. ‘The new crop which came along in October was marketed In the best condition, and. the berries presented a better appearance than Usual. Both cultivated and uncuitivated is pear to have grown and ripened under tha vet possible conditions, and Uieir vommer- celal value was correspondingly enhanced, The price of the new berries nas ranged from 87.04@11.09 per bri--the Intter flgure Forrosen tine the market value of the beauti- ful 4 pear-shaped, hhzhly-cultlvated berry, There is still a controversy, amoug growers: especlally, na tothe relative intriosle value ot the cultivated and the wneuitivated rans berry. ‘Pho cultivated article ts psn and beautiful to the sight, but decided ly hotlow- hearted and Incking fn flavor, while the me cudtivated berry when frest and sound ts soll and meaty, having the most agreeable Havor when cooked, whieh flavor clings to It gven In the first stage of: decomposition, The trade in this article tn this elty ta large ty controtled by one firm whose members would not be Nee to concur In the com: barlson above made, ‘The eranberry Mat the Kast was far hes Jot avenine ae ccSe LLY NOES, lita ¢ than suilicient to sup) @ large mur Kets dn that eeetion, ey. - . OTHER TERHTES. The general berry market was no excep. tow to that of other fraitx, Strawberries Ylelded better than most othe: UL steht Thing as cheap strawberries during the sea- son Wis not Imewn. ‘The growth of the borry was serlously checked by the enrly drouth, and the season was of very short duration. Cholee strawberries were at 10 thw cheaper than Se per box, Raspberries and blackberries were searco, and fish throughout tho entire season. Binekberrles were ut off largely by the ax- treme cold of the preslous winter, many of the bushes oxposed localities being “de> stroyed even with the around, and oly those having: extraordinary artiiichsl - protvetic produced anything lke a falr erop. Or Muairkable ferture connected with the black- berry culture was the securing of a second crop varly In October frou bushea that had been cut down by the cultivators on account of their frost-bitten condition, and had grown aud blossomed ubout the thie the first crop iron the better preserved vines was gathe eretl, Of other berries therg was generally n very lieht yletd, the cheapest of them in ordinary Runbuis commanding good figures hist sir mer. Aceording to the Jonesboro Guzette, there wore shipped here from Cobden during the yeur the following quantities of the different Kinds uf fruits Strawberries, 105 ears and ntes; apples, 715 oe 5 2 raspberries, 440 pl ‘sil CALIFORNIA PRUITS, ‘The trade in Sulifornin fruits during the ly donble that of 1880, nggre- y B250,000 snd $500,000, “The on Was vory favoradle, and the better thin thoge of the year The fruit handled tn this trade consbsts of pears, plus, | 8, penchies apricots, figs, erapes, orang femnons, on Hines, ‘This trade on the whole was not highly protitable durhig the year 1831, as the extreme summer hy to the fruit in transit. F shipmonts is an item that en largely Into the xeeount, as a carlaad containing ten tons taken throws on fast the coats Cie shipper Shdv tn the way of frulght hetween San Fran elseo ant Chicago, Most shipimnunts taka this course ons the most prac one in transporting — these perish: ble gnnds, Prices on this class, of fruit nveraged lower during 141 than. the previous year, Feult cultare is progresstng rapidly jn Callforniy, the Increase dn nereage devoted to trees aud vines belug nenrly one quarter In 18st. TROPICAL. FRUITS. Tn lemons during the year of 1931 there was on almost unprecedented trade, ‘The ree colpts of all kinds In Chicage ageregated ioe 000 boxes. Alessia and Palermo predoinl nated In the proportion of mere than twor thirds. Prices ruted much higherthan thosa of the previous year, averaging about 87.50 per box, os wrnhat $4.49 per box during 1530, the extreme hot weather In the months of July, August, and September catsed an enormous demand for thls fruit, the price por box during the early portion of the latter nronth being §10,00, Of oranges there wero received during the yenr 8),0U0 boxes and 9,0) cases (the latter isually vontining about double the niaber pecked tn boxes) of torelan, and 800 brig and 10,000 boxes of natives, at an averaged price of $7.00 per box (containing 200) fur foreign and 28.00 per box for natives. “Tis extreme cold whiter of 2880-1881 dhunaged the orange trees fu) Loutsiana very badly, ‘The: crop of 880 was estimated af 250,000 bry; that of ist did wot exceed 10,000" bia. Flovida has in Tinmense crap, whleb Ts now coming forward, The grov rave avis dently learned how to pack thelr fratt, as Florida oranges are reaching this marked in a very dine condition, an observation that would not apply to this fralt in former yenrs. The volume of trade in toreizn green frults has Increased futly 45 per cent in the lust year, (he tuererate cash value being S100 for oranges and lamons atone, ‘The receipts of bitianns, niienapples, cocoa. nuts, and athor tropleal tralis were Iehter during the year than during 1880, and prices ranged much higher, ———— tht on these FISn, THE CAPITAL EMPLOYED ¢ by thoso now in the dsh tradqot this elty tf estiniated st about $2,000. “Jt has been somowhnt nugmented during the past years but the Inerense was Jnet about offset by the withdriwal of two of tho sinnller housed fram the business, ‘The total of sales shows an inerease of rather more than 10 per cent, the figures being placed at $2,000,000, n¢ ngalnst $1,800,000 for 1880, ‘The trade ex press themuelyes na very well pleased with tha catrse of die market during the pst your, At tines they wore subjected to no lttle annoyance from on lack of adequate supplies of cortaln tsh—notably fat muckerel, cad, and whttelwh—but periaps the derangement af trade from thas cause was hot greatel than dn most former penis and taken all in all the sengon of 1880 miny ho re kardud as a -satisfactary one as to gener resulta, In common with tost other conr modities, prices have averaged higher. lo thy case of whitellsh, trout, mivkerel, and cud the difference was inurked, amountly: to 2535 per cent. ‘The year opened wit! excecdingly Ilght stuuks of LAKK FI6I, asian which, despite tho almost unprecedontedls High vrlees—frony 8,75007.25 for No, 1 white figh—were entirely exhausted — before the spring trade had falrly sev in Notwithatanding the dolwful forebads ings cntertalved — by dishermen and tho trade enurally at the — cloxa ‘of the seuson_ of 1889 because of the wholy-, anlo destruction of nets by the October storms, the 288l catch (excepting faintly whitetish) was larger and of n botter quality than for the provious year. ‘The high pricey current during the winter and sprig made {t possible for fishermen te obtaly all tie eupitul required for their Teeuiianient and, instead uf the utter ruin whieh seomed ta stare them in the fae, they have expe rienced 9 more than ordinarily profitable year, finding a ready market tug thelr dish, and at better prices than they hu been able to realize for mony seasons pasts tis true that prices reached a pretty high point during the ‘of 1880, but then tshtr Tien had no fish to sell, wid consequently due rived no benelit frou the enhunced values. ‘The year opened nt $8.59@100 for No. 1 whitetish, and steadily advanced watil thi nilddle of March, when the quotations sto nt 97.0075. ‘Chore it rumalnod until early In May, when there was 6 decile ta SURE TA, "Phe market continued ta work gradually downward wnttl tho batter part of August, the pricy then standing uf r ta were vert. destrietive *