The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-01
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Cereals Continue to Bring Unu.
sually High Prices.
The New Departure in sugar-The Coming
Wool Clip-Deerease in Bank Clearings
A Weak Coal Market.

The timely showers of last week keep the
outlook rosy, and beyoni the fact that pro-
duee and merchandise are moving off we'll
there is but little to say of trade in general
this week. The local bank clearings ex-
hibited the first falling off for some time.
being 81, 690,S5s, against SIS. 22S, 904 for the
corresponding week in 1890.
THE GRAIN MARKETS.
Wheat has ruled firm since last report,
and at the close is still higher. If the price
will only keep up until the California crop
is ready to be sold it will be great thing for
the State. The market has been very quiet
during the past few days, as ships have been
scarce; but vessels have been coming in
rather more freely of late and this may slim
ulate trade.
Barley has again gone up, and falling
of OF $50 tons in city stocks during March
still further stimulates the upward tendency.
Choice feed now brings 81 40.
Oats, too, are frmer than last week, and
buyers have to pay full figures. Stocks are
moderate and the demand fair.
Germ has again been successfully ad-
vaneed by holders. and small round yellow
now commands 81 40, and large yellow
81 So.
Rye is quiet and unchanged.
Feedstuffs are steady at last weeks
prices. Flour is strong and in demand.
Grain-bags are more in sellers favor than
for several years. The spot stock of Cal
cuttas is not large, the State Prison supply
is exhausted and the Oakland Jute- mill is
sold up to August, hence the market is very
strong. No sharp advance is expected, how
ever, as it would tend to attract liberal ship
ments from Calcutta by steamer. The de-
mand is fair.
GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
Dealers in hops report more tone to the
market in consequence OF increased strength
in the Eastern, English and German mar
ketS There are no surplus hops anyw here,
yet for all that trade is still dull.
The spring wool clip is coming in, but thus
far the arrivals are no: sufficient to estab-
fish quotations The new clip is arriving
more slowly than last year. Dealers quote
the outlook good for firm market and
steady demand at about l cent per pound
over tile opening prices far 1890. Ten days
will doubtless elapse before enough wool to
make an active market comes i'll. The CEN
trail and northern woods promise TO be
choice, but the southern, and particularly
years woods, are not as good as they were
last year, owing TO the lack OF rain.
Hay is lower. The new crop is not many
weeks of now and those farmers who have
surplus hay are sending it in TO secure the
ruling nigh prices. II is on account of these
free arrivals that the market is weak.
Potatoes show no change worthy of note,
being in more or less call for shipment at
about last weeks prices. Onions continue
unsettled. going up one day and down the
uext.
Changes in beans are insignificant The
market Is quiet.
Butter has declined all around since last
report, as the shipping demand has fallen
off Tpppinta have lUPrp1 Spi EvyG
have gone down under large arrivals.
Cheese Is also lower.
Dried fruit is dull, with an easier feeling
in prunes and peaches. Nuts are also dull,
with BraZlls, to arrive, offered down to and
cents, aud the receipt OF 1000 sacks OF
Chile waluutS.
Raisns are still neglected and depressed
at the low prices.
Beef has gone up to cents per pound for
small prime cattle. Hogs have advanced
again. Veal is firm. Lamb is lower and
mutton easier.
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
Sugar is the center of attention just now.
On and after April 1St practically all the
raw sugar imported into this country will
come in free Of duty. All the sugar in
bonded warehouses on this day will also be
free. All dutIable sugar refined in March
AMI placed in bonded warehouse to remain
.Iutil April lst will be entitled to the rebate
of duty. Free sugar Is something new to
the people OF this country, and the curse of
| prices during the next few weeks Can only
be conjectured. As already mentioned in
this column purchases have lately been
| light, as drop of cents per pound April
| 1st has been expected with more or less
confidence Whether these expectations of
| lower prices Will be realized remains to be
| seen. The stock OF sugar in bonded ware
| houses on the Atlantic seaDoard March LIST
was 6S, 1854. 900 pounds. The imports of sugar
| into the United States for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1890, were 1884, oil $50
pounds. of which 60l, ,476 pounds was
! beet-rOot sugar, Germany alone sending Us
! 5l2,0O9, lI3 pounds OF the beet-r00t sugar.
1t is reported That buyers have been
| offered granulated sugar, April delivery, at
| AZ cents per pound in New York, but have
been deferred from buying by the recent
advance in westbound freights.
or coffee tile circular Of K. Hochkofler
| says:
| Local sales from first hands since the first Of
| this month include GA bags Costa Rica, 1856
| Salvador aud 2S35 Guatemala, Ia all 5295 bags,
| besides 2O9l bags for Eastern shipment. Re-
| cepts were: 1l45 bags Costa Rica, 67S Salvador
| aud 5000 Guatemala, 1918 bags IN all, per
steamer City of New York Tie I'd and per
steamer san Bias 1916 bags Costa Rlca 31o1
| Salvador and 3097 Guatemala, together IL .344
bags. Receipts In Brazilian ports during lie
| hrst twenty days of March averaged daily 740o
| bags III klo and $3.50 In Santos. against IA daily
| average for the first eight months OF The season
| OF 1873 bags III the former aud 1899 bags III the
mand during the present month"; both locally
| aud TOT Eastern shipment, but unfortunately the
yoiume OF actual business has been curIailed By
! lie very light receipts from Central America
| StocNs IN first hands had shrunk yesterday, be-
| fore tie receipt Of the Cargo per steamer San
| Bias, 10 less than 1000 bags; altogether too
small an amount for the requirements of our
trade particularly In view of the limited supplies
| In dealers hands. The larger demand for the
central markets aud the increasing consumption
| OF the Coast require larger imports from Central
| America than III past years. Prices have natu-
| rally hardened under these circumstances, clos
| lug quotations being firm.
Rice is firm and stocks are generally light.
Provisions are very stiff, with a pro-
| nounced upward tendency in hams, bacon
and lard in sympathy with advancing West
| ern markets. Trade. however, is not par
| ticularly active.
| Canned fruits show no new features, the
spot market being dull, with fair inquiry
| for future deliveries at higher prices than
ruled at this time last year.
Some business in salmon futures is re-
ported on the basis of 81 AN to 81 50 for
best Columbia River fish.
GENERAL MERCHANDISE.
Tobacco has moved off very well of late,
owing to the arrival of liberal lines of de-
layed goods
Receipts of coal fell off considerably for
week or ten days, but they have increased
again during the past few days and the
market is now literally supplied and weak.
lHbusu pIlCtS SIlUW HU CHHHRe. IA lOCil
broker says, in reference to prices:
There was no necessity for lowering values so
suddenly, especially in steam grades, but the
| feeling of competition among the iohbers is so
| keen that price appears TO cut no figure so long
| as trade can be cODSummated aud fellow dealer
| lose customer. The demand Tor British Column
| bia Goals for house uses holds up, hence the
local agents sustain their pric 8. The last mail
from Australia has not added many new names
| Of vessels TO those already listed, hence the an
| ticipaied imports from The colonies not what
we figured on, at least for the first half OF this
| year. With our present crop prospects we are
| assured OF large accumulation OF wheat car
| riers in the latter part Of this year; they will
| doubtless be principally coalcarrers, which
| would Intimate low-priced coal for consumers
| next winter. Yet there are always contingencies
| our grain Is not yet harvested there may be
coal strikes or labor lOcKOuls, or fires at any OF
our northern mines, which would materially in
| fiuence values.
| Posts have declined v cent.
| Quicksilver is neglected, weak and
| nominal.
ANOTHER SANCTUARY.