The record-union., 1892-05-04
COMMERCIAL.
Crop Prospects Commercial Condi-
ons---Market Reports.
COMMERCIAL.
condition Of Growing Crops-Prices
ana Activities in the Markets
Critical Comments.
lthe REcoRD-UNIoNis Special Commercial
Correspondent


crops are supposed TO be almost assured, it
VIII be interesting to our readers to have q
teport from the principal grain-growing sec
'iohs, gathered from the most reliable sources
we could command in the various localities.
ihe reports from all the Sacramento Valley
oounlles are extremely favorable. There
seehls TO be an excellent prospect for full
average crops in Solano. Sacramento, Yolo,
ooIusa, Butte, Sutter Glenn and Tehama. On
All the lands the rainfall has been ample, the
slano Is good and strong, the ground we'll Gov
eren, ana even with some hot north winds
Inc grain would mature and make fair crops,
ana should we now be spared ''northers" and
nave cool and cloudy weather for maturing
the crops, there will be an exceedingly good
yield OF wheat and barley in all the counties
named. We regret to say the same promis .ng
outlook does not exist elsewhere in the State,
except perhaps in San joaquin County
and the counties around San Fran
cisco Bay. In Merced, Stanislaus,
Fresno and Tulare the condition of
crops is exceedingly variable. In hardly any
Localities will they have full average crop,
and in many places there is but little hope OF
oven half crop. The best informed authori-
ties place the crop at less than last year and
several do not expect over one-quarter of a
full average even under favorable climatic
conditions from this to harvest. In Salinas
valley very similar condition exists. From
Watsonville TO Gonzales there is Il fair pros
pect for half an average CROP but from Con
Zales TO San Miguel and Paso Robles the gem
erai feeling is that there will be only seed and
feed San Luis Obispo County, near the
coast, looks well at present, but the Santa
Maria Valley has had only a limited rainfall
and the prospect indicates partial failure,
while in Santa Ynez and the valleys of Santa
Barbara County the grain looks very poorly,
indeed, and thousands of acres will not war
rant harvesting. Ventura County has largely
increased the acreage in grain, particularly
barley, in place of beans and corn, but the
higher lands are not looking well at all and
the valleys are only fairly good, SO that with
the increased acreage, it is thought by expe-
rienced judges, that the entire yield will not
be greater than that of last year. Looking at
the present condition of crops in the State as
a whole it may be hoped that wheat will be in
as good supply as in 1891 due to the very
promising condition of things in Sacramento
Valley, but barley can hardly be expected 10
turn out as well or be so abundant as last
year.
WHEAT-The market is dull and entirely
void of interest, and has been so for some
time past. Foreign markets are very dull, and
the supply on passage to Europe is ample for
all present demands. The anticipated great
rope has been providentiaIly supplied by the
abundant harvests of the East and the i'm
mense exports from Atlantic ports, so that the
visible supply OF the world at the present mo-
ment is quite equal to all requirements, and it
is quite difficult to place California cargoes
freely. except at a concession in price, al
though they are firmly held at 36s Cd to 36s
cd for cargoes just shipped, but it is quite diff
fcult at present to do business to any extent
for early shipment of new crop. The entire
situation awaits more certainty as to the
probable outcome of foreign crops, but should
any disaster occur to them an active demand
would at once set in.
FREIGHTS-The tonnage supply is ample
We have in port and on passage a capacity
equal to o450,00o tons e, 900 fbs each) for car
rytng away new crop. Ships have been
obliged to accept the lowest terms ever known
for imme late loading during the past few
months, and although freights are firmer
now-say 22s &c per ton for present loading
(but with no inquiry, and 2Ss cd to BIS Sd
according to size and port of discharge) for
August, September and October loading still
the number of ships eager for an early depart
ure will be likely to check any marked ad vance
in freights, and should better demand for
cargoes occur, and higher prices be realized, it
would probably accrue to the benefit of our
Wheat producers. On the 1st of May our
stock of Wheat at principal points was:
San Francisco. Port Costa. Stockton
2,475 tons. 1909 tons. 31,039 tons.
And by careful estimates it is calculated
that on June 1st the entire supply in the state
will not exceed $4,000 TONS SO that shippers
will depend almost entirely on new crop to
fulfill their early engagements for loading
At present the market is dull at 81 so to
81 51A per 100 pounds for shipping with
slightly better figures tor desirable lots in a
convenient locality. Selected parcels for mill
ing command 81 SO to 81 571a per 100.
In the speculative market the San Fran
cisco Call Board operations have been greatly
hampered by recent rule of the Directors
that none but monthly or "seller 1892" con-
tracts shall be dealt in which is not at all ac-
ceptable to the majority of dealers; hence the
volume OF business has very much dwindled
and is largely confined to buyer the season
contracts (maturing May 31st at 81 51lL
to 81 sos, and seller 1892 wheat at 81 423I
to 81 421S.
BARLEG-The rather unfavorable reports
OF growing crops in the principal Barley dis
tricts has had decidedly improving tendency
on the market The demand for Barley both
for local feed and brewing, and particularly
for shipment, has not been equal to expecta-
tions the past season, and although stocks in
the State have been reduced very much there
was decided tendency to lower prices up to
the middle of April, when it began to be
noticeable that growing crops were not as
good as usual, since which time-although
Barley on the spot has not materially ad-
vanced-there has been a marked advance for
No. Feed, delivered at sellers option during
the year 1892. the price early in April having
been Se1Sc p 100 fbs, while to-day it is selling
at 81 eS@1 031a which is the full market value
for immediate delivery. The stock on hand
in San Francisco May 1st was l o, ,97S tons at
the same date 1850, IA, 732 tons, while the
supplies at all interior points are compare
lively small for this season of the year. Sales
of No, Coast Feed 81 o255 to 81 O3sz;
choice bright Feed 81 05; Brewing, 81 o TO
81 10 2 100 fbs.
OATS-our State has ceased to produce
largely of oats, with the exception of Hum
boldt County, and our supplies are drawn
almost entirely from Oregon and Washington.
AT present Puget Sound ports are not sending
down much and our supplies are principally
from Oregon. The stock in city warehouses
IS small-2 ,097 tons-but the requirements of
trade is limited and offerings are quite suffi-
cient at 81 32h61 40 for good TO choice, and
81 45 for selected lots for milling purposes.
POTATOES-Have had some improvement,
due TO various rumors of injury by the late
frosts, but the extent of the damage is not
known, and in most localities there is ample
time to replant. The market ranges from
75c to 81 z 100 fbs for new; soc to 81 10 for
oregon Burbanks in good condition. and 35c
TO 45c q 100 ibs for River Reds and Early
Rose.
as many mills are running on short time
There is no scarcity of supplies however and
all demands are promptly met. We quote:
Net cash prices for Family Extras 81 65a
Ss "a bbI. Bakers Extras S4 65Mi r6. SII-