Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1908)
THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY.. MORNING. DECEMBER 6, 1908: ; WEEKLY REVIEW: : Of DOES BOOSTING PAY, CinLEDEU III 10 UNITED STATES BUYS HOST OF CHINA WOOLS Americans Take Practically AH .Of ferings Low Prices " Ha?e Bad Effect but With New Season's Approach in Orient Better Returns Are Expected. : ASKS THE PRODUCER FULL CONTROL f - : Public Has Price Limits on Certain Lines Above Which It Will Not Buy and These Limits Sometimes Prove Fatal to Those Who Manipulate. It la an old saying that there is reason for everything and In every thing and thi is applied Just now to several lines in the local wholesale mar- net. Tears of study and investigation nave proven beyond reasonable doubt that the Portland purchasing public has cer tain price limits It will pay for certain , products and whenever these limits are : passed over, a certain dullness ensues . In that product or products. Perhaps the great slump In turkey - prices at the last moment on Thanks- irivinr wm one of the best illustra tions that while prices may be boosted to any height; it does not always fol low that the boosting is always sue- ''"CCSfff Ilia ' r Those who thought they had dls vcovered a new scheme to "corner" a market,- discovered within a very short 7. time that the public did not have the same view of things and, that turkeys which should have been consumed t Thanksgiving remained unsold in the phops -even after the holiday had passed, t Therefore it has been proven that - despite the fact that turkey supplies ' in the Portland market were short of ;the normal they were several times as great as the demand, f The limit for turkey prices in the f Portland retail markets Is I Bo a pound -which would put the extreme top at wholesale around -2222c for the dressed birds. While there may be an . occasional sale beyond either of these f figures It would be impossible to move -the bulk of the-supplies over them and 1hls is where the big -market men who tried the; "corner" made their fatal mistake and they are not likely to re peat the performance for awhile. Now as regards eggs: Fresh egg supplies Just now are very scant and prices nave been moved up at a very rapid figure. Some of tnls advance was due to handlers of eastern stock who do not sell Oregon eggs at all while some of it was due to the efforts of one or two large retailers who were said to have paid Dig prices above the real market for stock and therefore when the advances did not meet their expectations put thereon an artificial vatue to save inemseivo. This. too. has proven unsuccessful for the purchasing public has had something to say. It .strongly disproves of the boosting and being in a position to heln itself, bought eastern eggs in stead of the local product. While this is Just exactly what some of the local price boosters wanted because it helped them to sell their eastern goods at an advance, it did not help the movement of real Oregon eggs. With Oregon ranch eggs at 40c a dozen ' Wholesale the buying public strained its opinion a point or two and purchased them In the retail markets around 46c. However, when there was a qnlck Jump in the wholesale price from 40c to 45c almost in a single day, which sent the price in the retail mar kets to 6055c, the consumer kicked and Jumped over the traces. Eggs et almost 5c apiece is too high a price for the Portland buyer and consequent ly supplies have not moved out quite so well. Nevertheless there has been considerable Increase in the consump tion of eastrn eggs here but this does not help the Oregon producer. He won ders therefore: Does boosting beyond a reasonable price pay 7 , BLUESTEM WHEAT AT $ I A BUSHEL BREAKS RECORD FOR 1908 SEASON t The sales ' of bluestem ..wheat at $1 a bushel at.- several points in the Pa- tcific northwest -the past week did not come as. a-surprise. Such a price was - expected on .this grade even earlier ., in the season. With the heavy withdraw als of this grade to Europe at the start : of the aeuson and With only a normal milling demand It was a certainty that before the 1909 crop was ready to be ground into flour there would be some millers ' without supplies and nowhere could it be obtained. Practically all the patent flour of 'the Pacific northwest is made of this ' grade and ' as the local demand for .flour 1b Increasing each year there is .(In consequence .a heavier demand for - htiiMtAm wheat. The premium millers are now paying for bluestem wheat is the greatest since that . variety was imported from Aus tralia and New Zealand by a Walla TL'uito miiHnr firm . jl . nnmhpf fif veara ago. "While bluestem wheat is a heavy '.producer, it cannot be successfully grown in many of the most fertile districts because it shatters too much arid acre for acre- did not yield as i much money under the old basis of 2c a bushel above club to cause a very extensive 'acreage. , , r The-1 advance in the price of flour .this week has beeiV generally expected ? because of the higher wheat. , . While some interests believe that our millers -should not have advanced patents to $5 'as compared with $4.80 on the sound, -the interests which made the advance believe they will be able to maintain it. However, as they have a mill on the .sound which sells at 14.90 the firm will not lose any business by quoting the higher price here. . The competing territory will simply order from the sound branch. .To put, the price of export flour on a regular basis throughout the Pacific northwest was the sole cause of the dinner recently given by Theodore B. Wilcox to the Washington Millers' as sociation. Yesterday the new ruling went into effect and exports which heretofore have been quoted at all sorts of prices but now of late selling above $3.60' 3. 65 tidewater, were boost ed to $3.70. While this price was agreed upon by practically all the millers of the Pacific northwest who indulge in the export trade, it is a question whether they can be maintained or whether some people will try to main tain them. With silver values down to a notch where It Is hard for the average oriental to exist even on the cneapest roods mere naa been but lit tle sale for our flour even around $3.60 a barrel. Secret price cutting is therefore expected on all sides: The receipts of grain at Portland for the past week as compared with previ ous weeks, as reported by the board of trade show, -in cars: Send Few Head 'to Market and Therefore Bring Price to a Higher Level. I Dec. B....-R4 41 5 19 249 Nov. 28..,. 38 61 50 9 802 Nov. 21... 100 60 67 17 342 Nov. 14. ..107 78 88 12 B68 Nov. 7... 76 26 79 20 268 Oct. 81 40 31 ' 34 25 365 Oct. 24 44 13 76 ' 36 411 Oct. 17 41 14 70 51 418 Oct. 10 59 19 79 22 ITS 'Oct. 3 3f 22 40 45 472 HOP PRICES ARE SHOWING LOSS WITH DEALERS DISCOURAGING Z Hop market prices are fully le under 3 those which ruled a week ago. The ' movement of prices seems to tend lower -with continued dullness abroad. In i New York the market has been quite fair of late although offerings have :been sufficient for all demand and there has been little. If any, improvement in ; prices, . j. The present bearish movement seems to indicate that at last most of the dealers have decided that they do not want the growers to cultivate their yards. By holding prices down to the lowest possible notch they feel that they can discourage many more growers who will then plow up their yards and thus make conditions that much betCer for those who both buy hops and have yaras or tneij own. PORTLAND LIVESTOCK RUN. Week. Hoes. Cattle. Sheep. Dec. 6 2,676 668 1,463 NOV. '.. Z,22 67 765 Nov. 21 2.935 1.098 293 Nov. 14 2.945 979 966 Nov. 7. 1,776 930 921 By Xymea BC Cohen. Portland Union Stockyards, Dec. 6. Have cattlemen control of the market and its prices within their grasp? This is the question livestock com mission men have been asking them selves and they have generally answered the interrogation in the afilrmative. :. Buvers. ton. have been dolnit some questioning themselves and perhaps they are of the same opinion. In any event there was much more demand lor cai tle dnrlnir the rat week than there were supplies to fill 1L A great call soon brought out a higher range of prices and it became evident, at least ior the time being, that the shippers of cat tle, and they alone, could dictate what nrices should rule In cattle providing. of course that they did not lose their heads and ask so much that It would put beef bevond a consumptive demand. The run of cattle in the Portland yards during the past week was not of the quality, that is generally expected from feeders at this period of the year. While cattle were sold during the week as high as $4.26 as compared with 14 for the very same grade a week ago, Is quite likely tnat a premium over this amount would have been obtain able had select quality been shown. During holiday time there is always a better demand for choice quality than during other periods and It Is general ly during tnese periods tnat trie Desr prices of the year are obtainable. The trndn want vnori ou'alitv and around Christmas time Is in a mood to pay for it. Eren Best Hogs Are Firmer. Generally speaking the improved tone in the cattle market spread to all other lines during the past week. Hogs, which were not overfirm during the previous six days, with the top then at $6, were sold during ...e past week around $6.16 and $6.26 would be obtainable for even better quality. The hog market, how- aita sAAnci r hnvA raaiharl It si i T- C V I , 111(1 1 1 T V- - ViCABV- I lU WW ward limits for awhile Kt least and while advances in prices may be shown any day they are not probable. The llve- 8tocK trade in general Deueves tnat hogs will sell around $6 and $6.25 un til after the first of the year. Few Sheep Coming Forward. Pew sheep are now coming forward to, the yards and the market therefore continues very firm with demand un- sunniiea. as in oiner lines Kiuers are offering a premium over ordinary stock for .select quality but Bheep have been so scarce of late that they are willing to accept almost anything offered. They must have sheep. A year ago for this same period the market was firm and higher for hogs and cattle but weakness was shown In sheep. No changes in price of the lat ter. . Arrivals of livestock for this same week In recent years were as follows: Hogs. Cattle. Bheep. 1907 762 672 2,811 1906 1,172 1.086 1,032 1905 bl6 382 4,209 Yard's Kepreientatlve Prices. The following prices ruled In the yards during the week and were repre sentative of general conditions of the livestock trade: HEIFERS AND COWS, 17 cows 13 cows 18 COWS 6 cows 46 cows. 126 cows f I 1"-- I! I , III CD Market Events of Week. SHORT SELLING PUTS STOCK MARKET LOWER Technical Position Seems as Strong as Ever but Sellers. Try to Create Bad Impression and Are Caught in Their Own Trap Gould Shares Up. PORTLAHD PROSPERITY STILL Oil THE REST Portland bank clearings con- tlnue to lead all other cities of the Pacific Northwest in point of Increase, and are the largest on the Pacific Coast with the 4 exception of Los Angeles. The increases in clearings of the various coast cities as compared with last year show: Increase. Portland - " Seattle 34.7 4 Tacoma 2.7 Spokane San Francisco 40:2 4 Oakland, Cal. 31.5 Los Angeles 80.7 4 Sacramento S9.4 Statement of N. Y. Banks WHEAT GROPPROSFECT UNHURTBYCOLDSffAP During the past week cold weather was shown throughout the Pacific Northwest grain belts. Frosts during the last few day were extremely heavy. The first of the week there was a fall of snow In some grain sections, but in any event no damage to the growing crops are reported. The plants have received such good growth up to this time that it will take something out of 'the ordinary in weather con ditions to image them severely. 6 steers 64 steers 76 steers 25 steers 110 steers 81 hogs HOGS. 95 hogs 48 hogs 91 hogs Weight. Price. . 17,016 $2.60 . 14,390 2.60 . 17.000 2.50 . 6.865 2.75 , 48,700 3.1!) ,128,605 .3.10 . 23.800 3.10 ,103.705 3.10 , 48,700 8.10 BULLS. , 3,036 $3.00 , 10,564 2.00 1,585 1.75 , 1,325 2.00 . 10,564 2.00 , 3,036 3.00 . 1,585 1.75 S. , 22,000 $4.00 6.305 3. 25 , 62,285 3.-60 93,190 4.10 30,015 4.10 123,205 4.10 17.70 $6.00 . 17,180 .00 41,385 6.10 19,260 6.00 9,935 6.00 17,750 6.00 16.530 6.;i0 15.840 6.00 40,460 6.00 18,695 6.00 16,945 6.00 990 6.00 2,100 5.75 17.045 6.00 13,060 6.10 .13,455 6.12 9,450 5.00 16.655 6.75 3,930 6.00 ' 10.S40 $3.65 66.235 4.00 News Gossip of Finance London, Dec. 5. rate is unchanged. -Bank or England New York, Dec. 6. Tho weekly state ment of the associated" banks,, issued today, shows the following changes: Reserve on all deposits Decrease $7.95,895. . Reserve on all deposits other than Vnlted States deposits Decrease $7,- 4.75. Loans lncr-e $6,608,200. Species Decrease $7,720,400. l-gl tenders Decrease $649,100. Iv.poslts Decrease $1,24S,600. circulation Increase $417,600. Total loans $1,147,145,300. The surplus of the banks Is $22,371,--M0 --against deficit-of $46,210.3fi0 Umt year p4. deficit of $6,702,176 two years ago..:- -, -v'''.,f W""; .V.-V,.. :- i. " 1Jf ofpiSoI TTBesXTtWrw ' Liverpool. Dec. 6 Wheat rlose:' De remsr. eo Hd; Mann. 7 Ijfcdijtfay, ' d. . ', London, Dec. 6. Consols for money S3 15-16; account, 84 3-16. New York, Dec. 5. Bar silver, 48&C Mexican dollars, 45c. London, Dec. 6. Bar silver. 22 5-16d. New York. Dec. 6. Government bonds cient Salvation.':. .William E. Sweet Date. Bid. Asked. Twos, registered.... 1930 102 103ft do, coupon 1930 104 Threes, registered.. 1908 100 101 do coupon 1908 i00 101ft Threes, small bonds".... 100 Fours, registered... 1925 129K 121 do coupon ....... 1925 121 Twos, Panama ... 102 ..... do coupon : . . . . 102 Fours, Philippine ,p0 New York. Dec. 6. lake,. 14l4ftc:- electrolytic. 14V4C; castings, Ji-iftc MetAl-i-CtTpper, Tead 14.264.30, Washington, Dec 6.-r-Th treasury statement today shows: Receipts, $1, S60.7; disbursements, $2,ao,000. - , 101 hogs 5 hogs 7 hogs 84 hogs 63 hogs 48 hogs 61 stock hogs ... 95 hogs 15 hogs " SHEEP. 102 sheep 49 mixed sheeD . . Following is the general range of values on stock ruling In the yards for late shipments: Mns-a Best east of mountains. $6.00 j.iu- ordinary, $5.60 iff 6.75; blockers and China fats. $5.. 'S.SO; stockers and fuutrm It 76b.U(. Cattle Best steers, weighing 1200 pounds, $4.25; medium steers, $4." 4.20: poor steers. nei i:uws, a.vv (nvS.Zd; meaiurn cuwb, i-nuw .00, bumsb. $2.753.00; bulls, l.7iwz.uo. Hhn HfRt wemers. n.iara'i.ou: or dinary wethers. $4.25; lambs, $4.60(3 4.75; straight ewes, 3.to; mixed lots, $3.7504.00. Veal Choice young calves, $4.00 4.50; heavy and rough. $3.503.75. Hogs Higher in East. Chicaeo. Dec. 5. Hoes 18.000; cat tle, 600; sheep. 2000. Hogs are strong to 6c higher. Left over yesterday. 4300. Receipts year ago, 30,000. Cattle and sheep steady. Kansas CJty. Mo.. Dee. 5. Hogs, 8, 000 : cattle, 500; sheep, non Omaha. Neb.. Dec. 5. Hogs, 6000; cattle, 100; sheep, 700. Saves Jars to Hands. A recently patented non-Jarring at tachment for tools that must be held In the hand when struck, such as chisels and drills, consists of a sleeve around which a coil spring la attached to pro vide elasticity. Concrete Steamer Floors. A Great Laka steamship company which operates a fleet of veasols In the ore carrying trade -is experimenting with concrete floors for them on the plea that they are mora durable, there fore more economical. The horn of tho rhinoceros Is not Joined' to tho skull, as in other horn animals, but Is a growth from the skin. Plaster of Paris, It Is said, may be used as a flux for melting scrap metal containing small amounts of Iron. .. By Tbomas O. SbotwelL (Hearat News by Longest Leued W lie.) New York, Dec. 6. So many import ant bond issues are being prepared for Issue that the big people have Joined once more with the general public and the professional traders in Wall street are caught In a corner of their own mak ing, it was late Thursday arternoon be fore professionals realized that all their hammering was causing no liquidation of importance. Their coverlne movements rew in volume through the Friday session. All tne Duylng was not short covering, ror the public participated to a great ex tent. The technical condition of the market therefore remains good, with a healthy short interest in the leading Is sues. Just at the close today a selling movement swept over the market that carried it down an average of 2 points. Most of thlsi selling I for the account of short traders, and every reaction of this kind improves the technical condi tion. Low priced specialties were the feature of today's market, several Gould shares making new high records, and Reading having a quick spurt on a re port that the second preferred stock would be retired and the combination stock put on a 6 per cent basis. Smelters broke more than 2 points, and Union Pacific went under 180. Wa bash preferred fell from 45 to 42 . The decline extended to the outside market, and all the mining sharps were aown iractionany. j ne weak condition of the copper and silver metal market Is embarrassing to most mining con cerns. In London most American stocks allowed small declines, but a steady market was in evidence all day for them. Andrew Carnegie has been responsible for the hammering that Steel shares have received. Believing that the iron master had some grand scheme of mar- Ket manipulation in view, some profes sfonals got short of the steels. Their plight neeame so defperate that thov wired from New York and Boston to Flttshurg brokers ordering stock to be sold In New York over the Pittsburg wires In the hope of creating an Impres sion that Pittsburg was getting out of steei. Tne tricit railed completely, and so stronr is the market in the stoi1 shares that those Insiders who believed a sharp peaction was coming are now almost persuaded to continue the ad vance. The Indenendent steel slmri.ii are snowing signs of Joining in the up wdiu pruccssiqn. BIG 0XES HAVE' PLENTY. OF STOCKS TO FEED PUBLIC (United Preu Leased Wire.) New York, Dec. 6. The stage has been reached in the political stock mar- Ket, wnere 11 must e looked at from two distinctly separate points of view Investing capital, having In mind above all things stability and a reasonable accord between prices and intrinsic val ues, can not but be puzzled and more or ess aisiurrjed Dy tne course or tne deal ings during the past fortnight. Within this interval there has come a sudden surprising change from conditions which existed for the first few weeks of the election. Buying by the outside public, ehlefly for investment purposes, which was the Impelling fores then, has become an insignificant factor now. The real demand for securities having been satisfied, a highly artificial buying power has taken its place a buying power furnished chiefly by the cliques ana cumoinauons or weaitnv specula tors who are carrying great lines of stocks and wish to realize handsome profits which have been piling up for me iam iour montns. as usually hap pens wnen manipulation is tne govern Ing influenr-e at work, those stocks which regularly enlov a broad and ac tive market either cease to advance or are moved forward with the greatest difficulty. Buying operations converge on the class of storks described as "spe cialties" when a narrow floating supply and a highly concentrated ownership make rapid upbldding of prices an easy maiier. even wnn a minimum of out side support. Following thuR along the lines -of least resistance, it Is possible to sustain the impression of a rising market, stlm- uiam outside purcnase, and in course of time permit the Insiders' to dis tribute their . speculative shareholdings successfully. Without any question the declines of the past two weeks have revealnd thesa phenomena perfectly; and their appear ance can not be welcome to those who are acustomed to take a broad and con servative vtew of financial affairs. . From this standpoint operations like those recently so Dromlnent are fast leading the market into an unsound and hazardous position and if continued can not but have some extremelv unDleas- ant consequences. With call money be low 3 per cent and time loans quoted at 3 or barely more, stocks which yield t 10 per cent ior the railroads and s per cent or more for the industrial group are still the cheapest form of in vestment So long as this disparity lasts, and to use the common phrase. so long as stocks continue to more than carry themselves. It -is -manifest that those who bold them.- for sale can af ford to take matters very easily. The conclusion, therefore, must . be that, however disquieting the operations of the last week or two mar be for the longer future; "the Immediate situation is not eeneciallr Unsafe. Manipulation of the sort new famil iar may easily keep on for some time to come, without Inviting more than temporary reaction. The most reassuring aspect of the financial situation continues to be the ready market offered for the new bond issues, which ire now an almost dailv occurrence, dale of the $50,000,000 of American Telegraph & Telephone bonds was readily made at a price which, in view of the large fluctuations on this company, meant a remarkable small concession from current quotations. Tut local banking house which offered the $9,000,000 new r.ock Island re- lunaing oonas was able to announce wunin 24 hours after the books were opened-that the entire issue had been taken by its investors. There Is grati fying proof, of course. In these in stances that for securities of approved merit where speculation has not unduly inflated prices, the investment demand Is still very lively. On the subiect of general trade conditions the week has inrown no particular fresh light. Attention has been called again to the unfavorable statistical condition of the copper metal market, the visible supply at European points and afloat having increased quite substantially wie itiKi iiiunin. jfi:iiue in me price or silver to a very low figure, owing to the falling off In the purchases of India, Mexico and other silver standard countries, has been another much noticed incident. It also appears that the excited move ment which began immediately after election in tne pig iron market has been followed by a natural relapse and that gross railway earnings for October did not make quite the showing that was made In September, when an unusually heavy grain traffic cut such an im portant figure. But none of these de velopments is serious enough to af fect the judgment that the trade at larne Is steadily on the mend. The only qualification is the one so often expressed before, namely, that the re turn of prosperity will be a very slow and orderly process, it must not -be expected to come with a rush. Range of New York prices, furnished by Overbeck & Cooke Co: DESCRIPTION. O 1 a 92 II 98H 10l 108 Amal. Cop. Co... I 85 Am. C. & F.. c. . . 46 do rid Am. Cot. Oil., c. . 4Z Am. Loco., C....I 66 Am. sugar, c. . . . Am. gmelter, c. . Ana. Mining Co.. Am. Woolen, c. Atchison, c do pf d Bait. & Ohio, c. . do pfd Brooklyn R. T.. .1 65 Canadian Pac c. 176 uent. Learner, c. zsj do pfd Chi. & G. W., c. . 11 Chi., M. & St. P.. 150 Chi. & N. W., c Ches. & Ohio 634 Colo. F. & I.. C. 40 "A Colo. So., c. .... 64 4 ao second pra. 65 do first pfd. . 69 V4 corn fflts., c. do pfd. Del. & Hud 1177 Den. & R. G., c. 36 do pfd 80 H tins, c 1 S4ft ao second prd. 40 do first pfd.. 48 G. No., pfd 144 111. Cen 148 Lo, & Nash 122 man. ny Mex.. Cen. Ry.. . 17 MO. tk.. K- Kex.. C 39 do pfd. f 71 uismiers 3f Ore Iinds 74 Mo. Pacific 66 Nat'l. Lead 82 N. Y. C 117 N. Y.. O. & W... 46 m, & w.. e 84 W. & w.. n N. American.... N. - Pacific, c. . . . P. M. S. S. Co... Pa. Ry. P. O.. L. A C Co P. Steel Car, c. . P. Steel Car, p.. Reading, c...... Readlne 2d o... Reading, 1st p. . . n. 1. A steei, c. . R. I. & Steel. D. . Rock Island, c. . Rock Inland n... Bt.Ok & a. F.2dp. St L. A 8. F.lstpl . at - t ., lf.i va -a St U & S. W.. p.58 8. Pacific. e.....lll8A b. facmc, p 189 $6 82 41 85 46 Hi t8 92 60 81 98 102 108 66 177 28 11 151 Southern Ry., c. do nfd. Texas & Pacific. X., Ht La. & W., C do nfd. i Union Pacific, c ao pra. TJ. .8. Rubber c. do Dfd. IT. S. Steel Co., c do old. Wabash. - com do nfd. ...... W. 0. Telegraph Wis." central, e. do nfd. ' Wheeling Lake. J westinghouse 25 60 86 64 181 95 . 65 113 17 iS 80 - 63 12 8t 34 Third Avenue Total sales, 706,100 shares; 64 65 69 177 87 80 4 40 49 144 148 122 17 89 71 35 74 67 82 117 143 38 130 141 "St 24 83 46 41 65 90 49 31 98 1.11 107 I 65 176 . 27 11 149 62 40 63 4 9 176 85 80 33 39 48 143 147 122 17 88 71 34 73 66 82 117 45 83 141 37 129 138 O 52 26 23 61 40 54 53 54 63 118 117 '26" '25"" 0 68 86 34 64 181 95 65 118 Is 80 - 63 12 8 1$f-8 4'4 64 179 96 64 112 if 42 Si 63 13 89 34 83 46 107 41 66 131 31 98tf 101. 107 92 66 176 27 101 11 160 173 63 40 63 64 70 18 76 176 35 79 33 39 48 147 121 149 17 38 71 34 73 65 sz 117 45 83 84 76 127 100',i !S 98 140 91 92 26 86 24 0 40 63 68 63 117 121 25 68 24 89 63 180 107 64 112 8 12 89 VP By Ernest Tollmer, United States Vice Consul at Tslngtan, China. Wool, one of the largest exports from the north of China, Is an export which goes almost entirely to- the United States, that . country having taken in 1907, . according to official Chinese fig ures, 278.909 hundredweight, valued at $2,236,000 (206,432 piouls, at 2,829,22 3 taels). The total exports to all coun tries were but. 855,829 hundredweight,' at a valuation of $2.3ff,060. Follow ing America In Importance of the trado was Janan. which took roughly one fifth of the amount consumed by the United States, while Great Britain, us ing one fifteenth of the amount, came third on the list. . r Almost the entire trade originates In the north, Tientsin alone hiving a prac tical monoDolv of the business. The original exports from this port last year were about the size of the total exports to - the United States, being ICC eta t,,in,lA4iira1urVit - Wrtt annfhn. port was of any great Importance, with the exception of Chungking, on the upper Yangtse. The wools from tho important sneep-growing province 01 Szechaun. on the Tlbetaa-Turkestan border, find their way into the world markets over this river port, total ex ports for 1907 being one tenth of tho Tientsin amount oome io.irao Hun dredweight of camel's wool annually go to Great Britain, also through Tien tsin, the same country taking from the same port almost all of the goat's wool, about 10,000 hundredweight per annum. Neither of these last two articles find their way to the United States. The Tientsin wools are not from the imme diate country about that port to any great extent, but come from the in terior. It is necessary to buy at bed rock prices far in the distant markets in order to make a profit In the busi ness. v Better Wool Prices Expected. After obtaining fine prices for China wool for several years, many specu lative shipments were made to the Uni ted States, when the financial troubles toward the close of last yeur caused a sudden drop . in the market There were reduced demands and declining prices, one of the largest China wool firms failing while others are still hold ing stocks In New York which they can not dispose of. This year's wool will begin to come onto the -market soon. . ........... . t, HQ IWKinE up a bit and a rise and better business io iw,vu iui x(i ma near x-uture. The great trouble w.lth the northern wools Is that they are greasy and often VArv Kftnlv. Tr A ( a ara r . h. .V. . - - t - " . - i" tuoo un desirable elements much of the wool Is 01 a graae inai 11 pays to treat it in China, either by sun drying or wlllow Ing, before packing for shipient The Shanghai wools are moist and greasy ? .. . . pi 10 lose times when heated even being liable to a chemical action very damaging to the fiber. On the whole, China wool is shipped unsorted. With only some of the Tientsin fleeces is it profitable to sort Into different staple lengths. The Tientsin wool, being less damp than that of Shanghai, generally loses little weight In shipment unless stowed close to the boilers. Washing has been tried with some of the Tientsin wools, but this is only an experiment, and what the final results will be cannot be fore told. Quality, on the whole, counts Jess with Chins wools than condition, the important feature being to get the sand and grease out and pay less attention to fineness, coarseness and length, of staple. SMALLER SUPPLY C01S FORWARD Mild Weather, However, Brings Chicago Market Down During Day. World's Wheat Prices. Dec. Portland $ .91B Chicago 1.06 B St. Louis , 1.05 Kansas City ." 1.00 Minneapolis 1.09 Duluth 109 Winnipeg 1.00 San Francisco i 1.65 Liverpool 8s d San Francisco i 1.65 Liverpool 8s d 4 4 Per cental. CHICAGO wriEAT MARKET. Open. Close. Dec. 4. Loss. Dec 105 106B 105B Mav 110 110A 110B July 103 103 103 (United Preis Leased Wire.) Chicago, Dec. 6. There was another day of sharply smaller receipts In the northwest and the weathec was shaping well for the winter wheat, with milder temperature and snow predicted. Open ing prices were at from to c de cline and a slight further reduction was made. Decline in futures at Liverpool was c. Berlin was higher. Trade was light at a slight decline in view ot what might be tho effect Monday of the government report on acreage and condition and uncertainty of to which side the visible would lean. Market became stronger as the session ap proached clo.ng time. uere was a slightly easier tone to the corn trade at the immediate Start. A steadier feeling developed later but there was neither selling pressure nor buying fervor sufficient to cause fluc tuations of conseouence. Heavy selllntr by a prominent commission firm had a weakening effect, ao mat tne last hour of the session ruled against those who had bought earner, jno sample mar ket was easier at from to decline. . Business In oats was quieter and there was moro disposition to sell In a small way. .Market was largely under the in fluence of corn. The ' sample market prices were without change. There was a much stronger tone to the trade In hog products, and it arose from the fact that r the first tfiTiH in several weeks hog receipts here and elsewhere in the west were smaller than on the corresponding day of the nrevlous year. Cash sales Wheat, Winter No. 2 red, $1.06l.O7: No. 3 red, $1.06(91.06 ; No. 2 hard, $1.0fij1.07; No. 2 hard, $1.03 a 104: spring No. 1 northern. $l l.ltl2: No. northern. $H0(f1.12: No. 2, $1.081.10; No. 3 spring, $1.02fji 1.10. Corn No. 2 white, '62c; No. 2 yel low. 61 c; No. 3. 61c; No. 3 wh"lt. 0cSl;; No. 3 yellow, 6061c; No. 4. 6060c. Oats No. 2 white, 52c; No. 3 white, 60c; No. 4 white, 4860c. Range of Chicago prices, furnished by Overbeck & Cooke company; WHEAT. Open. High. Low, Close. Dec 105 105 105 105B May 110- 110 110 11i' . July 103 103 103 103 CORN. . ' . Dec. T. 61 62 61 61 B May 63 . 63 62 63 A July 62 62 63 62 1J OAT8. Dec. 50 60 49 49B May 62 62 52 62 July 47 47 47 47B FORK. Dec 1452 Jan. . . 1595 1610 1695 1605 May 1622 1635 1623 1630 LARD. Dec 917 Jan 922 930 922 922 May 940 947 940 945.V RIBS. Jan. 836 840 S3S 837 May ...... 855 862 856 840A BOSTON COPPER MARKET Furnished by Overbeck & Cooke Co.: Boston, Dec. 6. urriciai Did prices: Adventure ... 9 AUoupx 39 Arcadian .... 40 Atlantic 18 Boston Cons. . 16 Butte Coala. . 27 Calumet & H.680 Cal. & Arts. ..119 Centennial ... 34 Copper Mt... 38 Copper Range 81 C. Ely 8 Daly West... 10 Franklyn 17 Granby ; 108 Greene Can... 11 Olroux 6 Mass 7 Michigan .... 14 Mohawk 70 Miami 12 Nevada 18 Newhouse ... 6 Nippisslng ... J0 North Butte.. 86 Old Dominion. 69 carrot 29 Phoenix: 60 Quincy 96 Shannon 18 Sup. & Pitts.. 10 Tamarack .... 83 Trinity 17 United 13 Utah Mining.. 46 Utah 4 8 rictorla 3 wolverine ...100 Winona 6U Yukod 4 11. n. .Mining.. 45 U. S. Oil 29 Report of the Condition of The American Bank and Trust Company Or POR.TLAND, OREGON In the State of Oregon, at the close of business, November 27th, 1908. BESOUJtCES. Loans and discounts . . Overdrafts, secured and unsecured ... Bonds, securities, etc .' Banking house, furniture and fixtures Other real estate owned Due from banks (not reserve banks) Due from approved reserve banks ?. . . .. Checks and other cash Items Current expenses , Cash on hand T. Total '. , LIABILITIES. Capital stock paid In Surplus fund Undivided profits, less expenses and taxes paid Individual deposits subject to check Time certificates of deposit , . , Cashier's checks outstanding , Savings deposits Collections Total I ..$103,598.24 290.31 . . 80,600.00 3.547.80 .'. 22,200.00 354.70 448.59 . . 9.458.SI 797.15 . . 6.853.45 ..$228,049.15 , .$150,000.00 7,047.80 , . 6.301.25 ,. 26.972.23 .. 36,550.00 23.00 , . . 1,225.21 , .' 82.96 .$228,049.15 State of Oregon, County of Multnomah, ss: I, G. L. MacGibbon, Cashier of the above-named bank, do solemnly, swear that the above statement Is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. G. L. MacGIBBON, Cashier. CORRECT Attest: L. O. RALSTON, J. M. LEITER, J. E. DAVIS, SAMUEL CONKELL. (Seal) ; Directors. Subscribed and sworn . to before me this 6th day of December, 1908. R. A. LEITER. (Seal) Notary. Public. ; ( Overbeck & Cook pd. Commission ; merchants, Stocks. Bonds. Cotton? Grain. El: : MW BOARD OP TRADE BUILDINO - Member Chicago Board of Trade, Correipondentt of Logan & Bryan, ."r;-'? Chicago New Ywlfc-Boit-i We bave the only private wire; connecting Portland with the eatter : ' ' . ' . . exchanges. MEMBERS PORTLAND BOARD OF TRADBL V