The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-20
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Business Rather Quiet and With.
out Especial Feature.
Sugar Marked DOwn-Increased Shipments Of
California Produce 0verland-The
Record of Failures.

complaints are heard almost every year
about this time. When the farmers get
their returns from their fruit and grain
business will be lively enough, unless pres
ent indications are false. In fact, as far as
current signs go, 1891 will prove one of Cali
Iornias banner years. The BTadstreet Mer-
camille Agency reports 81 failures in the
Pacific Coast States and Territories for the
month of April, with assets S247. 1913 and
liabilities S514.523, as compared with 70 for
the corresponding month of 1890, with
assets $500, 012 and liabilities S575, 232. Fol-
lowing are the causes assigned for ,he fail
ures: lncompetency 10. inexperience s,
inadequate capital for the business under
taken %, injudicOus crediting 5, personal
extravaganza 4, neglect of business 3, ex-
cessiye competition l. unfavorable circum-
stances, foods. fires, ETC., ). fraud o. specu-
lations T.
THE GRAIN MARKET.
Wheat is again hardening all over the
world and is very firm at the close. Reports
of European deficiencies continue to be re-
ceived. Advlces from Australia by last
steamer state the Victoria wheat crop is
5000, 900 bushels below earlier estimates.
Exporters at Sydney have overchartered
and will have TO I'LL their engagements,
" hch may draw more wheat from that
section than can be spared. In such an
event the deficiency to make good the local
requirements might have TO be supplied
from this Coast. This market, though firm.
is dull as most of the wheat is owned by
the shippers.
Wheat freights are duh at marked de-
cline, the last charter being at 32S Cd for r
wooden ship 10 Liverpool direct. Coal and
lumber freights from Puget Sound and
9TH nrfh a F,oir -, oil nzrar In
supply OF vessels is now considerably in ex-
cess of tile demand.
Barley has again advanced and is now up
to the very top notch of the season, the best
feed commanding 81 %. This price, on
the eve of the new crop, is phenomenal.
Oats are firm at the prices which have
ruled for some weeks, thanks to the close
concentration of the light stocks.
Rye is quiet, but fairly steady.
Holders nave again advanced corn TO a
remarkable point For white, 81 S7R TO
81 9212 are now the quotations, and one
holder is asking 81. White is very scarce.
Large yellow Is now quoted at 81 30 10
81 52E and small round yellow at 81 j7l5 to
81 CO. Sellers are very independent and if
buyers DO not like the prices they can leave
the corn alone.
Bran and middlings are firm at the good
prices.
Flour is steady, but not very active.
corn have been marked up 10 correspond
with the advance In the raw product
GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
Overland freight shipments from Calfor-
MIA via Southern Pacific lines in April were
A. SEQ 90 pounds. The leading items Of
produce were as follows: 1896 ccntals
beans, 1,023, 7lO p undS h0rax, 80 ga gallons
brandy, S,I97 gallons wine, $1,000 pounds
quicksilver, ], 100, 20 pounds canned goods,
go, go pounds dried fruit S,769, 320 pounds
citrus fruit, ,4C2, 400 pounds TaIsins, 429, $50
pounds hides, 53J, $50 pounds leather 50
horses, o., 1870 pounds hops, %, 720 pounds
money, 81, s4S ceutals potatoes, 2l59.440
pounds vegetables, 2l43, $40 pounds WOOL,
40, go pounds canned salmon. p, $50 pounds
picked salmon, Total shipments from
January 1st TO May 1St were 100, 301, 600
pounds, against l1S,S72, $40 iOr the core
spOnding period in 1890.
The shipments OF wine from San Fran
cisco by sea and rail during the first four
months of 1891 were 3,31, 80 gallons valued
At S23S7.50, against 2SU4600 gallons at
SI171. 900 during The same peri d in 1890.
Produce is fairly active, though prices do
not fiuetuate much.
New hay is coming in in greater variety,
and the opening prices surprise even the old
stagerS, being higher than for years. There
Is generally 4 pronounced decline when the
new crop appears, but this year is an eXcep-
ton, owing TO the bare condition of the mar
ket. New wild 0at Is selling at Sl3 10 SIG,
ard new wheal and Oat at SIS. The farmers
surely ought 10 be satisfied with these high
opening prices.
Beans are dull and generally easy at about
last week. prices.
New Early Rose potatoes are arriving from
The Sacramento River and bring good prices.
Old potatoes are dull and neglected at 50 to
30 cents per sack for reds though choice
Burbank seedlings are selling at 81 to 81 40
{ er GENITAL
New onions are dull, cheap and in large
supply.
Butter continues firm. If buyers do not
purchase 1t the commission merchants pack
it, hence the surplus is kept down to a man
ageable point Cheese is weak aud in sufli-
clent supply.
Eggs are firm at an advance in both East
eTn and Californian aud the best eggs are in
very good demand.
Citrus fruits are unsettled. Oranges are
dull and lower, as buyers prefer the newer
fruits, such as cherries and straWbeIries
There Is war among the lime-dealers and
Mexican lines have declined from 81 and
81 30 to s. aud 81 per box in cOnsequen e.
Dried I uitS show no change, being mac
tive and in moderate supply as rule.
RaIsins rule dull at low prices, layers be-
ing particularly neglected. There is some
call for cheap loose Taisins however
Wool is In fair demand at last weeks
prices.
Hops are dull and au occasional sale is
made at the established prices. Lice are re-
ported IN England and at several points Oh
the Pacific Coast and buyers and growers
are disposed to hold off for reports as to
possible damage by the Yermin hence the
market Is quiet.
Tie meat market is well supplied with all
descriptions aud prices show no noteworthy
change.
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
Shipments of grocery staples from Cali
fornia overland, via Southern Pacific rail-
road lines, in April were: 600, go pounds Of
coffee, 2SI, 200 pounds of rice. 10,2J9,9G0
pounds OF sugar, 134, 800 pounds OF syrup
and 196,580 pounds of tea.
Imports o staple groceries at this port
during the first Jour months Of 1891, COM
pared with the same period in 1880 were as
follows: Sugar 171,2J0,000 pounds, against
IS 992 600 pounds; coffee r. 19S,000 pounds,
against 1O,G2G,00O pounds; rice -, 80, 900
pounds, against =, 23l, 900 pounds; tea o75,-
go pOuuds, against So, 200 pounds
The feature of the week was the formal
announcement Of the combination of the
two local sugar rrhneries by the issuance Of
the price list OF the Western Sugar Refining
Company. The list was 12c lower than the
previous individual lists.
Coffee is reported quiet and without fur
ther change.
Chinese mixed rice is frmer, while lower
quotations Tor Hawaiian prevail. Other
descriptions unchanged.
Provisions rule firm, with a continued
upward tendency in hams, bacon and lard.
Canned fruits for future delivery are in-
active, though a few contracts are being
made. Eastern bus ers are holding off, con-
STEERING the prices asked too high. When
buyers and sellers come together, as they
must sooner or later. the usual goUd busi-
ness will probably be done.
A moderate business in new pack salmon
for future delivery is reported.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Cedar River and Coos Bay Goals have
been marked down 81 per ton. The mar
ket is heavily supplied with both Coast and
foreign Goals, and prices have declining
tendency. The weeks receipts were %. 260
tons. chiefly from the Coast colieries
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