The morning call., 1891-04-16
CONDITION OF TRADE.
A Pronounced Gain Thus Far
This Year Over 1890.
Drop in Lumber-Increased Exports-Rec'
ord of Failures = Wheat High and
Rising-Flour Advanced.

As far as present indications are OF any
value, good crops of grain and fruit are
promised througlioutthe State. Some locali-
ties may fall short but this always happens
There is a general feeling of confidence,
and while trade is not particularly lively, a
good movement of merchandise and produce
is going on, as is proven by an increase oil
S1,S00,O00 in San Francisco's exports thus
far this year, the details of which appear
below. Money is in ample supply and falr
demand at nominal rates. The local bank
clearings continue to gain largely over those
of 1890, those for the past week being Slo,-
051. 232, against S13,914,955 for the CORE
spending week last year.
Another gratifying gain is in the overland
shipments of produce and merchandise from
California. For the first quarter OF 1881
they were lis. 413, $50 pounds, against Il. 5o4,-
210 pounds in the corresponding quarter OIL
1890. Thus we lead 1890 in crop prospects,
bank clearings, exports and overland SNIP
ments, and these are, in themselves, suill-
Gent indicator of the current prosperity.
No matter what croakers may say, times IN
California are good.
The BradSreet Mercantile Agency reports
1903 failures in the Pacific Coast States and
Territories for the first quarter of 1891, with
assets 81 079 $50 and liabilities ST. GAG, 495, as
compared with 264 for the corresponding
quarter of 1892 with assets S979,6i5 and lla-
bilities S1,934,257
Following are the causes assigned for the
failures: Inccmpetency, rs; inexperence,
26; inadequate capital for the business I'M
dertaken, 90; injudiciOuS credltlng, 10; CON-
plicatlon of Indebtedness, 2; personal eX-
trnu nn0lant nf huSinpSs ~.
cessive competition, Z; unfavorabe clrcunl-
stances, floods, fires, ETC., 50; speculation, -
fraud, 70.
THE GRAIN MARKET.
Exports OF flour from San Francisco dur
ing the first nine months of the current crop
year were 930,922 barrels, against S99. 54O par
reS during the same period last year. he
ducing this flour 10 a wheat basis we nave
total exports of wheat during the first nine
months of the crop year OF ,23S,00O cen
tails, valued at $685. 600, against 1868, 600
centas at ST., 922, 600 during the same period
last year.
Wheat is stiff at a further advance, but
trade is quiet, as holders have generally
turned bulls and are not disposed to sell.
However, large drafts are being made ON
stocks at Port Costa. Dealers say that they
could sell large lines at the present good
prices, but the wheat is not TO be had.
Bakers flour has been marked up 10
cents per barrel to correspond with the rise
in wheat, and the miilers are talking OF
further advancing family extras.
Barley is steady at last weeks prices.
Oats are held higher, but the demand is
slow at the advance.
Corn has again been marked up to 81 40
for large yellow, 81 10 for small yellow and
81 40 to ST. 40 for white. Trade is OF course
quiet as at present high prices buyers only
purchase under cOmpulsion.
Rye is quiet and unchanged.
prOn a ,,Nil 4 has nt ia1 or
some little time.
GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
Overland shipments of produce and mer-
chandise from California via Southern Pa
cilc lines in March were II, 81, $50 pounds.
The leading items were as follows: 14,043
centals beans, 6i0.110 pounds bOraX, a., SS7
gallons brandy, 1872, 420 gallons wine, $3.50
pounds butter, 1,069,4j0 pounds canned
goods, 663,650 pounds dried fruit, 1167G0
pounds fresh fruit, 100000 pounds citrus
fruit, 9S3, $50 pounds raiSinS, 73S, $50 pounds
hides. 12S,O00 pounds hops, 563,30O pounds
leather, 81 horses, 1892 centals potatoes,
1884, $50 pounds vegetables. 157,500 pounds
quicksilver, 7G9,7S0 pounds wool, 3l6,S60
pounds canned salmon, 4S,0S0 pounds
picked salmon.
The only feature of these exports worthy
Of note is the heavy shipment of potatoes.
Produce shows few changes this week
Butter is in heavy supply, quiet and lower
are in moderate supply and steady.
Hay has again weakened little. though
prices are still unusually high. The market
at the Gloss is steady.
White beans are firmer, and in demand.
Limas and colored beans are weak and
very dull.
Potatoes are in ample supply for all cur
rent needs, and prices show little variation.
Onions continue high.
Dried fruits rule quiet at about the old
prices. Raisins show no Improvement, be-
ing plentiful, cheap and neglected, desp ite
better market for some descriptions in New
York.
Hides are quiet and prices are easy.
Hops are reported steady with some in
curry, but sales are few and small.
Wool is quieter. Prices are too high to suit
buyers, aud in addition there are not yet
sufficient large lines here, receipts thus far
being generally confined TO small lots
Holders are firm, however.
Beef and mutton are again a fraction
lower. Lamb and veal are unchanged.
Hogs continue firm. The Nebraska live
and dressed hogs recently shipped here are
being rejected, as the local trade finds the
home hog superior
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
Eastbound overland shipments OF staple
groceries, via Southern Pacific lines. in
March were els. 700 pounds coffee, c. 133, 100
pounds sugar, 9O4,99 pounds tea and 1900
pounds rice.
Some varieties of bread and crackers have
been marked up to correspond with the ad-
vance in -four.
Mr.. LIGHT. the European sugar statistcian,
estimates the cane-Sugar crops Of the world
q =,