The morning call., 1890-05-28

of dullness among dealers in produce last
week the returns OF the local Clearing
house show no loss from last year, the ex-
changes for the week being S14, 247, 900,
against S136I2000 for the same week in
1889. But it must not be forgotten that
May, June and July are not particularly
lively months Mt best. City folks are out of
town and the retail stores feel their alb
sence, while in the country the farmers are
too busy harvesting to buy goods. Taken
all in all this is thus far good year and
we certainly have no cause to complain
of it.
THE CEREAL MARKET
With the exception of corn, the important
cereals are very weak. For No. shipping
wheat 81 271a is now a good average figure
and trade is very dull. Ships continue
scarce and this aggravates the dullneSs.
Barley has been going down for some lit
tie time and 81 is now about the best price
for good feed. Improved crop prospects
cause the decline Brewing descriptions
continue quiet
Oats. too, have dropped and the market is
at least 81 per ton lower than last week.
Sellers are now willing to make liberal con-
ceSSions, but buyers hang back and purchase
only from hand TO mouth. Trade is there
fore very dull. Nothing more is heard of
the corner.
Rye is held steadily at 92h to 97Hc, with
| an occasional sale at 9jc.
Corn is very stiff. There is practically
| no yellow in first hands, aud tile last sales
| were at 81 % for large and 81 2715 for small.
| Sales of large yellow at 81 % to arrive are
| now being made.
Buckwheat is neglected, nobody wants it.
Bran and middlings have shown no change
| during the week. Ground barley is lower,
! in sympathy with the raw article.
GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
| The wool-growers are enjoying firm aud
active market this spring, sales being large
| at slowly advancing prices. The weeks
| business amounted TO about 100000 pounds,
and several descriptions were advanced y
| to l cent pound
Hops are also firm, but trade is of a retail
| character, there being few if any round lots
| left in the State. One authority figures 1910
! bales OF ali descriptions left in California,
| and about 400 bales i'll Washington. There
| are reports of contracts for new hops rang
| ing from II, 1212 and 10 cents for Pacific
| Coast, but this business is so light that it
| is hardly worth mentioning.
Most dealers report hides quiet at I'M
| changed prices.
The new crop Of dried fruit is attracting
| some attention. More California pruneS
| for fall delivery are reported sold, the last
| sales being at a and 6l@ cents per pound
for the four sizes, and small sales of apricots,
| summer delivery, at 1lR to IS cents have
| been made. No future sales of peaches are
| reported. Spot stocks of 1889 fruit are re-
duced to almost nothing, and quotations
| are therefore largely nominal.
Nuts are quiet with moderate stocks.
| The new crop of honey is coming for
| ward slowly, and although some small
sales of comb at about 1212 to IS cents for
| choice white are reported the market is not
| yet established.
| New hay is selling at Sc to $40 per tom
| Some OF 1t is coming in damp and hot. Old
| hay is rather easier.
Offerings Of beans are more liberal; all
| kinds are weak, and whites and pinks have
| declined.
| Receipts of new and old potatoes are
| larger, and the latter have declined mater-
| ally since last review, while new potatoes
! are hrm under good demand.
| New onions are slowly weakening under
! increasing receipts
| Butter and cheese are In large supply
| and very weak at a decline. Butter is par
ticnlarly demoraliZed. Many good dafries
| are coming in soft and out of shape, owing
| to the recent hot spell, and this further az
| gravateS the depression.
| Good fresh ranch eggs have advanced and
| are not over abundant, while common eggs
! are in large supply, more or less stale,
owing to The hot weather, and very hard to
| sell.
The exports of California vine from this
port during the first four months of 1890
were the largest on record, being 2SOI, j5j
gallons, valued at about 81, 10000
Mutton Is firm at a slight advance. Beef
veal anG pork continue abundant aud weak
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
Sugar has gone up again, the California
refinery having marked its list up &c
on Monday. There is a brisk call for this
article Intact, almost all grocery staples are
reported selling very well, coffee being an
exception. The dullness in this article is
thus explained by Mr.. Hochkofer's latest
circular to the trade:
The continued depression OF the article in New
YORK (and IN European markets ALSO has a
similar effect here, where business has been
guile dull with gradual decline In prices The
latter being most marked during last week. The
"nand-to- mouth" policy pursued by buyers In
other markets had already been adopted by
local jODbers and now appears 10 have become
chronic. importers are Obliged to carry their
stocks unless large concessions are made on
current values, which under such circumstances
have gradually weakened. In fact the prices
asked by The majority OF importer. are purely
nominal, as there has been enough coffee OF
different kinds forced on the market AT lower
rates 10 supply the limited wants Of dealers In
view OF The liberal stocks now on hand we be-
| lleye that "A more general pressure to sell by
holders would result only In reduction OF prices
| without increasing the volume OF business. In a
| word, confidence Is destroyed for The moment
| Probably the Impetus to the decline OF prices
Throughout the word was given by the Increase
| Vi Ine ElsiDse supply during the month OF
| April OF l42,3o6 bags, where a decrease was
generally expected, caused no doubt py The
anxiety OF dealers to reduce their stocks. Other
STATISTICAL conditions appear quite favorable; re-
| ceDts IN Brazilian ports have been quite small
| averaging G5OO bags daily, ana different esti,
mates have been issued OF smaller crops in Brazil
| for the season Of 1S90-9l running from 250
| 600 TO 100000 bags. In this market the de-
| mand has been mostly for cheap coffees
buyers looking generally more TO price than
quallly: Medium descriptions running from
| II 10 1872 cents are In demand and firm: so il
| prime Guatemala on account OF great scarcity
Good Costa Rica Is neglected, unless at strong
concessions Ia price; some sales of this quality
| being effected at 1919 cents. Good unwashed
Salvador has declined gradually from 1917
| cents at the beginning OF the month, to is
| cents at The close and even at the reduction is
not IN much demand.
At the close coffee is firmer in sympathy
with better feeling at New York Rice
rules firm. Hawaiian rice is mostly in
| J0bblng hands and is quoted at &c to 6Hc
| New rice will begin to come forward in the
course oil another month. The rice market
East is strong, with an upward tendency.
with large deficiency in stocks as com
pared with last year.
PROVISIONS are fairly active and generally
hrm. Trade in lard is cut into by the cheap
Eastern butter now coming forward.
Canned fruits are gradually clearing up
The quiet but steady carload shipments
East have materially diminished stocks.
Small sales on future account are reported
on the basis of 81 80 for apricots, 81 30 for
plums and 81 so for peaches ana pears.
There is good Eastern call for peaches.
but bids are too low for the Gamers, hence
but little business has yet resulted
Canned salmon is dull and nominal
Most brands OF starch are higher.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Merchandise does not show many changes
this. week. Quicksilver rules firm at
further advance and is closely held.
Iron is dull and weak, and reports from
| the East state that within fortnight past
| both crude and finished iron and steel have
| sold at the lowest prices yet granted.
Lumber is in active demand, both on
| local and export account, but the scarcity of
vessels greatly restricts the volume of husi
ness. Building operations in San Fran
cisco and its suburbs across the BAY are
| remarkably lively just now.
Tobacco is quieter, and cigars are none
| too active.
| Dry goods are less active and the demand
| is confined to closing up gaps in stock. AS
| trade contemporary aptly puts it, this
narticular neriod IL a sort ~ ha.,riyt -