The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-30
CONDITION OF TRADE.
Business Is Inactive, bat the
Prospects Are Good.
The Heavy Rain Weakens Graiu-Crcps in
18ol-The Coal Trade Local Bank Clear
ings- Groceries - Etc.

the year. In addition to its being between
two Important holidays. it is the season for
the annual stock-taking, hence business is
largely neglected. Trade is seldom active
during the last week of the year, but with
the advent of the New Year it usually
brghtens up
Local bank clearings last week were S12,-
155,517, against S13,867,SS for the same
week last year.
We enter upon the New Year with very
good crop prospects, While the rainfall to
date has been far below the average. the
farmers of late years do good deal of sum-
mer following, and besides dry pillow" if
the early rains are not forthcoming. Hence
the cry of dry year!' is now heard much
less frequently than few years ago. While
some sections have been rather dry, most of
them report sufficient moisture to date, and
with an average rainfall from now on the
harvest will doubtless be large. The pres
ent rain is reported general throughout the
State, and commercial affairs consequently
wear bright aspect.
THE GRAIN MEAKET
Cereals present few, if any, new features.
wheat Is lower at the close, owing to the
heavy rain anG marked decline abroad
Wheat freightS are dull at DIS Cd for iron
vessels, usual options.
Barley is fraction lower, owing to the
rain bat the decline is Insignificant.
Good oats are In rather light supply, as
arrivals have lately been moderate and deal
ers are consequently asking small advance.
Corn Is in large supply and quiet at about
last weeks prices
There is a small local inquiry for rye at a
range of 81 20 to 81 80 per GENITAL for No. 2
to chOi e.
GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
Produce continues Hayni1 n nSnapia1 fat
ure. Hay, beans and potatoes are dull at
practically unchanged quotations. The only
change In dairy products is slight rise in
butter. which is in lighter supply. Choice
eggs are steady at the high prices.
Dried fruits, raisins and nuts are very
dull, there being little inquiry from any
quarter. Dealers, however, confidently ex-
pect that all good dried fruit will be pretty
well cleaned up by the time the new crop
comes in. Almonds rule dull and easy, the
recent attempt to corner the market having
failed.
Hides are slow, with decline in several
descriptions.
Hops are very firm and in steady demand
Choice lots are scarce and cleaning up. In
fact, all hops are in light supply, the total
stock of the Coast being placed at not over
10000 bales.
Wool is also in moderate stock. and the
spring clip will doubtless come in on a prac-
tically bare market
L HC tNcUt1 duuudl ltpUII VI tflt
San Francisco Produce Exchange gives the
production of leading lines of California
produce in 1891 as follows: Hops 2S 400
bales; canned salmon Pacific Coast pack.
l623.S67 cases; raisins, 1,650,000 boxes;
canned fruits, 1875, Coo cases; shipment of
deciduous green fruits overland, 1916 600
pounds; dried fruit product, 4S,700, eco
pounds; wool clip, 81, 100 469 pounds; wine,
100000 gallons; brandy, 1,245, 698 gallons;
wheat crop. 1S,S69,6S0 centals; rainfall at
San Francisco, 17.5S inches
The meat market is suff GENTLY but not
heavily supplied, and prices are not mate
rally changed.
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
Groceries show the general inactivity in
cident to the last week of the year. Sugar
is quiet and unchanged. Hawaiian rice,
however, has been rather active of late at
steady prices.
OF coffee the private circular of R. Hoch-
kofler says:
Local trade In all branches hiss been quiet dur
ing the month, as Is usual at this season, owing
10 the nearness of the approaching holidays and
the disposition always shown by dealers to allow
their stocks to run 10 a minimum preparatory TO
the annual closing OF the years business. Trans
actions from first hands since the LIST inst. have
not exceeded 1000 bags, consisting principally
OF undesirable remnants, and necesstating, under
the existing dullness, considerable reduction
from asking prices 10 effect sales. A few parcels
of good unwesifed Salvador and Guatemala we're
sold between iobbers al 199191ac. The market
III.
Good and prime washed Guatemala, new crop,
has met with ready sale for the Eastern markets,
about 100 bags going overland since December
LIST, on the basis of 81 lac for prime besides $50
bags old crop washed Salvador at zoe.
Provisions of all kinds are quiet Cured
meats continue weak.
MISCELLANEOUS
In general merchandise there is but little
to say. The quicksilver combination has
reduced its asking price to SAT per flask.
Dry goods are reported inactive. as usual at
| this season. Metals are quiet The receipts
| of coal last week were S0S50 tons coast and
1880 tons foreign. A private trade circular
says:
Low prices still prevail, as every dealer In the
business is overloaded and strained for yard
room; hence they are unable 10 make any pur-
chases. although they are cOgnizant of the fact
| that present values are fully 20 per cent less
| than the same cafg1es can be loaded today
| When ii Is known that quotations this month
| are fully 81 per ton less than last December
| and our consumption is over 1000 tons per day
| II can be readily computed how consumers are
being benefited by the present low values Our
imporlations this year are largely 10 excess of
| all previous years -Uu!ly 100000 tonsl which
| causes all the wholesale dealers to be CARRYING
| excessive stocks, as the supply has largely ex-
! ceeded the demand; still the consumption this
| year must have been much greater than before
as the lire yard room of all.our wholesale deal
| ers combined does not exceed 1000 tons.
/ Nails are offering at still lower prices and
| the market is soft.
a contemporary gives the following
| closely approximated business of San Fran
cisco during 1891:
Sea Imports produce s52.547 800
Sea Imports SPECIE. 11.74s. 700
Duties pa on imports ............-.. 7,769, 2OU
Internal revenue collection ........, sol 600
Coinage local Observation-Disclosures. 3O.373 400
Bank clearingS. ......... S95, 1911 900
Sea exports produce 52,7S1 700
Specie exports. and rail ....> Up 200
Grain sales Call Board, tons .... 26il 400
Flour exports by sea, bbls .,...... / 1856 600
Wheat exports by sea, ctls ...... 1929 600
Canned salmon shipments by'sea cs. 5i43OO
Wine exports, sea and rail, gals .... lU,6iS 800
Wool exports, sea and rail. lbs $4,000 900
Quicksilver exports by sea. TASKS. ,,, 400
Sugar imports, fbs................... 1895 $40 900
Coffee Imports Ds.-- ................ 22,20S 500
Rice imports, los... ,.........,...... 46.s95 500