The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-04
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Business Quieting Down With
the Close of the Year.
Bank Clearings : Expected sfAdvance in
Freights Weaker Sharp Advance
in sugar-Coal Prices.

Business is hardly as active as few
weeks ago. 1t always falls off toward the
close of the year. At the same time fluctua-
tons are always fewer than during the late
summer and early autumn months; hence
trade really presents few features worthy of
note. The local bank clearings during No
vember were $50, SO, 43S. against SO, s25, 1924
in November, $780, This shows an increase
for November of about SS,OOo,0OO The
clearings for the first eleven months of the
year were S772,976,007, against S76S, S04, 27O
during the same period in 1889. So we con-
time to lead 1889 in volume of business.
The street is greatly interested in the re-
ported advance of 10 per cent in west-bOund
rail freight December 18th. This advance
would have tendency to further increase
prices on some lines of Eastern goods.
THE CEREAL MARKETS.
Most cereals are shaky. They have been
firm and high for some time, but the indica-
tons yesterday were more or less rainy,
and the markets were weak in consequence
Wheat remained steady, as the dry weather
has impelled holders to cease Offering: but
barley options dropped several cents, and
the actual market declined in symrathy.
Corn is now in very heavy supply, and the
Produce Exchange monthly statement shows
very large stocks. Buyers accordingly have
left the market, which is neglected and de-
pressed, at much lower quotations than
ruled a week ago. Oats have not declined
with the other cereals, because, like wheat,
receipts have been light; but the market
cannot be called firm, Rye is dull at I'M
changed prices.
Flour is reported in good demand, at
steady prices. Bran and middlings have
not changed during the week. Cornmeal
and cracked corn have declined in sympathy
with the raw grain. Buckwheat is dull, at
lower prices.
The Daily Commercial News las this to
say on the Srain-bag situation:
Bags are dull at unchanged rates, but this is by
no means due TO local causes. Calcutta mer-
their customers Last september the Associ-
ated Jute Mills in Calcutta suddenly reduced
their price for grain bags from 20 10 100 rupees
per 1000. AT the time OF this unaccuuui able
proceeding San francisco importers had on hand
about %, 100000 bags OF which 5000, 900 had
| not even left Calcutta. They have since bought
100000 at the reduced price, but are anything
| but pleased at the reduction. Whether the pc
culiar tactics OF the Calcutta mills are the result
| Of sunstfoSe or of brandy pawnee. this fact is
| evident-that they have caused loss 10 their
| customers OF 20 rupees per 1000 on %, 00O, 900
! 100000 since sold, on which they have thrown
| away LAC, 900 rupees OF their own money Alto
| getber the farmers will save Clio. 600 rupees. or
| about 100000. mostly at The expense Of San
| Francisco merchants.
| GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
| Hay is easy and quiet, though continued
| dry weather would have a tendency to
| harden the market.
| Beans are quiet all around and present no
| features worthy of remark, except a decline
| In Limas, which are duh and depressed.
| Onions sell readily at about last weeks
| prices. Potatoes are stiff at an advance.
Butter is very weak at decline. Receipts
are increasing, as the COWS are now coming
in. Dealers complain that some dairymen
| are using the new milk for their butter,
| which consequently turns rancid after being
| in market two or three days. This ought TO
be stopped. The furry in picked butter is
| apparently over and the market is now re-
| ported quieter, though there is not much
| left here.
Cheese is reported steady. Eggs of all
| descriptions are very weak, as stocks are in
creasng gradually. The tendency is toward
lower prices
| Honey has again advanced, as the best
| grades are scarce and wanted.
| Dried fruits continue in unsatisfactory
shape. The market almost always is dull
just before the holidays, but the local trade
here look for better market during the late
winter and early spring months. Prunes
are in fair demand, but peaches plums APP
pies and pears are weak and hard to sell.
| Walnuts are heavily offered and weak
Almonds are also quieter. Peanuts are
steady. All imported nuts rule firm and
l
Hops are steadily held. but dull. The sit
uation has not changed for several weeks.
| Wool is reported quiet and week
| Hldes are very weak and depressed. Tai
| low Is fairly active.
The meat market is amply supplied at the
| old prices.
| GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
Sugar has been sharply advanced, and is
| very firm.
| Coffee is quiet, and prices have not ma
terlally changed for several weeks.
Rice rules more or less unsettled. Island
! rice Is In active demand for coast and terri
| toral trade, while Chinese descriptions are
| easier and Quieter under liberal receipts,
PROVISIONS are moderately active and not
materially changed.
Canned fruits are quieter, owing to the
| close OF the year and the recent money
stringency in New York, which cut off con-
| siderable of the demand Nevertheless. can
ners report fair inquiry
Nothing new in canned salmon.
| MISCELLANEOUS.
Tin plate has again advanced, being now
| quoted at Sc 70 per box, and sumo dealers
| ask 81. Pig tin is weak and dull at 23h
| cents per pound.
Dry goods are still selling well, though a
good rainstorm would tend to increase the
| country demand.
There is nothing new to report in tobacco
| and cigars.
The public will be glad to hear that Coos
Bay coal has been marked down 81 per ton,
being now quoted at 50. The cheapening
Of single description of coal is not i'm.
portant, only as it indicates the tendency of
prices, and the present decline is significant
at this moment. In fact, the coal market is
not inherently strong, though coal dealers
are valiantly talking about possible famine
prices later on in the event of stormy
weather As they are making thousands of
| dollars out of the public at present, it would
not, of course, do for them to even admit
that the market was hardly as strong as il
had been. The weeks receipts were is, 637
tons coast and $50 tons foreign. We will
begin to get relief from Australia in about
sixty days from date, and everybody ex-
poets cheap and abundant coal next sam
| mer.
Lumber is reported In lighter demand by
the local trade. The receipts at this port
during the first eleven months of the year,
compared with the same period in 1889, were
as follows: Pine, 212,6OS, 600 feet against
2s5,542, 0o0; redwood, 146 0OO. 600 feet, againsi
146, $50, 600; shingles, 120,S7s,0O0. against