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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 16, 1907)
THE MORNING OREGOXIAX, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1907. 17 GO AT LOW -PRICES Fair Volume of Business in the Hop Market. EASTERN DEMAND SMALL ironmonger Says the English Hoots Mere Xot Damaged by Cold Weather Three Thousand Aeres Grubbed. MAKKET PAGE OMITTED. A irswroom ccidfn t y estcrdu y mornins made it Tioceswiry to omit entirely the market pa from the roKiiiar edition. ; 4 A fuir volume of business is being trans net wi In the local hop market, but dealers report it difficult to interest the Eastern trade, even at the low ruling prices. Still the opinion is almost general that there will be no further recession In values. At th same time the trade is convinced that there can be no immediate rise, as any advance would undoubtedly slack buying. "With buyers and srllers willing to do busi ness at the rurernt rates the holdings In this Mate will be well disposed of by the time the vines are again growing. . The frMmt hern Faclflc reports shipments from Ori'gon since September 1 as between 9 ,".000 and 100,000 bales. The J. W. Seavey Hop Company in the past two days has bought about -400 bales at 10 and !0U cents. The purchases were made at Gervais. Mount Angel and around Sltverton. II. i. Hart bought 00 bales from "William Moore, of Greenville, at 10 cents. This lot. is reported to bo particularly good. , Frank J. Miller secured a carload at 9 cents. Ui-hmund & Pincus have . made a set tlement with Siilzgaher. of Reedville. at 14 cents for about 300 bales. This, lot was eon traded for before picking at a price understood to be 20 cents. A little business has been done in Yakima lately at low prices. Guy Grafton bought the Jim Toy lot of 00 bales at T1 cents, and -some better grades have been sold at cents. H. ,1-. Hart, who returned from Washington yesterday, says that 18,000 bales are still left in growers hands there and that dealers stocks are fairly heavy. Shipping has been at a stamlstill for some time, but cars are apaln available. Mall advices from San Francisco report the. f.ale a few days ago of 3300 hales of Sonomns at 1 0 '2 to 11 cents. The latest Issue of the New York Journal of Commerce not"S the sale of a quantity of Oregons there at 1 :t cents. A cable received yesterday by Icaac Pin pus & Sons, of Tacoma, from Ironmonger, of London, said: "Our opinion is the the' cold weather will undoubtedly have no effect on hop roots. Three thousand acres will be grubbed out this year. The market has the appearance of a further decline. Our market is very t4ul-t, nothing doing, consumers preferring to wait. POTATO MAKKKT Ql'OTED EASIER. Heavy Movement From East io California May Lower Prices. Local handlers and shippers of potatoes regard the market as easier. Buyers are till paying the old prices, but are not tak ing on much. A San Francisco wire re ceived yesterday afternoon reported the sale of a fancy car of Oregon burbanks there at $2.10. and stated that Mlnnesotas were arriving in poor condition. A shipment of Oregon onions, according to the same telegram, were sold at $..:.0&-l.4O. Letters from San Francisco say that buyers want to pay reduced prices, but holders refuse to make concessions. A fair northern inquiry for potatoes is reported and several cars were sent out last evening. Shipments to San Francisco by the Costa Rica last night amounted to over 3000 sacks. The weakest feature of the San Francisco potato market in the heavy movement that is under way from the East. Regarding these shipment, the Chicago Tacker of Feb ruary ft said: It is conservatively estimated that around oOO cars of potatoes arc now in transit to California, ond this has served to give mme of the potato men cold feet, a they fpar something will happen to the market when all of these shipments are de livered. But it takes from 17 to 40 days to land a shipment from common points in WlNConsln and Minnesota to Uos Angeles. A good many potatoes have been moving westward lor more than a month and some stork has been sold as high as $1 4S on the Coast. It is more or less guess work what et-Xn-t the movement of potatoes to the Pu rine Coast will have on the' general situa tion and it is hardly thought that enough potatoes will move to the Far West to have much bearing on the Kastern deal. Some potatoes are still held in Washington and Oregon, although it is reported there are some inquiries coming from Seattle and other points. It is estimated that Cali fornia alone will consume about JO,0M) bags of potatoes per day. The Packer estimates the California con sumption at too high a figure, according to San Francico potato men now In this city. They nay that at the prevailing steep prices 5000 bags per duy is a more accurate figure. HI.L'MP IN Ei;S IS CHECKED. But lorl Price Show Great Irregularity" Receipts Are Lighter. The slump In r-gga, whirti started about a week ago. has been checked, temporarily at least. Good shipping orders from the Sound, Alaska. Kastern Washington and Idaho havH absorbed receipt as fast as they come in and for two days now the local market has closed practically bare of stocks. Thlc o'ttRtde inquiry, however, is not like ly to lift prices as long an the San Fran cisco market declines. The great distance of San Francisco from the consuming mar kets has been one thing in favor of Port land and shippers here have taken advantage of this fact. Southern shipments, however, are now nearing the Northern centers and o Washington buyers appear more Indiffer ent. Thero was considerable irregularity In yesterday's quotations and dealers reported sales varying all tho way from 22 s to 24 vents. Two of the large firms held out late in the day for 25 cents. Receipts were lighter Thursday and Friday than on the preceding days of the week. There was a strong local and shipping de mand for chickens and the top quotations were realized in most canes. Turkeys found but little favor, whether live or dressed. Geene and duckn-were also slow. CITY BUTTE K AT VMKORM PRICK. All the Local Crea merle Are Now Quoting 35 Cents. The city creameries were at a uniform price yesterday. The one creamery that has been holding at .17 He lowered Its price to .'irc, at which the other creameries have been selling. The steady Increase In receipts of cream since the weather turned warmer and the larger make of butter in conse quence are the reasons for the decline. Some of the other creameries, while they did not Hrlvanc, have been and still are short of supplies, bitt everything promises a good in crease in cream receipts from now on. One indication of this can be found In the large number of calves coming into the market. Receipts of outside brands of butfer on Front street are steadily growing, but there is no surplus and prices are steadily main tained In that quarter. The Eastern butter market continues strong, the Chicago quo tation yesterday standing at 32 i- Tne San Francisco market holds steady at 32 cents. A car of Eastern butter that has been on the nay for some time Is now due EXPORT DEMAND FOR PRUNES. EngiUb. Inquiries In the New York Market. Car Shipped From Salem. The New York Journal of Commerce of February !). reports some export prune in quiry as follows: Export inquiries for prunes, which have been in this market for several days, have resulted In Utile business, chiefly because the would-be buyers have fixed their limits in most case as prices which holders here are not willing to accept, as they are con siderably below the figures obtainable from the home trade. The export demand, which comes from England, is not impor tant, however, the inquiries being for lots of OOO boxe: up to- carload quantities. According to one broker, two cars, one of r0s and the other of 60s. were sold to English buyers at prices not made public, but claimed to be well up to the inside quotations. The firm of Tillson & Company, of Wlem, have shipped their last car of prunes to New York this s-eason. The car contained 6;.,00O pounds. The prunes were carefully packed in boxes of various sizes to meet the demands of the trade, the smallest boxes containing eight pounds. t l.ood Demand for Good Vegetables. There were no carlot arrivals of Southern produce yesterday. Three cars of bananas, one of mixed vegetables and one of sweet potatoes that came in Thursday moved off well. The sweet potatoes are probably the last that will arrive by carload this sea son. A car of celery under ice is due t&day. An express shipment of hothouse cucumbers was received and quoted at 2(9' 2. SO. As paragus has declined to 40 cents. Rhubarb ia also lower at fl.T-V There is a good, steady demand for cabbage, cauliflower and celery where the offerings are sound. Bunk Clearings. , Bank clearances of the leading cities of the Northwest yesterday were: Clearings Balances. Portland ... l.MNi,r,!is $t:tr,0l Seattle 1.7141.0141 l.'D.S'U Tacoma 775.2:t :m,8ri Spokane 707,.171 45,81 PORTLAND QUOTATIONS. Butter, Eggs. Poultry. Etc. BUTTER City creameries: Extra cream ery, auc per pound. State creameries : Fancy creamery, 82&&3&c; store butter. lt tf 2(c. BUTTER FAT First grade cream, .-,:iuc per pound; second grade cream. 2c leu pr pound. EGGS Oregon ranch, 22 24c per doxen. CHEESE Oregon full cream twins. 14 fil.k; Young America. 13 & 10c per pound. POULTRY Average old hens, 13(14c-. mixed chickens, 12U'i:c; Spring, i:i Mv; old roosters, H&loc; dressed chickens. 14rj l."c; turkeys, live, 17i&17c; turkeys, dressed, choice, 20ig22c; geoae. live! per pound, 10c ; ducks. 17 18c ; pigeons, $1 1.30; squabs, $26 .'1. Veretahles. Fruits. Etc. DOMESTIC FRUITS Apples, common, 70c 6j $1.23 per box; choice, $1.50&2.0o; cran berries, $10 per barrel. TROPICAL FRUITS Lemons, fancy, $2.50 8. GO per box; oranges, navels, $1.752.50; grapefruit, $.13.50; bananas, 41 5c per pound; tangerines, $1.75. ROOT VBGttTABLGS Turnips, $11.25 per sack: carrots, $11.25 per sack; beets, kl. 2541.50 per sack; garlic. 7&10c per pound, horseradish, 7 ii 8c per pound ; sweet potatoes. .i c per pound; chicory, 30c. FRESH VEGETABLES Cabbage. Cali fornia, 3c 'per pound: Fanno, 3c per pound : cauliilower, $2.50 per dozen; cel ery, $3V?3.25 per crate; lettuce, head. 45c per dozen ; onions, 10 12 c per dozen; tomatoes. $2.75 crate; parsley. 236' :.0c; arti chokes,. $1.50 per dozen; hothouse lettuce. $1.75 ft 2 per box ; eprouts, 9c ; pea?. 15c ; radishes, UTtfj?.0c; Bell peppers. oOffrSOc per pound; rhubarb, $1.75 per box; asparagus, 40c per pound ; cucumbers. $2 ff 2.30 ger dozen. ONIONS Oregon, $101.35 per hundred. DRIED FRUITS Apples. aft8c pound, apricots- 11Dc: peaebmo. -liiae; pears, !l14c: Italian prunes. 2oic: Califor nia figs, white, in sacks, 5&ttc per pound: black. 4fQt?;c: cricks. 7oc0$2.25 per box; Symma. 1820o pound: dates, Persian. 6f Ic pound. POTATOES Buying prices: Oregon Bur banks, fancy, $1.35 1.50; common, $l& 1.25. RAISINS Layers and clusters. 2 -crown, $2.15; 3-crown, $2.25: 5-crown. 93.10: ft crown, $3.30. loose muscatels. 2-crown, 8c; 8 -crown, 8 c ; 4-crown, 9c ; aeedlass, Thompsons. 10 c; Sultanas. 912c Grain. Flour, Feed. Etc. WHEAT Club, COS 70c; blueatem. 71Q72c; Valley. 70c; red, 67ftiUiic. OATS No. 1 white, $29; gray, $28.50. FLOUR Patents. $4.03; straights, $3.50; clears. $:;.50; Valley. $:t.uo. BARLEY Feed. $22 50 per ton; brewing, $23; roiled. t.50'g24.6o. RTB Sl.-iaffci 1.50 per cwt. CORN Whole, $:4.50; cracked, $22.50 per ton. MILLSTUFFS Bran, city. $17; country, $18 per ton; middlings. 25?Jft; shorts, city, $20; country, $21 per ton; U. S. Mills dairy chop, $15. SO per ton; Pacific grain, $10.50 per ton. CEREAL FOODS Rolled oats, cream. uO pound eacks, $7; lower srrades. $5.,V6.M oatmeal, steel cut, 45-pound sacks. $8 per barrel; 0-pound sacks. $4.25 per bale; oatmeal (ground), 45-pound eacks. $7.00 per barrel; 9-pound aacks. $4 per bale; split peaa. per 100-pounda. $4.2.M?4.U0; pearl barley, $4$i 4.50 per 100 pounds; pastry flour, 10-pound eacks, $2.30 per bale. HAT Valley timothy. No. 1, $14-??15 per ton; Eastern Oregon timothy, $17(&18; clo ver. $9; cneat. $9; grain hay, $9&10; alfalfa. $14. . Dressed Meats. VEAL Dressed, 75(3 125 pounds, bti SWo; 126 to 150 pounds. 7c; mo to 200 pounds, '6c: 2u0 pounda and up, 6&6c. ' EEF Dressed bulls,'' 2H3Hc per pound; cows, 4g5c; country steers, 5 6c. MUTTOX Dretsed, fancy, 89c . per pound; ordinary. 6 7c. PORK Dressed. 300 to 130 pounds. 88c; 15u to 200 pounds. 7 47 lie; 20t) pounda and up, C(S6c. PORTLAND LIVESTOCK MARKET. Prices Current' Locally on Cattle, Sheep and Hog. The following prices were quoted in the local livestock market .yesterday: CATTLE Best steers, $4.25 fr 4.50; me dium. $;i.25(h 3.75; cows. $3 3.50; fair to medium cows, $2.252.50; bulls, $1.50$ 2; calves. $4-500; .1. , SHEEP Best. fi.25. HOtiS Best, $6,756; 7; liRht weights. $6.75 &7; stock era and feeder?, $6.756 7.25. Kantfrn Livestock Priem. CH IC AGO, Feb. 1 5. Catt le Receipts, 2000; stronR. Beeves, $437; slockers and feeders. $2.604.70; cows and heifers, $l.Q0 5.:t5; calves. S6&7.50. Hogs Receipts today. 2S,o00; weakei. Mixed and butchers', $6.857.15; good to choice heavy, $7.05&'7.1o; rough heavy, $6.85 96.05. light. $6.83$ 7.07: pigs, $6.25&) 6.S5. Sheep Receipts. 60O0; steady. Sheep, $3.50 &5.60; lambs, $4.75&7.65. KANSAS CITY, Mo7"F?b. 15. Cattle Re ceipts, 2000; market, steady. Native steers, $4.20 6.50; native cows and heifers, $2.50 5; stackers and feeders, $3.50 4.80; Western cows, $2.25'-4.50; Western steers, $3.75 5.75; calves, $.1.25 7.25. Hogs Receipts. SOOO-. market, steady. Heavy, $7.05fJ 7.1o; packers, $6.95 7.07 ; pics, $5.75 6.95. Sheop Receipts, 4000; market, steady. Muttons, $5$6; lambs, $7 7.50; range weth ers. $0.2504.50: fed ewes, $4.755.50. SOUTH OMAHA, Feb. 13. Cattle Re. ceipts, 13.00O; market, steady to strong. Na tive steers, $4$?fl; cows and heifers, $2.60 4.00; Western steers. $3.25'5.25; can n era, $2 ii 3; storkers and feeders, $3 5.10; calves, $36.10. Hogs Receipts, 8000; market, shade high er. Heavy, $0.02 6 7; mixed, $6.90 ff 6.92 ; light, $C.S54j 0.02 ; pigs, $5.756.50. Sheep Receipts. 12.000; market, steady. Wethers.' $5.25ft5.ub; ewes, $4.50j?'5.25; lambs, $6.50(1.40. Coffee and Sugar. NEW YORK. Feb. 15. Coffee future closed steady, net unchanged to five points higher. Sales were reported of l.t.oOo hags, including March, 5.03c; Sept em her, 5.5'ric; Oecember, i. Spot, steady: Xo. 7 Rio. 7-: No. Santo. o. Mild, quiet. Cordova, 9i9c. Sugar Raw steady. Fair refining. 2" Si -32c; centrifugal. 96 tct. 3 7-16r: molnimes sugar, 2 23-32c. Refined, steady and unchanged. IS Stocks Show Good Resistance to Downward Tendency. BUT TRADING IS NOT LARGE Operators Are Waiting for Congress ' to Adjourn Before Taking Hold Freely Firm Money Mar ket Is Ignored. NEW YORK. Feb. 15. There was little anlmatton In the dealings in stocks today, but decided headway was made in the price movement against the reactionary tendency which developed yesterday. The firm tone of the money market was practically Ignored, owing to the supposition that the tight ness of the call loan market was due to temporary causes and that forces of relief would come into play. The principal of these relied upon is the securing of gold In London, which is expected on Monday, when larse arrivals are due there. The strong position disclosed by "the Bank of England in its weekly statement created an Impres sion that no further obstacles would hinder the movement of gpid to New York, but the tone of comment from London to day Indicated that financial authorities there would feci some continuing dissatisfaction at such a movement. The New York banks today Turned over to the Sub-Treasury Sl.'JOO.OOd. being the remainder of the de posits made with the banks in December. The interior banks have drawn on their New York correspondents to only a small extent to meet these payments, the higher rates for call - loans here acting as a dis suasive influence on any reduction of New York accounts. Estimates of the week's currency move ment Indicate a small change in the cash item either way. The Government with drawals two weeks ago were thrown over almost entirely into the averages for the following week and helped to make the weak showing of last week's bank state ment. Lending In this market by Interior banking Institutions would tend to relieve demands upon the local banks, but the fur ther placing of note Issues would constitute a demand for loans upon the local banks. Today's addition to these Issues was the Klu.lHKi.OOO placed by the Interborough Met ropolitan, the price at which they were un derstood to be taken by the bankers Indi cating an interest rate of 6 to 7 to the term of maturity. The rates for time loans, however, show a receding tendency owlng to the lending for account of Interior banks. A decline In the grain exports for the wit of S20.0O0 bushels of wheat and 4111.000 bushels of corn has some bearing on the ex change market. The rising money, market in Berlin also is a factor In the situa tion. The repression of activity In the market is believed to be due in part to a desire to await the adjournment of Congress be fore entering upon extennive market commit ments The resumption of the Interstate Commerce Commission s Inquiry Into the Harrlmart combination of railroad properties Is another Item of future Influence to bear on the market, which Is the occasion of some reserve in speculative operations. Not only were dealings held in moderate bounds today, but price movements in consequence were restricted to comparatively few stocks. A record price for Atnconda was an Inci dent of the day. Realising sales Impaired the best prices of the day, but the closing tone was rteady. Bonds were steady. Total sales, par value. $1,250,000. United States bonds wer. unchanged on call. CLOSING STOCK QUOTATIONS. Clowlng Sales. High. Low. Bid. Adams Express 2h5 Amalgam Copper.. 63.800 1 1 5 i-i ll:!:i . 114 Am Car & Foundry ,'l.t00 45 43. 44 do preferred 101 fa Am Cotton Oil 200 304 30'.i 304 do preferred '. . . . American Epres 225 Am Hd & Lt. pf 27 i Am Ice Securities 100 82'3 82'i 82'4 Am Linseed Oil.. 100 17 17 17 lo 'jref erred ... . -12 Am Locomotive.... 11.900 75 74 74 do preferred Ill Am Smelt & Refln 47.000 145 144fi . 144'i do preferred loo 114 114 114 Am Sugar Refining 3.700 130 134 ?i 135 Am Tobacco pf 200 96 iW 8 Anaconda Min Co. .12O.4O0 302ti 2H214 2i Atchison 12.200 1047i 104 KI414 do preferred 100 99 99 99 Atlantic Coaet Line 1204 Baltimore & Ohio.. 20.200 114 414a lH'i do preferred 90 Brook Rap Transit 2.200 75 74H 74',i Canadian Pacific. 13.800 ISO 184 1H-'' Central Leather 3.000 4 Jl8i 3 do preferred loo 102 102 101 Cent ot New Jersey 208 Chesapeake & Ohio 7.300 53'.s SI M Chi Great Western 2O0 16 1 IB v. Chi & Northwestern 2.:iuo lU7a Itwl'A ltwt . Chi.. Mil. & St. P. 20.6CXI 140'. 149 14K;i Chi Term & Trans B do preferred 22 C C. C. & St. L. 1.30O Colo Fuel Iron.. :i.ni 50 49 49 Colo & Southern... 1.2110 : ao'-j do 1st preferred.. Hon 07 87 B7 do 2d preferred.. 1.K0O DG'i SH M4 Consolidated Gas.. 23.HO0 140 137Va 13TH Corn Products 1.000 2S 2:i 23'-4 do preferred 200 87 a4 87 Delaw & Hudson 210 Iel.. Lack. & West Boo Den & Rio Grande 1.000 -38S 38 38 do preferred 300 mm SO 79 Distillers' Securlt.. 1.200 77', 77 70 Erie 1.4M0 ."! 35 Stt do 1st preferred.. 90 11 70 7ol4 do 2d preferred.. 500 2i 1V, 61 General Electric... loo 159 159 ir.9"a Great Northern pf 2.2O0 170 107 1H Hocking Valley lo5 Illinois Central 100 180 1U0" 1594 Int. Met 2oO H3H 34 34 do - preferred .... . 3oO 71 71 71 International Paper loo 17V4 . 17 17 preferred 80 International Pump 400 35 35 34 ',3 do preferred ..... 77 Iowa Central loO 25 25 25 do preferred 4O0 45 Va 45 44 Kan City Southern BOO 29 2S 28 do preferred 4O0 6M 59 59 Louis & Nashville 200 l; 135 4 135W, Mexican Central... 400 25 241 24 Minn & St. Louis 500 50 50 55 M.. St. P. & S.S.M. 1.30O 124 121 Vj 123 do preferred 100 149'i 1491J 148 Missouri Pacific 21.300 83 83 S3 Mo.. Kan & Txa 29.300 43 40'4 43H do preferred 2.300 71 70 71 National Lead 800 ' 73 72 73 Mex. Nat. R. ft. pf 34 N. Y. Central..... 4.2O0 129ti 128 128 N. Y. Ont. it West l.ttoO 45 45 45 Norfolk & Western Too 8 86'4 SK do preferred - 82 North American ..... SI Pacific Mall 200 34 34 Northern Pacific... 3.7"0 154 1531J 153 Pennsylvania 19.400 132 131 131 Vj People's Gas TOO K 95 95 Pits.. C. C. & S. U 20O 74 74 73 Pressed Steel Car.. 200 52 52 52 do preferred 98 Pullman Pal Car 171 Reading 127.300 125 123 124 do 1st preferred.. 200 90 90 90 do 2d preferred 90 Republic Steel 5.2"0 3B 35 30 do preferred 91 M 119 98 Rock Island Co 3.100 2fl -2 20 do preferred....'. 400 59 rati 58 Schloss-Sheffield .. S00 t 71 II St. L. & S. F. 2 pf ....... 43 St. L. Southewest 400 24 24 23 do preferred 1.500 2 57 59 Southern Pacific... 18.B00. 94 93 94 do preferred 200 117 117 117 Southern Railway 3.4n0 27 21 21 do preferred 2o0 85 85 S5 Tenn Coal & Iron 150 Texas & Pacific... 1.100 34 33 34 To!.; S. L. V West 800 S0 30 S0 14 do preferred.-... .'JOO 51 51 51 Union Paclnu 9S.400 170 175 17t do preferred .' 90 1" S. Express ..... loft U. S. Realty 2.500 84 80 '84 U. S. Rubber 3.400 52, 51 51 do preferred 2.100 107 107 107 V. S. Steel 63.000 40 45 40 do preferred 4.300 105 1(14 101 Vlrg.-Caro. C'nem . . 1.0O0 35 34 34 do preferred 100 MS 108 107 Wabash 200 1 1(1'. 1 do preferred 1.2O0 32 31 32 Wells Fargo Exp .' . 275 Westinghouse Elect ....... ..... 152 Western Union 8214 Wheel & Lake Erie 200 12 12 12 Wisconsin Central 100 22 22 22 do preferred 45 Total salea for the day. 755.400 shares. BONDS. NEW YORK. Feb. 13. Closing quota tions: , . U. S. ref. 2 reg.ior. :Atchison AdJ 4s 1 do coupon ...105iD. & R. G. 48 . 90 V.S.Sn reg 102 ,K. Y. C. 3s.. 93 do coupon . . . 102 iNorth. Pac. Ss. 72 l". S. new 4s reg.129 INorth Pac. 4s .101 do coupon ...129 South. Pae. 4s . 89 HEADWAY U.S. old 4s reg.l01Union Pac. 4s .101 do coupon . . . IOI IWls. Cen. 4s .. 8S Money. Exchange. Etc. NEW YORK. Feb. 15. Money on call, firm. 46 per cent; ruling rate, 6 per cent; closing bid. 5 per cent: offered at 5 per cent. Time loans, steady; U0 days. 5 65 per cent; 90 days and six months, 5 per cent. Prime mercantile paper, o 8 per cent. Sterling exchange, easy, with actual busi ness in bankers' bills at 4.8450 4.8455 for demand and at $ 4.8030& 4.8035 for 60-day bills. Posted rates, 4.81 84.85. Com mercial bills, 4.806'4.80,i. Bar silver, 09c. Mexican dollars, 53 c. . Bonds Government and railroad, steady. LOrtOON, Feb. 15. Bar silver, firm; 31 15-10d per ounce. Money. 45 per cent. The rate of discount in the open market for short bills is 4 per cent: do for three months' bills, 4 per cent. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 15. Sliver bars, 69c. Mexican dollars. 54c. Drafts Sisht. !5e: telegraph. 20c. Sterling on London Sixty days, 4.S1 ; sight. 4.S5. Daily Treasury Statement. WASHINGTON. Feb. 15. Today's statement or the Treasury balance in the general fund shows: Available cash balances J249.flT9.534 Gold coin and bullion 1O8.082.378 Gold certificates 42.323.130 GOOD WEATHER HELPS GREATER ACTIVITY IX DISTRIB UTIVE TRADE. Congestion in Transportation Lines Is Partly Relieved Collections Are More Prompt. NEW YORK. Feb. 13. Bradstreet's to morrow will ay: Better weather and improved roads have de veloped a stronger tone and greater activity In distributive trade, increased deliveries of grain by farmers and slightly relieved the congestion in transportation1 lines, though the latter situation Is still far from perfect. In the Pacific Northwest some progress is mak ing in relieving the car shortage, which, how. ever, is still hurtful to business. Recent stormy weather checks building, but signs of revival are noticed at the West. Copper is higher, the prevailing quotation for Lake be ing 25.12 to 25.35c a pound, with fairly prompt shipments commanding even higher figures. Bank clearings in the United States for the week ending with February 14 la holiday period) aggregate $2,701,213,498. 18.7 per cent under last week and 2 per. cent below the same week last year. Excluding New York City the total is jil.505, 159,303, 8 per cent below last week, but 6 per cent over last year. Business failures in the United Slates for the week ending February 14 number 2lt4, against 198 last week. Wheat, ; including flour, exports from the United States and Canada for the week end ing February 14 aggregated 2.5110,139 bushels, against 2,961,242 this week last year. MILLS AXD FACTORIES SOLD AHEAD. Wages Are Advanced by Sevrral Leading Concerns. NEW YORK, Feb. 15. R. G. Dun & Co.'s weekly review of trade tomorrow will say: Despite holiday and weather interruptions, the volume of business. Is well maintained, lit most sections of the country the movement of merchandise has resumed normal propor tions. A gratifying feature of many rejkjrts is the greater promptness of mercantile col lections. Mills and factories, have so. much forward business that new contracts are not taken except In full figures and there Is dis satisfaction because shipments are not more prompt. Wages have been advanced in sev eral Important concerns. Hunk Clearings. NEW YORK, Feb. 15. The following ta ble, complied by Bradstreet, shows the bank clearings at the principal cities for the week ended February 14. . with the percent age of Increase and decrease, as compared with the corresponding week last year: P.C. P.C. Inc. dec. New York $1,051,054,000 .... 7.0 Chicago 215.849.000 8-1 Boston lflB.931,001) .6 Philadelphia 114.o32.O0o .... 8.3 St. Louis -61. 040,000 7.8 .... Pittsburg ' 47.001.0O0 .... 3.2 San Francisco ... 51,31!t.00() '. Baltimore 2tl.2o:i,0O0 .7 Cincinnati 2O.S12.000 13.8 Kansas City K0.54O.oim 25 . S .... Minneapolis lT.179.ono 18.9 .... Los Angeles .... 14. 424.000 31.0 .... St. Paul 7.21.1.0O0 21 .8 Seattle 7.90S. (KIO 10.8 .... Portland. Or. .... B.815.(MKt 35.3 Tacoma 4. 001. OOO 2S.9 .... Spokane, Wash... 4.32S.OO0 20.7 .... 'Balances paid in cash. QUOTATIONS AT SAN FRANCISCO. Trice. Paid for Produce In the Bay City Markets. SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 15. The follow ing prices were quoted in the produce mar ket yesterday: FRUIT Apples, choice $2, common 50c: bananas. $142.50; Mexican limes, $S10; California lemons, choice $3.50, common fl; oranges, navel, $12.75; pineapples. J34. VEGETABLES Cucumbers, $t. 75(52; gar lic. 2'3c; green peas, 1012c: string beans, nominal; asparagus, 1525c; toma toes, 50c'$1.73. EGGS Store. lft(S!20c: fancy ranch. 22c. POTATOES River Whites. Sl.OOti 1.85 : sweets, $2.503; Oregon Burbanks. xl.Oogr) 2.25; Eastern, $1.80 1.95; Garnet Chile, $1.33 iji 1.50: new potatoes. 4c. ONIONS Yellow. X1&1.25. BUTTER Fancy creamery, 32c; creamery seconds, 28c; fancy dairy, 31c; dairy seconds, nominal: pickled. 21 23c. WOOL -Fall. Humboldt and Mendocino. 14 15o: South Plains and San Joaquin, lip 8c: lambs. 8llc; Nevada. 15 18c. HOPS California. 10&12c. CHEESE Young America. 1315c; Eastern. 10c: Western. 13c. HAY Wheat, fliSr22c; wheat and oats. $15(S20: alfalfa. $9a 13.50; stock. $7.50& 9.50; straw. BOW 80c per bale. MILLSTUFFS Bran, $20.50(22.50; mid dlings. $27S30. FLOUR California, family extras. ,4.80cfd 5.10: bakers' extras. $4.40Sf4.60; Oregon and Washington. J3.25(p 3.60. POULTRY Turkeys, gobblers, l7J19c; turkeys, hens. 18f 20c: roosters, old. $4$ 5; young. tHiH: broilers, small. S3ti4; broil ers, large. 4??5: fryers. $5(f6: hens. $5&8; ducks, old. 5(S 6: ducks, young, $6!& 8. RECEIPTS Flour, 9042 quarter sacks; wheat. 2700 centals: barley. 1300 centals; cats. 100 centals: beans. 1500 sacks; pota toes. 2125 sacks; bsan. 150 sacks: middlings. 50 sacks; hay, 23 tons; wool, 2 bales; hides, 175. Dried Fruit at New Tork. NEW YORK, Feb. 15. Eraporated apples unchanged and conditions remain as recently reported. Fancy 8fi9c; choice, 8Vi8c; prime, 7$i8c. Prunes are in moderate demand on spot, with prices ranging from 3St0c for California fruit. Oregon prunes are quoted at 5T9c, according to grade. Apricots are quiet and unchanged. Peaches, Arm. Choice, ll(512c; extra choice, 12i& 13c; fancy. 12'g'14c; extra fancy, 1315c. v Raisins are Arm on spot with loose muscatels quoted at 7S9c: seeded raisins, 710e, and London layers, 1.35el.4S. Dairy Produce In the East. CHICAGO. Feb. 15. On the Produce Ex change today the' butter market was firm; creameries. 22fc,32c; dairies. 20t 30c. Egg Steady; at mark, cases included, 22 24c: firsts, 24c; prime firsts, 25c; ex tras. 27 c. Cheese Steady. 3!Slfic. Yool at St. I-ouis. ST. LOUIS, Feb. 15. Wool, steady. Medium grades combing and clothing. 24i28c: light fine. 20S23; heavy fine, 18 18c; tub washed, 30?Sc. YIELD TO PRESSURE Prices Give Way Sharply in Chicago Market. CLOSE NEAR THE BOTTOM Loss for the Day Isa Cent and a Quarter Heavy Argentine Ex ports and Large Northwestern Receipts Cause Weakness. CHICAGO, Feb. 15. Exports of wheat from Argentina for the last week were 4.3O4,0o0 bushels, compared with 3.508.000 bushels for the corresponding week last year. This un expectedly large movement caused a weak market for wheat at Liverpool which was re flected in lower prices, at th opening on the local exchange. The domestic situation also Tavored the bears. Receipts . today at Min neapolis and Duluth showed a considerable Increase and exceeded those of the same day last year. Several times during the day the market rallied on covering by shorts, hut sentiment continued bearish. The market oon yielded to the heavy selling pressure, however, and closed weak and near the bottom. May opened fic lower at 78c and closed 1 114 c lower at T8ig78c. The corn market was steady early in the day. but eased off during the last houT in sympathy with wheat. May opened unchanged to c lower at 47ifi47c. advanced to 47c and closed flc lower at 4747c. The oats market was steady early In the day on buying by caeh houses and local bulls. Later the market declined on selling Induced by the break In wheat. May opened un changed to a shade lower at 40fo40Tc to 40c, eold up to 41c and declined to- 40c, closing c lower at 40c. Provisions were Inclined to be weak. A falling ofT in the cash demand and Increased receipts of live hogs caused slight declines. At the close May pork was a shade lower, lard was off 2c and ribs were down 5?i7c. Leading futures ranged as follows: Open. High. Low. Close. WHEAT. May $ .79 $ .79 $ .78 $ .78 July 78 .78 .78 .78 Sept. 77 .78 .77 .77 QPRN. February May 47 July 4 Sept 47 44 .40 .47 .40 .4 .40 .10 47 V 47 47 OATS. 38 .39 .4) .41 ,37 .37 32 .32 February May July Sept .38 .38 .4o .40 .37 .37 .32 .32 MESS PORK. May 1T.40 17.45 July 17.50 17.55 17.37 17.40 17.40 17. 5o LARD. May 10 00 JO.Oll 9.92 9.97 July 1O.00 Hl.oO 9.92 10.00 Sept 10.10 10.12'i 1O.05 10.12 SHORT RIBS. May 9.50 9.52 9.40 9.47 July 9.60 9.0O 9.50 9.55 Cash quotations were as follows: Flour Steady. Wheat No. 2 Spring, 79&83c; No. 3. .744? 83c; No. 2 red. 74B75c. Corn No. 2. 43c; No. 2 yellow. 44Sc. Oats No. 2. 38c; No. 2 white, JlSi41c; No. 3 white. 39(ff40c. Rye No. 2. 64c. Barley Fair to choice malting. odliflOt . Flax seed No. 1, $1.19; No. 1 Northwestern. $1.26. Timothy seed Prime. $4.55. Clover Contract grade. $13.50. . Short ribs, sides Loose, 9.12h9.37. Mess pork Per barrel, $17.12(gl7.25. Lard Per 100 pounds, 9.8o. Short clear sides Boxed. $9. 37 $59. 02. Whisky Basis of high wines. $1.29. Rece'nts. Shlnmentn Flour, barrels 27.7O0 15. OOO Vhat. bushels 2.'1.0(0 r. yilrt Corn, bushels .630. 5to 2:10,700 Oat, bushels 232.!wm 120.000 Rye. bushels . . 12. otto 1S7oo Barley, bushels 42.9(H) ' 17,200 (.rain and Produce et New York. NEW YORK. Feb. 15. Flour Receipts, 28. "00 barrels: exports, 5500 barrels. Dull and steady. , Wheat Receipts. 43,000 bushels: exports 332.000 bushels. Spot, weak: No. 2 re 82c e!e-ator: No. 2 red. 84c f. o. b. afloat; No. 1 Northern Duluth. 92c f. o. b. afloat; No. 2 hard Winter, 87-c f. 0. b. afloat. Affected by heavy sales for long account and bearish sta tistics, wheat tS5jke over a cent per bushel today, closing (fflc net lower. Included among the depressing factors were large Argentine shipments. if appointing weekly clearances, big Northwestern receipts and weakness abroad. May closed at 85c and July 85c. Hops Dull. Hides Steady. Wool Steady. : Petroleum Firm. (.rain at San Francisco. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 15. Wheat and barley, steady. 4 Spot quotations: Wheat Shipping, $1.27 1.32 ; mill ing. $1.S51.45. Barley -Feed, $1.11 g 1.13 ; brewing, $1.1618)1.17. Cnll-board salts: Wheat December, $1.37. Barley May, S1.15H: December. V04. Corn Large yellow,. $1.30(1.33. European Grain Markets. LIVERPOOL. Feb. 13. t In the grain mar ket today prices closed as follows: Wrheat Spot, steady; No. 2 red Western Winter, 6s. , Futures: March, 6s 6d; May, 6s 6d; July, 6s 3d. LONDON, Feb. 15. Cargoes, steady. Pa cific Coast prompt shipment, 30s 6dig30s 9d. Weather in England today, damp. Minneapolis Wheat Market. . MINNEAPOLIS., Feb. 15. Wheat May, 79"9c; July.; 79c; September. 77c; No. 1 hard. 81ft82"c; No. 1 Northern, 8O0 81c: No. 2 Northern. 7879c; No. 3 Northern, 75l&77c. . Wheat at Tacoma. TACOMA. Feb. IS. Wheat, unchanged: bluestem, 71c; club, 69c; red. 67c. PORTLAND STOCK EXCHANGE Largest Block Yet of Lee's Creek Gold Changes Hands. The largest sale of Lee's Creek Gold that has been made on the local exchange took place yesterday when 62.300 shares changed hands. The price was steady at 2. W"as hougal Extension was half a point higher than the last sale. Associated Oil brought 40 against the last sale a week ago at 47. Snowstorm was 5 points lower In the bidding, but the other mining shares were about steady. Official quotations were as follows: Bank Stocks. Bid. Asked. Bank of California 303 ... Bankers' A Lumbermen's 105 Merchants' National 176 185 Oregon Trust & Savings 12:1 Portland Trust Company 120 United States National 200 LISTED SECURITIES. ' Bonds American BUeult Co. 6s 95 lim City & Suburban 4s 92 Columbia Southern Irr'n 6s 75 Home Telephone 5s 97 J. C. Lee Company 6s 92 1181 O. R. & N. Ry. 4s 99 101 O. W. P. & Ry. 6s.... , HM 103 Pacific Coast Biscuit 6s 95 loo Portland Railway 5s 100. Miscellaneous Stocks Ass.K-lated OH 45 40 Home Telephone 30 50 J. C. Lee Company 75 Pacific States Telephone 106 110 Puget Sound Telephone 50 Mining Stocks Gatewood 30 35 Lakevtew ' 20 Lee's Creek Gold 02 2 British Yukon . . 24 25 North Fairview 05 DOWNING-HOPKINS CO. ESTABLISHED ISM STOCKS, BONDS, GRAIN Bought wmA mold, for euh pod oh wnmrgim. Private Wires - ROOM 4, CHAMBER OF CdMMERCE Phone Main 3T THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL BANK Third and Oak Streets, Portland, Oregon. UNITED STATES DEPOSITORY. J. C. Ainsworth. President. I. V. Schnieer, Cashier. R. Lea Barnes, Vioe-PresidtHt A. M. Wright, Ass't Cashier. W. A. Holt, Ass 't Cashier. Absolute safety, goVid service, considerate attention are guar anteed the patrons of our institution. The accounts of business men are invited. CAPITAL, $500,000. SURPLUS AND PROFITS, $340,000. RESOURCES, OVER $8,000,000. Manhattan Crown Point 1-4. IS Washougal Extension 24 26 UNLISTED STOCKS. Oregon City Mill & Lumber.. 4'j u'i Yaqulna Ray Telephone . ... Alaska Petroleum 12 12 Blue Stone 01 , 03 British Columbia Ainal...,. .. 00 08 Cascarlla 2." 2H OolrtfiMd Trotter . .' IS 27 1rejtt Northern '. . 02,a 05 Mjimoth 10 13 Morning 0St 04 Standard Consolidated 10. 12Ji Tacoma Steel 16 18 Coeur d'Alene District " ' Bullion . . 07 07 Copper King 19 22 V Happy Day 03 04 Park Copper OK'j 00 Vi Snowshoe 63 6S Snowstorm 2.9."- 3.03 O. K. Consolidated 314 ' 0414 SALES. 1.000 British Yukon 24 S Yaquina Bay Telephone 5 17.500 Lee's Creek Gold 02 STRONG DEMAND FOR RED TOP. Most of the GoidHeld J.lt Is Dull and Slug gish Combination Fraction fTp. SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 13. (Special.! Among tht, Ooldllelds, St. Ives held steady at $1.30 and Atlanta was strong at yes terday's prices. Great Bend did not weaken from $1.10 and Daisy sold up 10 points to 3.13. Combination fraction went to .VTe, a gain of v- over yesterday and. the highest price for the week. ' Most of the- list was dull and sluggish. Red Top was the first mine eaUed that caused any amount of excitement, and the caller found It difficult to proceed with the Hat alter all the orders were tilled, so many brokers wanted to serve their clients at a lower figure than the market would stand. Fourteen thousand shares were dealt In. the first price registered being 44c. The re mainder went at 43c. Consolidated Minos sold at 9 and Triangle at :i which was about the price of yesterday's market. Among the" sales were: V 4 Montana. $3. SO; McNamara. 61c: Gold An chor, 40c: Boston. 18c; Gold Crown. lc; Red Top. 44c: Mohawk. el7; Booth. 93c; Blue Bull. 4Sc; St. Ives. $1.30: Atlanta, 4c; Great Bend, $1.12: Daisy, $3.15; Combina tion Fraction. 3c: Kewanos. $1.75; lrfiu Dillon, 21c: Triangle. 3c; Gold Bars $1.27: Yankee Girl. Use; Cowboy. 10c; Plnenut, 24c: Eagle's" Nest, 2."c: Midway. $2.o.V. Tonopah Nevada, $17; Silver Pick. $1.42; Oro, 31c . Eastern Mining Slockn. BOSTON, Feb. 15. Closing quotations: Adventure ..$ 4.7. JParrot 31.2 Allouez .... 0H.0O IQulncy .... 141. 7" Amalgam.. 114.37 Shannon ... 22 73 Atlantic ... 19.23 Tamarack . 130.00 Bingham .. 30.00 Trinity ... 32.37 Vi Cal. & Hec. .. 9.9.-. I'nit. Cop. . 7.1.23 Centennlul . 44.00 'v. S. Mln. . OH. 2 3 "op. Range. 114.75 If. S. Oil .. 13.(m Daly West . 19.00 it'tah 72.23 Doiti. Coal.. 2I0.7.". IVIctoria- ... T.t.OO Franklin ... 210.73 lWlnona ... 12. M Granby 14M.30 'Nevada ... 117.2:. Isle Royale. 2U.r0 IN. Butte ., 112.50 Mass. Min.. 8.00 Butte Coal. 37.50 Michigan 21.T.O .Nevada 17. 2 Mohawk ... 92. ICal. & Arl. 10O.X7 l-i Mont. C. & C. 1.87Vi Aril. Com. . 34.50 Old- Doni. .. 110.25 'Greene. Cull. 315 Osceola v.. 1 till. 25 Metal Markets. XKH" YORK. Feb. 15. There was a. decline In the London tin market carrying siot to 190 los and futures to 19 12s 6.1. Locally the market was weak as a result; with spot quoted at 41S042c. Copper was lower 111 the London market by about 7s Od, with sMt quoted at 107 10s and futures at 108 12 6d.' Locally copper was quiet, but firm, with lake quoted at 232.r.25c, electrolytic an, 24.75(g'25c and carting at 24.25 62.5.75c. . . Lead was unchanged at 19 10s In London and at 64J6.3oc locally. Spelter was unchanKed In both markets, be ing quoted at 26 2s 8d In London and at 6.80fi"6.90c locally. Iron was unchanged to a little lower In the English market with standard foundry quoted at 55s and Cleveland warrants at 55s IW. Locally the market was quiet. FORTUNE IN LITTLE THINGS .(Continued from First Page.) nuity. Of the list of things invented by women, about 90 per cent are devoted to the home, the kitchen ami to woman's dress. The records in the Patent Office almost tell the history of woman and her progress during the past 100 years. The tirst patent given a woman in the nine teenth century was granted to Mary Kier, in 1S09 for "straw weaving with silk or thread" the probable forerunner of American matting. One of the most re cent inventions by woman is a shoestring that won't come untied. Prevents Hen From Scratching. The records of the Patent Office show how some people have invaded the field of Invention with most eccentric Ideas. One of these is an anti-scratching device for hens. This unique contrivance. when fastened to the ankle of a hen, not only prevents her from scratching, but abso lutely forces her to walk away in spite of herself. Each time she kicks back ward the points of the device stick in the ground and propel her forward. An Invention called the "antl-snoring device" is something similar to a telephone. It fits over the head and has a tube running from the ear to a piece that fits over the mouth.- No sooner does the sleeper begin to snore than the sound is transmitted to his own ear. causing him to awake at once. It would certainly 'be a boon to the public if the Pullman Car Company would corner this patent nnd furnish it to fat men who travel on 9leepers. Another ambitious inventor has brought out a machine which will automatically tip a man's hat when he passes a lady ac quaintance on the street. A woman is responsible for a patent crimping pin that can be used as a paper-cutter, a skirt supporter, a paper file, a bouquet-holder, a safety pin, a shawl fastener and a bookmark. Thpre is a patent churn that rocks the baby's cradle; a pocket-book that combines a pistol, so that when the highwayman demands your money or your life, you can send him to kingdom come while In the seemlns ant of handing him your valuables. This Idea may have been 4)lnglanzed from the cannon-plow which was brought forward in the earlv days for the use of pioneers on prairie farms In the time of Indian uprisings. When the industrious tiller of the soil was intorrupted by had Indians determined to take his scalp, he merely had to turn his plow about, pull the lanyard and greet the astonished enemy with a load of grape or shrapnel. lowan's lUihui-r Sidewalk. The story Is told of an Iowa man who patented a rubber sidewalk. After much lobbying with Ills friends among the Town Council, be was allowed to put down several yards of it as an ex periment. As a noise-absorber it proved most effective, and the early demonstrations seemed to be living1 down alL skepticism in regard to it so " rapidly that the Inventor's fortune was all but made. Then the inventor made a fatal .blunder. .To show how solid -and strong it was. he began Jumping op and down on it with his whole weight. The walk could not forget that it was still rubber, and when the ambitious inventor planked his heels Into It he was promptly pitched over the fence Into a brier patch. The episode proved such a joke that the budding popularity of the new idea be gan to wane, and there are still no rubber sidewalks In Iowa. Failure of Adjustable Pulpit. Another huppy idea that came to grief was the adjustable pulpit brought out by a Texas inventor. An observ ing member of u certain congregation In the Lone Star State noticed that some preachers were tall and some were short; so he conceived the Idea of making an adjustable pulpit which would accommodate Itself to all heights. The first preacliHT to use tho automatic device was a short man. and the Inventor was on hand and took his measure to a nicety. Later, when a six-foot pastor came on, the Inventor had the grippe and could not go to church. The pulpit was set for bis short predecessor and nobody could do a thing with It. The inventor had In sisted that his device was easy enough' to manipulate, but it proved most stub born and would not submit to a read justment. The tall man started In with it, and it was so low that In reading his text he had to stoop ovft almo.st as much as If his books wer placed on a chair. When he began to preach, he was getting along well enough until he suddenly stamped Ills foot to empliasi.e a point. His action released 'the spring In the floor and the pulpit shot upward until It com pletely hid the preacher from the view of his hearers. The remainder1 of his sermon sounded about the same as if lie had been in a well. The congrega tion was so indignant at the inventor for precipitating tills embarrassing situation that he was almost churched. Jefferson Father of Patent Office. Thomas .lefferson may be termed the "Father of the Patent Office." for it was lie who aw to the passing of the act creating the "office and the copyright system, for. a number of years he was one of the committee who passed on the merits of all designs sub mitted to the office. One Dr. Thorn ton, a rather eccentric man. was the only department clerk the office had ' for a long period. During the War of 1812, when the British soldiers had a cannon trained on the Patent Office to destroy it. the doctor rushed out and placed his lody before the mouth of the cannon, exclaiming that if Gothl and Vandals would destroy a building containing models that would benefit all the world, the ball must first go through his body. It was spared, but In 1S36 the office burned and the only thing saved was a book of no particu lar valua. Tomorrow Uncle Sam. the Greatest of Fishermen. Valentines Crowd Postofflce. NEW YORK, Feb. 15. The heaviest mall the po.stoftice has handled for years outside the Christmas season was that which St. Valentine brought to the letter carriers here yesterday. For some years past the old practice of sending expensive Valentines through that mail bas been abandoned, but this year it came back in a volume never before equaled. To the great demand for illustrated postal cards Postmaster Wilcox ascribed most of the heavy mail. The cards passed the postoflice by the million. VICTOR MANGANESE STEE BANK SAFE GLASS4.PRUDHOMMECO., ACSTS. PORTLAND, OREGON