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Montmnl, Dec. 22.â€""tere is no change in grain or flour except a slight imprm'emcnt in outs; quota- ti0ns of other gmlrs are merely nominal. Butter is still quiet, be- ing quoted at 20c for Towuships creamery; cheese (ominues dull. Poultry is scarce. and the demand; continues good; turkeys have rtin {c in price. Grainâ€"Peas, 71; to 72c afloat here: rye, 53c east, 58c afloat here; No. 2 cuts, 341 to 34ic in store; No. 3, 1c less; flaxseed, $1.15 on track here; No. 3 barley, 50¢. Flourâ€"Manitoba patents, $4.60 to “.80; seconds, 84.30 to $4.50; strong bakers', $3.90 to $4.30; On- Laudâ€"The market is quiet, with prices unchanged. We quote :â€" Tiorces, Bic; tubs, Sgc; pails; com- pound, 8 to 9c. Dressed hogs are unchanged, with oficxings moderate. Sales at $6.30 to $6.50. delixcred hero. Cured meats are steady, with a. fair de maud. We quote zâ€"Baxon. lung clear 8% to 9c. in ton and cam lots. Mess park, 317; do. shout cut, $19 to $19.50. ’ Smoked meats-Hmns, light to medium, 12; to 136; do heavy 11) to 12¢; rolls, 10c; shoulders. 9gc; backs, 135 to 14c; breakfast, bacon, 13 to 13§C. Cheeseâ€"The quote: Finest 101* to 1021‘. Butterâ€"The Butter Market rules fairly active, with supplies equal to the demand, and pnices are steady. We quote :â€"Fincst 1-lb rolls, 18 to 19c; choice large rolls, 16 to 17c; selected dairy tubs, 17 to 175C; poor to medium grades. 12 to 15c; cream- ery prints, 21‘} to 22¢; solids, 19 to 200. Eggsâ€"The market continues firm. We quote zâ€"Striatly new laid, 27c; fresh. 23 to 240‘ cold storage, 22 to 23c; limod, 20 to 21c. lb. or 90c to $1.25 per pair; chick- ens,_ 9 to ICC per lb. or 75c to $1 per pair; old hens. 55 to 65¢ per pair. Poultryâ€"The demand is good, and prices rule firm. Turkeys are quoted at 12 to 14c [:er lb. and geese at 8 to Sc per 1b.; ducks. 10 to 11c per Panaceaâ€"Tine offerings are limited and prices firm. Choige ((U‘S‘ are quoted at, 70 to 75c per bag on track lteie, and inferior quality at 65c per bag. Shawâ€"The market is quiet, at $5 per ton for car lots on track. Hayâ€"The market is fair, with re- ceipts only moderate. No. 1 timâ€" othy quoted at $9 to $9.50 on track! Toronto, and mixed at $6.50 to $7. Honeyâ€"The market is firm at 61} to 7430 per lb for bulk, and at $1.25 to $2 for comb. Applesâ€"The market is fairly ‘a‘é- tixe at unchanged prices. Choice stocks job at $2 to $2.50 per bbl. Beansâ€"There is a. quiet trade, with pritos steady. l’xime beans are quotâ€" ed at $1.60 to $1.75 per bush. D;ied applesâ€""be demand is fair, with pxizes unchanged at 4’; to Sc pcr lb. Evaporated apples, 6c per Flourâ€"Ninety per cent. patents are steady at $3.05 middle Heights in buyex's' sacks for export. Straight rollens of spoxial brands, for domesâ€" tic trade, quoted at. $3.40 to $3.50 in bbls. Manitoba flours we firm. No. 1 patents, $4.35 to $4.45, and strong baliElS' $4.25 to $4.35 on track, Toronto. Mi Heedâ€"Bran steady at $16.50, and shorts at $18.50 here. At out- side points bran is quoted at $14 to $1430, and shorts at $17.50; Manitoba bran in sacks, $18: and shorts at $20 heze. Hopsâ€"The market is unchax ed t 29 to 30c. g a Buckwheatâ€"The market is firm, with demand good. Sales of No. 2 at 45:30 middle Heights. Cornâ€"The market is quiet, and prices unchanged. No. 2 old yellow American quoted at 54 to 54§c on track, Toronto; No. 3 yellow, 53k, and No. 3 mixed at 524C Toronto. No. 3 new American yellow quoted at 516 on track, Toronto, and No. 3 mixed at 50c. Ryeâ€"The‘market is (lull, with N0. 2 quoted at 510 west, and at 52c middle heights. Pensâ€":Trnde is dull, and prices un- changed. No. 2 white quoted at, 610 middle heights, and at? egst._ liarlcyâ€"Tic market is quiet, with the prices steady. No. 2 (moth at 4-0 to 41¢: muddle freights: 7N0. extra at 39 (He Heights Oatsâ€"’l‘l‘e mark prises firmer, No. 27c west, and at to New York. No 2820 enat. Prices of Cattle, Grain, Cheese, and Other Dairy Produce at Home and Abroad. Toronto, Doc.22â€"Wheatâ€"Thc mar- ket for Ontario grades continues to rule steady. No. 2 white and red Winter Sold toâ€"duy at 770 low heights; No. 2 Spring steady at 7‘ to 73¢ east, and No. 2 goose at 70c. Manitoba. wheat steady. At, upper lake ports No. 1 Northern is quoted at. 85%, and No. 2 Northern at, 83;.0. No. 1 hard nominal at, 88!,c lake ports. For grin 111g in transit guotatim-s me (Sc lzighur than above. Oatsâ€"The market; is quiet, with prices firmer. No. 2 while sold at 270 west, and at 27-h: low heights to New York. No. 1 while firmer at REPORTS FROM. THE LEADING TRADE CENTRES. THE WORLD'S MARKETS BUSINESS AT MONTREAL THE DAIRY MARKETS . COUNTRY PRODU CE 1-] 0G 390, and No. 3 at 37c mid- PRODUCTS market is dull. We 11 to 111C; seconds, Clever Piece of Swindling Comes to Light in the uapital. An Ottawa despntch says: A clever piece of swindling came to light on Saturday when the Dominion Express Company ascertained that three mon- ey-orders, aggregating in all $125, had been forged and passed to three city merchants. One for $45, one for $40, and one for $40.50. The orders were drawn on the Dominion Express oflice at Spencervillc, and had the name of the express agent forged upon them. It is thought the book 01 blanks from which these orders were written was stolen. It is the only case of forgery that has been tried on in Ottawa with ex- press orders, and the confidence with which the orders were accepted was due to the fact that it was thought impossible to work 0. crooked game with them. The matter is causing‘ enn- eldereble sensation, as money-orders are accepted as cash every day. upwards ................... 3.00 Short keep, 1,100 lbs. 3.65 Stockers, 400 to 800 lbs. ..................... 2.50 do. 900 lbs. ......2.75 Butchers' cattle, choice 3 65 do medium ............ 3.30 do picked .................. 4.50 do. bulls ............... 2.75 do. rough ................ 2.50 . Light, stock bulls, th 2.2.) Mith cows ............... 30.00 Hogs, best do. light . . . . . . , . . Sheep, export, cwt Lambs .................. Bucks ..................... Culls .............. . . Cahes, each . . A . . . . . Hogsâ€"Steady and unchanged Export, heavy . 4 . . . . $4.50 to Export, light, ............... 4.00 Bulls, export, heavy, cwt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3375 do. light. . . . . . . . ‘ . . . . . . . 3.00 Feeders. 800 lbs, and Sheep and lémbsâ€"Market. steady for sheep; lambs Iinn. Butchersâ€"Trade “rs :low, and pmces on tlye whole qnile a bit eas- ier, though some good prices were paid for fancy cattle. Some very choice cattle were sold, howm'er, on which money was lost by the ship- pers, one \ery choice load, for exâ€" ample, selling at 84.70, WHLh cost in the country about 35. Good to choixe butchers' cattle were telling at $1 to $4.25. Stockasâ€"Hcavy fccfeas and good light stockc:s are about steady, with a. not \ery active Ceman-d. Exportâ€"«There was a fair market for export, but there were no really choiLe export ofl‘exing, and prices were but just about steady at $4.75, the top quotation. Under the pie- sent conditions of the export, trade, shipping cattle were hardly worth over that ligzro, except for very choli-ce fancy stock. Toronto, Dec. 22.â€"â€"There was not a l‘eavy run cf cattle at tle Ci .‘i Cattle Market 10-day, but theze w, 5 apparently enough offering for t 0 requirements of the market. Buys s have been pretty well supplied the past two or three months, and some of them have about filled up. The receipts were 59 loads, with 756 head of cattle. 1,150 sheep and lambs, 900 hogs and 28 calves. Bufi‘alo, Dec. 22.â€" Fleurâ€"Film Wheatâ€"Spring stronger; No. 1 Northâ€" ern, carâ€"loads, Offered 89130; Winter, good enquiry; No. 2 rod, 880 through billed. Comâ€"Old quiet; No. 2 yel- low, Slgc; No. 3 com, 49:30 asked. Oatsâ€"Firm; No. 2 white, 41c; No. 2 mixed, 39c. Barleyâ€"Small lots sold at 60 to 610; track, through billed, 60 to 644:. Ryeâ€"No. 1 615m Duluth, Dec. 22.â€"â€"W’heabâ€"~To arrive, No. 1 hard, 80%; No. 1 Northern, 79%0; No. 2 Noztlzern, 7G§c; Decem- ber. 79fc; May, 8017“; FORGED MONEY ORDERS. lard, Sc. Canadian land, 8 to 8&8; kettle lom‘crod, 103C; hams, 11} to 13¢; bacon. 14c; flesh lxillod abat- tcir hogs, $7.25; (Ountl‘y dresst hogs in car lots, $6.25 to $6.40; live hogs, $5.25 to $5.40. Eggsâ€"Candl- ed selected, 25 to 26c; straight xe- (eipts, 21 to 220; Montreal limed, 20 to 21c; ncf-igorutor, 17 to 18c. Butterâ€"vanshilrs Cxemnery, 20 to 20k; Quebor, 19; to 19k; Westeln dairy, in tubs, 16c; Western rolls, 17 to 17in Checseâ€"Ontmin, 105 to 105e,; wanships, 101} to 103v; Que- bec (November). 10c. $21; Manitoba. bum, in shorts, $20 to $21. ' primes, $1.50 to $1.51 $1.40 to $1.50 in car sionsâ€"TIc-avy Canadian pork, $19.50 to $20; cut. 818 to $18.50; A) cut clear. $17 to $17. fat backs, $18 to $18.1 tario straiglt r. 12025 in lmgs,.$1.b'5 to $1.1 to $4.25; extra, $1.65 ed oats 31.80 [er I) bbl. Feedâ€"()ntmio l to $4.25; extra ed oats $1.80 bbl. Feedâ€"Out $17.50 to $18. $21; Manitoba. UNITED STATES MARKETS bulls rough ......... stock bulls, cwt 2 cows ............... 30. C ATTLE MARKET Montreal limed, utor, 17 to 18c. cxemnery, 20 to to 19k; Westeln Western rolls, 17 30.00 45.00 in b ag‘ Bean 9 patents $1.70; 90 to $4 70; roil- .80 per in bulk, 52-0 to 5050 7675 3456.2 3.121} 3.50 4.25 3.40 4.70 3.00 2.60 2.50 3.75 4.00 3.50 4.25 311011 e bush; mITHE Ufl-UPERATIUN PLAN Something has already been done along these lines in Ontario. and we are still far behind California, Ohio, Michigan and other States. One of the most progressive coâ€"oper- ative associations in Canada. has its headquarters at Walkerton. in the celebrated Huron apple district. Mr. A. E. Sherrington, the manager, reâ€" ported that last year the association made its first trial in the coâ€"opera- tive work by forwarding to Manches- ter, Eng, two cars of Duchess ap- ples, which arrived in good condi- tion. In addition to these three cars of Winter apples were packed and sold. This year the association had prospered beyond all expecta- tions. There are now about fiftyâ€" five members, with an average of four acres of apples each. Fifteen cars of apples have this year been shipped on the co-operative plan. Not only have the prices been better, but more fruit has been sold than would have been possible under the old sysâ€" tem. Even the early varieties of apples were put upon the market in good condition. Just as soon as the Duchess, for instance, were ripe, all co-operators were notified to begin picking at the same time. In this way a car would be started with the fruit within two days of the time the apples were taken from the trees. It We can, said Mr. Sherrington, by this system. increase the general rth turns received from our fruit crop, the producer of poor fruit will al- ‘by Mr. W. H. Dawson, the Toronto Commission merchant, by a. reference to the coâ€"operative system of haml- ling the Texas tomato crop. This is handled by one man stationed at St. Louis, and the system is so thorâ€" ough that market domoralization is absolutely avoided. The grading is so perfect that a man can order a, car of Texas tomatoes by grade and feel perfectly sure of getting Among the advantages of the plan which have. become apparent during the twelve years that the association has been in existence are (1) It on- sures better prices for the fruit. (2) It leaves the grower free to devote his undivided attention to the im- provement of production. (3) It enables buyers to purchase at a. central point large quantities of a uniform grade. Thus they can se- lect precisely the sort of fruit to suit various markets. (4) It gives the members a much stronger posiâ€" tion in dealing with commission men, merchants and carrying companies than they could possibly have as in- dividual shippers. (5) It provides for the proper distribution of fruit, so that one market may not be glut- ted at the same time that another is left bare of supplies. Under the business-like system adopt- ed it is possible to make most of the sales direct from the wareâ€" house. I’ree use of the telegraph, telephone and mail service is made in collecting and disseminating in- formation as to the quantity 01’ each variety and grade available. In this way the fruit is disposed of practi~ Cally as soon as produced. There is no refrigerator service at the packâ€" ing‘ house, but. refrigerator cars are supplied by the railways, and the fruit is put into them as soon as possible. The cost. of carrying on the business is about seventeen to nineteen cents per bushel of peaches, including cost of packages and transâ€" portation, as well (as administrative expenses of the association. A typical example of the practical Working out of the (toâ€"operative plan was descril:ed by Mr. W. H. Owen. Catawaba. Island, Ohio, who is one of the recognized leaders in the move- ment across the line. He is manager of a coâ€"operative fruit growers' un- ion, w-hich does business in a very large way. The Catawba associaâ€" tion confines its attention mostly to peaches, though pears and grapes are also handled. The membership is thirty-four, controlling about. one thousand acres, on which there are about one hundred .and fifty thousand peach trees. The growers all live within seven and a half miles of the large central packing depot, where the grading is done under the manâ€" ager’s supervision. The growers do their own picking, and bring in from three to five thousand bushels of peaches daily. The fruit begins to arrive at the central depot at two o'clock p.m., and packing operations frequently continue all night. Each grower is duly credited,with the amount of fruit of each grade which he contributes to the total amount, and he is paid in accordance, AS SOON AS SALES Fruit Growers' Association at Lcumington. The address 0! the president, the report of the secretary and all the most interesting and instructive pupérs dealt with the question of co-opcration. The principal of cooperation among fruit growers, which has been strongly ari'vocatcd during the last, two years by W. A. MacKinnon of the Fruit Division, Ottawa. received enthusiastic cndorsation at the rec- ent annual meeting oi the Ontario Fruit Growers' Association at Laumington. The address 0! the This latter point was emphasized ITS PRACTICAL WORKING IN FRUIT GROWING A Leader in the Movement in the United States Describes the Plan, JUST WHAT HE ORDERS M A'DE A St. John's, Nfld., despatch says: It is understood that. the Canadian Government. is likely to purchase for a. permanent cruiser the Newfound- land sealing steamer Neptune and that another ship is being sought for here. Both vessels will be used in enforcing the Canadian laws against American Whalers. A London despatch says: Political conditions and religious feuds have hitherto induced the British Govern- ment not to allow the extension to Ireland of the volunteer system, which has for many years been estabâ€" lished in England and Scotland. The matter has often been agitated in the press and in Parliament, but al- ithough the militia. has been enrolled for a. long time, and, like the Irish regulars, proved among the most valuable of Great Britain's troops, successive Governments at London would not sanction a; home defence force for Ireland. The papers on Thursday morning state that the in- troduction of the system to Ireland has been decided upon. TWenty-six battalions will be raised in various parts of the country. Their forma- tion Will be provided for in the forthâ€" coming programme of army reform, prepared by Mr. 'Arnold Forster, Sec- retary of State for War. The last volunteer force in Ireland was raised by the great land-owners more than a hundred years ago, when there were fears of a. French invasion. The British Government did not support the movement, and the Viceroy of Ireland was greatly dismayed, al- though all the volunteers were Protâ€" estants. The present sanction can be traced to the splendid services of the Irish regiments in South Africa, and the improved political relations. A London (Tespatcn says :--Col. W. Hope announces that after nine and a half years' (ontinuous work, in which he has calculated and resorded over ten tlousand experiments, he has produced an absolutely Safe and stable smokeless powder, whiCh l'e calls \eloxite. He says that it conâ€" tains 73 per (ent. more powder as a propelling agent, Weight for weight, than the Government's present powâ€" der, yet it contains no nitro-Com- pound, no sulphur, no phosphorus, no ‘chlorate, in fact no dangerous ingre- dients. ’l‘lte flashing point of black powder is at 640 degiees; Fahrenheit, that of (‘ordite and all nitro powders is only from 360 to 370 degrees, while that. of veloxite is about 12,- 000 degrees. He says that \cloxite stands tl‘e l‘am-mering of a sledge hammer on an anvil. The ingredients are stable and therefore the powder is stable. The setting up of chemiâ€" cal action is impossible in any length of time, and in any variations of climatic conditions. Veloxite can be made in the morning and fired in tle afternoon, not requi ing, as other powders do, several weeks to manu- facture. It can be made cheaply, its ingredients can be purchased in un- limited quantities by the ton, and it is available for small arms as well as artillery. Government May Buy Newfoum‘ land Sealers. Volunteer System 1'0 be Extended to Ireland. It is the Qurpose of Mackenzie and Mann to combine the roads they alâ€" ready own into one system, and as business warrants it they will push their line further Westward, until they reach the Pacific coast, and eastward to the Maritime Provinces. Combined, the lines will form a. third railway system across the con- tinent. Mr. Mann said there was no doubt but that the system would eventually be built, and concluded by saying that all the Mackenzie and Mann roads so far built had proved paying ventures. The opening of the Chateaguy and Northern between Quebec and Montreal is one of the steps leading to the accomplishment of the larger object. Mr. Mann Foreshadows the Com- pany's Objects. A Montreal (lespatch says: Mr. 'D. 1). Mann. president of the Canadian Northern Railway, who is in Mont- real, speaking on Wednesday of railâ€" Way plans, said:â€" "It, is our idea to eventually construct, a third great railway system in Canada in spite of “Torts to the contrary, or stories that any of our property is for sale. None of our roads are for sale. nor are we negotiating with any persons for the sale of any of them." NEW SMOKELESS POWDER. In the course of the discussion, Mr. MacKinnon said that. in his opin- ion, no system of (so-operation would be complete which did not start at the beginning, and introduce uniform methods in the selection of varieties, in planting and top-grafting, in or- chard nmnagcmont, including spray- ing, and oven in the buying of sup- plies. An Interesting Announcement By British .E‘soert. most certainly be led to iwmove the quality of his output. 1! he will not, do this, he will have to get out. of the association. OUR GROWING NAVY. CANADIAN NORTHERN. IRISH HOME FORCE. The London Daily Mail's Pekin cor- respondent declarcs that a. few Man- chu nobles, under Russian influence. are delaying tlie conclusion of an ill liance between China and Japan. Bertillon has organized a 110w system for the detection of crimiw als. Heretofore the errors mm“ were as high as seventy per cent.. whine a. trial of tie new system hm reduced the errors to one per (cm. Tho diphtheria epidemic. which hzu been raging for five weeks in th( New York State Reformatory, a: Elmira. here is over.. Crown Prince Frederick William oi Germany was required by his fatlzel to remain in his room for three days, {or having raced in a stccxlo cha£e against the Emperor’s wish. Sanguinzu‘y conflicts over custom colleutiors between I’e;slzu's and Tu'x'comans me reported to have 00‘ curred on He Russo-Persian from tier. England has served formal notice upon the United States Government that under the favored nation clause it expects that British sugar from the British West Indies shall be ad- mitted into the United States on equal terms with Cuban sugar. GENERAL. It seems to he impossible to erra- dicatc cattle disease in Rhodesia. 'l‘l'e Ausmiun Minister of Foxeign Affairs says the Sultan must yield to Mutedonian norm-ms or see the downfall of his empire. A crusade against alleged whole sale perjury in bankruptcy proceed. ings was inaugurated with the in- dictmcnt and arrest of four men on that charge at New York. Senator Heyburn of Idaho, has in- troduced in the Senate, a joint reso lution, xequestirg the Pmsidont to atquize by annexation the Island of San Domingo. A leading official of the United States Steel Corporation state: that, begixmirg January lst. about ninety per (out. of do employes ol the (orpox-ation will suffer wage re- ductions ranging from five to twenty per (out. Arthur Itai‘Sback, of Baltimore, a lad of 12. who has been blind sime infancy, dangerously shot him. self because he couldn’t. see to {lay with Us comrades. Michael W'. Taylor, the largest man in Michigan, died at Detroit of rheu- matisan and fatty regeneration o} the heart, weighing 425 pounds. The Michigan Improved Live Stock Bleedex‘s' Association, has passed a xesolution against reciprocity with Canada. At Cleveland, on Saturday, It. W. Derby killed all the members 01 his family, and then committed sui- cicle. At auction in London the othcx day the manuscript of the Apocalyp sis S. Johannis, executed by monks in the elewnth century, was sold for $4,550. Forty-one Dchoiters committed suicide last year. Hot weather was the prim-{pal cause. The Duke of Norfolk, the premiel duke of England, is to marry Gwen- dolen, daughter of Lord Harries. Sht is 27, he is 56. Although the lowest bids camt from Belgium, the London Count} Council decided to order rails fol train lines from British firms. G BEAT BRITAIN. Sir Thomas Lipton says he wil again challenge for the America’l Cup. It is reported that the King :11“ Queen will soon visit Ireland and at, tend the Punchcston races. 1\ (mlozul of prisoners. numbering thiityâ€"fii'o, haie been sent {out from Stony Mountain Penitentiary, Mum. to St. \'iment (39 Paul, Quebec. Complaints have been received from commvrcial men in Toronto with re gard to the administration of justiu in Montreal, and an investigation it to take place. Wholesale fru'it men (:1 Winnipeg. who had 7,000 barrels of apple: frozen on route Over the Canadian Pacific Railway, are suing tine com- pany for $15,000. Expert safeâ€"blowers robbed the oi- fice of the Harris Abattoir Company, at Toronto, on Friday night. Th( police suspect the men who robbed a iewellory store at. Tilbury on Thurs day night. 'A. D. De 9110:, general librminn o( the I’ailiamcntary Library, Ottawa. has been olficially notified that ht has been appointed to the Legion 0! Honor, in recognition of his valu- able work of a journalistic and his '.o:i:'al character. The King has approved of his birth- day being celebrated in Cunudn. on the 21th of May as a. general holi- day. urd Telegraphic Briefs From Our Own and Other Countries of CANADA. The fire underwriters will not re ducc London's insurance rates. James Downoy. turnkey of $111 Ih‘nckviHo juil, dropped dead on SM .The Manitoba Cover plzrdmscd a. site in St. i(ipali(_\- for tl.o propom a1 (ollcge. A (mload of prisoner: thirtyâ€"five, have been so Stony Mountain Ponitnr HAPPENINGS FROM ALL OVEE THE GLOBE. TIUKS FROM THE WIRE. x l_\' UNITED STATES ‘ba Coven mom. haw he in St. harlcs mun- (lg: i‘ [‘S mun~ :ultun