The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-18
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Money in Sufficient Supply for
Solvent Borrowers.
Enormous Shipments Of California Produce
Esstward-Exports and Imports at This
Port-Cereals Dull.

The year is drawing to close, as any
body who wants to borrow money can tell
This is the period of the year when taxes
must be paid, annual balances settled, part
nerships dissolved and holiday presents
bought, and money is always in sharp re-
quest in consequence. This year is no ex-
ception to all others, and money is accord
ingly more or less close at the moment and
will probably remain so until after the turn
of the year, when funds, if they follow
their usual course, will get easier.
AS far as actual hard money Is concerned
the prolonged financial stringency at New
York and London has thus far affected San
Francisco very little. Various lines Of
merchant Use, however, have felt it. Wheat
operators have been cramped in exporta-
ton by sterling exchange, which has oper-
a;ed against the profits-hops, wool, hides,
canned fruits, cOffee-in fact, all goods
which we ship eastward, have been dull in
consequence. But actual cash has not
suffered materially. There is still album
dance of it here, and it is available to solvent
borrowers at rates which are hardly, If at
all. above the normal. As remarked in this
column several weeks ago. the position OF
San Francisco as a sound hard cash city is
an enviable one.
THE CEREAL MARKETS.
All cereals are dull and featureless. The
only news concerning wheat is that the
harbor has been for some days utterly bare
of disengaged ships suitable for the wheat
trade. This has happened only two or three
times before, the last time being in 1882
The financial stringency abroad continues
to depress wheat, as 1t operates against e&-
change. Hence wheat is stagnant. Barley
and corn are dull at the high prices. Oats
are firm, but no higher. Bran ana MD
dlings have been marked up during the
week and are very high.
GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
If anybody doubts that California has had
highly prosperous year, glance d. Ill, .i1
set his doubts al rest These overland snip
ments during the first eleven months OF the
wear reached the enormous total OF 5o5, 3d.
600 pounds, or 277,7S7 tons. or Tits car
loads The amount was 1l3,0OO,0OO pounds
greater than that for the corresponding
6eriod in 1889 The shipments this year are
the heaviest ever known. Those for No
yember last were 81, O95, O40 pounds, Oh which
1858, 480 pounds were from San francesca
the other shipping points showing as fol-
lows: Oakland $50, $50 pounds, sacramento
713s. $50, San Jose 5, 431, 80, Stockton ,I94,-
$40, Marysville 1.055, $40. Los Angeles =, io!'-
480, Cotton I,511.240. The Leading items
were as follows: 1870 centais Deans' 81 81 100
gallons brandy, Cos, 465 gallons wine. I,o4i,-
10 pounds canned goods. 1,699,4Io POUNDS
tresh fruit. Z All. $50 pounds dried fruit, TO-
$4,000 pounds rai5ins, 72l,57o POUNDS NUTS
266. $50 pounds hides, 105, 150 pounds money!
43I' 800 pounds hops, 1885, 40 pounds leatner,
40. i04 centals potatoes, 93S, 10 pounds canned
salmon, 100, $40 pounds picked salmon. LOO.
4s0 hounds woul BY the above hgures IL
will be seen that our fresh fruit shipments
are now practically over for inc season;
though dried fruit and ralsln shipments stiii
make respectable showing
IocaI dealers report rather more inquiry
for hons. but quote dull market neyerthe-
less. The Eastern and foreign markets are
motionless.
About the only thing new III hides Is the
aoreement between the local tanners ana
leather dealers to import oouth Anie.can
hides hereafter, as they can be iald down
here at cents, while California sound hi0es
cannot be bought under 81 to cents. The
market is very dull, low and depressed. az ~
a recent meeting il was stated that the cost
of heavy hides at from 81 to cents pounot
and lighter goods in proportion Is gieas
drawback to the leather inuust >. ;sr IN N
Coast. Leather is now selling at prices ~
per cent lower than three mopths ago, oWlns
II the tiphtness of the money MARKER ana
general disposition among the retail dealers
and manufacturers to curtall expenses.
Hides are selling cheap enough IN new
York. where 8. 100000 are lying in the ware
houses, but it would not pay the tanners 49,, ~
bring out the hides and then SEND Dack tue
leather. In fact it is asserted tnat iea; ;,ot
is now selling SO cheap that the piine'p"i
tanneries are running at loss.
The general run of farm products snow
remarkably few changes this week. hay
sells fairly at previous pricesS<Beans RUE
quiet, with an occasional narrow nnctua-
ton. Butter is slightly higher. whiie eggs
are weak at a de line.
Potatoes are coming in freely, and most
kinds are cheaper than last week, as the
Spectators, who were so sanguine OF high
H..uoh much lately. As soon as prices rise
large supplies are sent in, and the specu-
iators then withdraw. Onions are quiet,
hut higher at the close. Dried fruits are