CHEESE.

The business in cheese, in 1889-90, while not having been equal to the volume of trade in the earlier history of the city, was quite equal to any year in the past decade. The policy pursued by the manufacturers, in the later years, of largely ignoring the middlemen, it is well known has greatly changed the character of the business in this commodity. The limits of distribution, too, have been greatly narrowed in the past thirty years by other causes, over which Cincinnati had no control. Our market has been well supplied-Ohio, New York, and the North-west having made their usual contributions. The receipts, in 1889-90, aggregated 125,923 boxes, compared with 95,324 in 1888-89, and 104,950 in 1887-88; and the shipments, 60,696 boxes in 1889-90, in comparison with 45,609 in 1888-89, and 40,948 in 1887-88; the receipts having been the largest since 1876-77. The net supply was somewhat above the general average in late years. The general complexion of prices, in 1889-90, was the lowest since 1878-79. Prices, relatively, were specially low during the winter of 1889-90. Good factory cheese had been quotable, during the previous winter, at 11@111⁄2 cents per pound, but after the advent of the new season of 1888-89, prices steadily declined, until touching 7@71⁄2 cents. Although there was a steady appreciation after this, throughout the fall months, there was no time when prices were above 10@101⁄2 cents, the price for cheese, during most of the winter of 1889-90, having been 9@92. The average quotation for factory cheese, in 1889-90, was 9 cents per pound, compared with 9.69 in 1888-89, and 10.39 in 1887-88. There has been but one year, since an early period in the war, in which prices have been as low as in the past year. This was in 1878-79, when the average quotation was 7.30.

Table showing the quotations for factory cheese, at Cincinnati, on Tuesday of each week, in three years:

The following were the average annual quotations for cheese during the past thirtyfive years the last twenty for factory, previously for Western Reserve:

Table showing the aggregate annual receipts and shipments of cheese, at Cincinnati, during the past forty-five years:

Table showing the receipts and shipments of cheese for twenty-one years, from May 1, the commencement of the cheese season, to August 31, the close of the commercial year :

COAL.

To the coal business of the city, the past two years have been much alike, and the conditions generally unfavorable. Notwithstanding the aggregate quantities were somewhat less than in 1887-88, there was relatively a larger supply, and prices were extraordinarily low. The warm weather which prevailed throughout the winters of both years reduced local consumption, so that the market was tormented, during nearly the whole of the time, by supplies in excess of the demand. The river, during very much of the period, was in unusually good condition, there having been prior to the midsummer of 1890, when low water set in, twenty-three months in which there was a good stage of water, so that everything was favorable, as far as transportation was concerned, to liberal shipments. It was, however, an unprofitable period to the miners, who have good reason to regard both seasons as unsatisfactory. In the year 1888-89, there were the largest receipts of Kanawha coal in the history of the trade, while in 1889-90, the Pittsburgh receipts were the heaviest ever known. Both years, especially the latter, have been characterized by an improved demand from various parts of the South, much larger quantities than usual, in the past year, having been shipped from this city by river in that direction. The reduction of Kanawha coal is largely traceable to the effects of low prices, which have made it less desirable to bring coal from that region to this market, and which, too, have doubtless operated to stimulate the shipments by rail into the interior more directly from the mining districts, considerable Kanawha coal having gone to Chicago, whose business in this coal is increasing. Prices have been extraordinarily low. At no time in the history of the records of the Chamber of Commerce has the consumer been supplied at as low a rate, the average price for Pittsburgh coal, delivered, in 1889-90, having been $2 69.2 per ton of 2,000 pounds, in comparison with $2 76.4 in 1888-89, and $3 87.8 in 1887-88. The only year that was comparable to the past two years, in cheapness, was 1885-86, when this coal was $2 79.1 per ton. During much of the year 1888-89, Pittsburgh coal sold, afloat, at 61⁄2 cents per bushel, this having been the quotable price from the middle of December to the close of the commercial year. Prior to that, in November and December it had been still lower, having sold at 6 cents. During September and October, 1889, the market was better, this kind of coal, afloat, having advanced finally to 8 cents. After this, the price again declined until touching 6 cents, in February, at which it remained until the following June, when it advanced to 61⁄2, and finally, under the stimulation of low water, to 8 cents, at which the year closed. There have been times when, under the pressure of circumstances that were temporary in character, Pittsburgh coal has been sold, in exceptional cases, at lower prices, but never before has the general complexion of the market revealed such low values. The average quotation for Pittsburgh, afloat, in 1889-90, was 6.78 cents per bushel, compared with 6.71 in 1888-89, and 10.01 in 1887-88. Campbell's Creek coal, which may be taken as fairly representative of Kanawha coal, averaged, delivered, during the year 1889-90, $2 68.7 per ton, compared with $2 67.7 per ton in 1888-89, and $3 68.6 in 1887-88. It is noticeable that the price, delivered, for Kanawha coal has more nearly approached that of Pittsburgh in the past two years than ever before, the difference in this later period, especially in the past year, having been very slight. Campbell's Creek coal, afloat, averaged, during 1889-90, 6.37 per bushel, compared with 6.10 in 1888-89, and 9.75 in 1887-88, Winifrede and Raymond City having averaged about the same. Ohio River coal, afloat, was quotable, in 1889-90, at 5.16 per bushel, in comparison with 4.76 in 1888-89, and 7.38 in 1887-88; and delivered, in 1889-90, at $2 46.1 per ton, compared with $2 39.9 in 1888-89, and $3 24 in 1887-88. Coal is now sold in this market uniformly by the ton, so that the prices delivered per bushel, heretofore used, are omitted here, although their equivalents will be found in the tabular statements.

The total receipts of coal, of all kinds, aggregated, in 1889-90, 67,988,146 bushels, or 2,452,253 tons, and in 1888-89, 65,092,421 bushels, or 2,348,055 tons, compared with 70,705,639 bushels, or 2,551,415 tons, in 1887-88; 48, 198, 246 bushels, or 1,787,230 tons, in 1879-80; 30,300,000 bushels, or 1, 122, 222 tons, in 1869-70; and 17,600,000 bushels, or 651,851 tons, in 1859-60.

Of the total receipts, there arrived by river, in 1889-90, 62,277,196 bushels, or 2,242,607 tons, or 91.6 per cent. of the whole quantity; and in 1888-89, 60,996,896 bushels, or 2, 196, 503 tons, or 93.7 per cent., in comparison with 63,127,730 bushels, or 2,273,234 tons, or 89.3 per cent., in 1887-88; 58,336,907 bushels, or 2,160,626 tons, or 92 per cent., in 1886-87; 53,408,354 bushels, or 1,978,087 tons, or 93 per cent., in 1885-86; 50,073,492 bushels, or 1,854,573 tons, or 92.5 per cent., in 1884-85; 51,415,914 bushels, or 1,904, 293 tons, or 91.2 per cent., in 1883-84; 50,640,517 bushels, or 1,875,574 tons, or 92.7 per cent., in 1882-83; 55,161,948 bushels, or 2,043,034 tons, or 93 per cent., in 1881-82; 37,084,024 bushels, or 1,373,482 tons, or 92.1 per cent., in 1880-81; and 44,921,786 bushels, or 1,663,769 tons, or 93.2 per cent., in 1879-80; and by rail, in 1889-90, 5,710,950 bushels, or 209,646 tons, or 8.4 per cent. of the whole quantity, and in 1888-89, 4,095,525 bushels, or 151,552 tons, or 6.3 per cent., compared with 7,577,909 bushels, or 278, 181 tons, or 10.7 per cent., in 1887-88; 5,008,625 bushels, or 189,400 tons, or 8 per cent. of the whole, in 1886-87; 4,008, 175 bushels, or 152,267 tons, or 7 per cent., in 1885-86; 4,064,830 bushels, or 154,277 tons, or 7.5 per cent., in 1884-85; 4,996, 145 bushels, or 188,258 tons, or 8.8 per cent., in 1883-84; 3,979,515 bushels, or 147,389 tons, or 7.3 per cent., in 1882-83; 4,105,672 bushels, or 154,573 tons, or 7 per cent., in 1881-82; 3, 160,414 bushels, or 119,335 tons, or 7.9 per cent., in 1880-81; and 3,276,440 bushels, or 123,460 tons, or 6.8 per cent., in 1879-80.

Of the whole quantity, there arrived from the Pittsburgh region, in 1889-90, 42,601,615 bushels, or 1,534,087 tons, in comparison with 36,677,974 bushels, or 1,320,776 tons, in 1888-89; 41,180,713 bushels, or 1,482,921 tons, in 1887-88; 37,701,094 bushels, or 1,396,336 tons, in 1886-87; 34,933,542 bushels, or 1,293,835 tons, in 1885-86; 32,286,133 bushels, or 1,195,783 tons, in 1884-85; 32,239,473 bushels, or 1, 194,054 tons, in 1883-84; 33,895,064 bushels, or 1,255,373 tons, in 1882-83; 37,807,961 bushels, or 1,400, 295 tons, in 1881-82; 23,202,084 bushels, or 859,336 tons, in 1880-81; and 31,750,968 bushels, or 1,175,962 tons, in 1879-80; from the Kanawha region, in 1889-90, 19,221, 196 bushels, or 692, 157 tons, compared with 23,773,982 bushels, or 856, 103 tons, in 1888-89; 20,952,694 bushels, or 754,508 tons, in 1887-88; 20,297,378 bushels, or 751,754 tons, in 1886-87; 17,535,066 bushels, or 649,447 tons, in 1885-86; 14,638,111 bushels, or 542,152 tons, in 1884-85; 15,836,448 bushels, or 586,535 tons, in 1883-84; 13,526,644 bushels, or 500,987 tons, in 1882-83; 14,028,138 bushels, or 519,560 tons, in 1881-82; 10,783, 143 bushels, or 399,376 tons, in 1880-81; and 9,115,290 bushels, or 337,603 tons, in 1879-80; from the Ohio River region, in 1889-90, 454,385 bushels, or 16,363 tons, in comparison with 544,940 bushels, or 19,624 tons, in 1888-89; 1,533,358 bushels, or 55,216 tons, in 1887-88; 338,435 bushels, or 12,535 tons, in 1886-87; 939,746 bushels, or 34,805 tons, in 1885-86; 3,007,078 bushels, or 111,373 tons, in 1884-85; 2,956,688 bushels, or 109,507 tons, in 1883-84; 3,309,534 bushels, or 122,575 tons, in 1882-83; 3,746, 209 bushels, or 138,749 tons, in 1881-82; 3,151,934 bushels, or 116,738 tons, in 1880-81; and 4,268,214 bushels, or 158,082 tons, in 1879-80; from the anthracite region, in 1889-90, 1,001, 175 bushels, or 40,047 tons, compared with 1,020,525 bushels, or 40,821 tons, in 1888-89; 1,328,225 bushels, or 53, 129 tons, in 1887-88; 1,314,775 bushels, or 52,591 tons, in 1886-87; 1,287,925 bushels, or 51,517 tons, in 1885-86; 1,257,900 bushels, or 50,316 tons, in 1884-85; 1,085,350 bushels, or 43,414 tons, in 1883-84; 977,250 bushels, or 39,090 tons, in 1882-83; 779,925 bushels, or 31,197 tons, in 1881-82; 770,525 bushels, or 30,821 tons, in 1880-81; and 712,075 bushels, or 28,483 tons, in 1879-80; and from all other, including Wellston, the Hocking and Muskingum Valleys, and other interior mines in the State of Ohio, 4,709,775 bushels, or 169,599 tons, in comparison with 3,075,000 bushels, or 110,731 tons, in 1888-89; 5,710,649 bushels, or 205,641 tons, in 1887-88; 3,693,850 bushels, or 136,810 tons, in 1886-87; 2,720,250 bushels, or 100,750 tons, in 1885-86; 2,949, 100 bushels, or 109, 226

tons, in 1884-85; 4,294, 100 bushels, or 159,041 tons, in 1883-84; 2,911,540 bushels, or 107,834 tons, in 1882-83; 2,905,387 bushels, or 107,606 tons, in 1881-82; 2,336,752 bushels, or 86,546 tons, in 1880-81; and 2,351,699 bushels, or 87,100 tons, in 1879-80.

The figures as to coke show the largest net supply, both in 1889-90 and in 1888-89, in the history of the trade, while the outward movement was less than in the three preceding years, indicating the largest consumption in the history of the city, and also revealing an increased activity among our manufacturers, which, in certain classes, may be measured by the consumption of this commodity. The receipts, however, show a reduction, the net supply having come from increased production here and diminished shipments to outside points. The receipts aggregated, in 1889-90, 4,553,417 bushels, compared with 4,311,550 in 1888-89, 5,719,250 in 1887-88, 5,658,205 in 1886-87, 5,588,440 in 1885-86, 3,807,965 in 1884-85, 3,447,743 in 1883-84, 3,362,063 in 1882-83, and 3,671,050 in 1881-82. Of the quantity received in the past year, there came by river 2,153,417 bushels, in comparison with 2,324,350 in 1888-89, 2, 209, 250 in 1887-88, 1, 104,955 in 1886-87, 2,508,940 in 1885-86, 1,815,765 in 1884-85, and 1,673,243 in 1883-84. The receipts by rail, in 1889-90, aggregated 2,400,000 bushels, compared with 1,987,200 in 1888-89, 3,510,000 in 1887-88, and 4,553,250 in 1886-87. The total quantity manufactured here, embracing the coke made by the gas companies on both sides of the river, aggregated 5,281,654 bushels, in comparison with 4,473,873 in 1888-89, 4,273,537 in 1887-88, 3,626,925 in 1886-87, 3,263,628 in 1885-86, 3,304,584 in 1884-85, 2,739,952 in 1883-84, 2,171,298 in 1882-83, 2,371,250 in 1881-82, 2,082,800 in 1880-81, and 1,900,500 in 1879-80. The total supply of coke is thus shown to have been 9,835,071 bushels, compared with 8,785,423 in 1888-89, 9,992,787 in 1887-88, 9,285,130 in 1886-87, 8,852,068 in 1885-86, 7,112,549 in 1884-85, 6,187,695 in 1883-84, 5,533,361 in 1882-83, 6,042,300 in 1881-82, 4,780, 282 in 1880-81, and 5,151,708 in 1879-80. The quantity shipped to the interior aggregated, in 1889-90, 1,558,400 bushels, in comparison with 1,196,000 in 1888-89, 2,454,200 in 1887-88, 3,616,200 in 1886-87, 2,482,200 in 1885-86, 1,469,040 in 1884-85, 2,585,000 in 1883-84, 947,800 in 1882-83, 1,198,400 in 1881-82, and 891,150 in 1880-81. The net supply was 8,276,671 bushels in 1889-90, compared with 7,589,423 in 1888-89, 7,538,587 in 1887-88, 5,568,930 in 1886-87, 6,369,868 in 1885-86, 5,643,309 in 1884-85, 3,602,695 in 1883-84, 4,585,561 in 1882-83, 4,843,900 in 1881-82, 3,899, 132 in 1880-81, and 4,442,983 in 1879-80. The net supply, it thus appears, has nearly doubled in ten years. The price for Connellsville coke has varied little from $5 50 per ton of 2,000 pounds, delivered, during the past two years. During the summer of 1889, the price was down to $4 50 per ton, but was restored in the early autumn to $5 50, from which there was little change until near the close of the year, when this coke was quotable at $6 00. The average quotation, in this market, for Connellsville coke, delivered, in 1889-90, was $5 50 per ton, in comparison with $5 15 in 1888-89, and $6 02 in 1887-88. Gas-house coke varied little from 9 cents per bushel, delivered, in two years. Early in May, 1890, it declined to 8 cents per bushel, and so remained until the close of the year. The average quotation, in 1889-90, for gas-house coke, delivered, in this market, was 8.75 cents per bushel, compared with 9.08 in 1888-89, and 10.75 in 1887-88. Crushed coke was quotable at 10 cents per bushel throughout the entire year of 1888-89, and so remained in 1889-90, until about the middle of May, when it was reduced to 9 cents, from which there was no change until the close of the year. The average quotation for crushed coke, in 1889-90, was 9.71 cents per bushel, in comparison with 10 in 1888-89, and 11.80 in 1887-88. City manufactured coke was quotable at 9 cents per bushel during the fall and winter of 1888-89. Late in March, it declined to 8 cents, and before the close of April, to 7 cents, at which this coke remained without change until the following autumn, when it was advanced to 8 cents, at which it remained until the close of the year, there having been a few weeks in September and October when the outside quotation was about I cent per bushel above the latter figure. The average quotation for city manufactured coke, in 1889-90, was 7.98 cents per bushel, compared with 8. 19 in 1888-89, and 10.52 in 1887-88-all these quotations and averages being for coke delivered.