The morning call., 1892-01-06
Statistics for 1891 Make a Graft.
flying Exhibit.
Good Crop Prospects Cheap Sugar Coal, Lum-
bar and Wool-Reeord Of Failures.
Wheat Expcrts-Ete.

uary. When it is remembered that the
prosperity of the State depends largely on
the crops, the encouraging significance OF
the foregoing will be appreciated.
Local bank clearings in December were
S75525, 097, against $78 600, l55 in December,
1890 Those for 1891 were SS92 426, 7l2.
against 1851 ,066173 IN 1899. This shows
gain for 1891 of 81. 1865. 900 in tie volume of
trade, which is not bad. If we do as well
this year there surely ought to be no COM
plant of dull times.
The Bradstreet Mercantile Agency re-
ports 1912 failures in the Pacific Coast
States and Territories for the year 1891.
with assets S4,306,5l1 and liabilities SS,207.
01O, as compared with 500 for the previous
year, with assets S3,878,977 and liabilities
S7,243,15S.
Following are the causes assigned Tor the
failures: Incompetency $50. inexperlence
105, inadequate capital for the business UNI
dertaken &c., injudicious crediting 43, conf
plication of indebtedness s. personal ex-
Iravagance a. neglect Of business and pad
habits 50, excessive competition %, untavor-
able circumstances - floods, fires, etc.-oZ,
speculation a, fraud 81
The San Francisco Custom-hOuse collected
$500 600 on imports last year against 81
1000 in 1890.
TIE GRAIN MARKET.
Cereals exhibit few features at present.
Wheat rules quiet but steady, aud prices
show little change. Exports from this port
in December were 1858, 377 centals, valued
at $1,000, $40 making total exports for the
first SIX months of the crop year OF 1892
Of 1871 500 centals, valued at So, l64,064
Barley is held higher at the close. Oats
are reported steady and in moderate de-
ic in
Rye has broken sharply, being now offered
as low as 81 90 per Genital, but buyers are
scarce. Feedstuffs show no change.
GENERAL COUNTRY PRODUCE.
Dealers in hops report a very good in
Quiry aud now quote higher prices-15 to 20
cents per pound for common to choice.
Wool is steady, but the lack OF assortment
to choose from prevents any activity. The
annual circular of George Abbott gives the
wool clip in California for 1891 at 80, 1888 475
pounds, against 81, 854, $40 pounds in 1890.
OF last years clip there were 1871, $50
pounds spring and 11,555,S7j pounds fall
and l,g9770 pounds pulled wool shipped
from San Francisco and the interior The
stock on hand January 1st is 100000
pounds, against 100000 January l, 1890.
The eXports were 26, 500, 252 pounds, OF
which ., 67S SIC pounds went by rail and
the balance by sea. These exports were
valued at S.. 5000 coo.
Hides are quiet.
Honey rules dull at quotationg long cur
rent.
Hay is in fair demand at unchanged prices
Beans have been quiet for a fortnight and
prices have exhibited no variation OF note
during this period.
Dried fruits and raisins are still in the
dumps. Most Of the 1890 crop of raisins has
gone East. but mostly on consignment OF
dried fruit prunes are the leading variety,
both in demand and price, but they can by
no means be called active.
Choice butter, eggs and cheese are in
moderate supply and firm at high prices.
Lamb and mutton are still higher, being
scarce. Good beef is also in mode ate sup
ply and firm. Veal has been marked up.
Pork alone is weak.
GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
White sugars have been marked down
Ne and yellow Ac per pound. Sugar is now
about as cheap as ii ever gets.
Coffee-dealers report a good overland de-
mand, with light stocks on hand. The To-
cal trade, however, is not brisk. Prices
rule steady.
Rice is in fair demand, and most varieties
are In ample stock for current needs.
Provisions are quiet and hams and bacon
continue easy.
few sales of canned fruits are reported,
but as a rule the market is dull and devoid
Of special feature. Ii is said that while stocks
are larger here than at the same date last
year tilOSC lSdSl dl6 Sthdllti, anu LHlS rem
ders holders rather steady In their views.
The failure of A. Lusk 81 Co. has had no
effect on prices, 1t beiug understood that
the stock OF that company Will not be
forced on the market.
Canned salmon continues dull aad I'M
changed.
Labrador herring is lower and Dutch
herring higher.
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Internal Revenue collections in the
San Francisco district for Decent Der were
S145,S 1903. against Sl49 292 last year. The
collections in 1891 were Sl,S87, 800, against
S1.S5S,S50 in 1890.
Tobacco and cigars are both quiet
Coal continues in heavy supply and fairly
cheap, though the prospects are favorable
for still cheaper Goals, as published in the
local columns Of THE CALL last week The
operators of the yelling ton mine are to put
on a number of additional Golfers as soon
as possible, and intend TO supply this mar
ket with that description of coal as 1t has
never been supplied before. Cheap coal
will prove blessing TO the Coast, to the
manufacturer and householder alike.
The annual circular OF l. Steuart. coal
and metal broker, gives the receipts of coal
at this port in 1891 at 1,400, go tons. against
LOIS, 100 tons In 1890 and LIZ 800 tons in
1889. The receipts for 1891 were as follows:
Australian, 2S0,370 tons Great Britain, 1885,
100; Eastern, 81, $50; British Columbia, 466-
TO; Puget Sound, 1863, $40; other mines, 63,-
500 The circular goes on to say:
! he total receipts Of coal In California during
1891 exceed those OF any previous year, with
the result that the total average cost OF fuel con-
sumed in this State represents during the past
year something in The sneighborhOod OF 81 ,7OO,-
600 less than in 1890. This saving means much
TO a local. so heavily handicapped for the want
OF natural resources of fuel for its manufactures
1t is OF great moment to this State that this tax
alton TO which its people are subjected should
cease-a taxation mol borne or felt TO any similar
extent by any other State In the Union. We
need for our manufacturing industries, railroads,
steamships, etc, a class OF tue that the dOmes-
tic coal mines on the Coast cannot supply We
want cheaper fuel for our homes. This is ques-
tion that affects every soul in this State and its
Import can be grasped by even the dullest minds.
As 10 the prospects OF the future, il might be
said that, judging from the fluctuations in value
experienced every year, il Is inn ossible 10 prog
DOstlca with any degree OF reliability what Tie
range OF prices Will be- The new year viii com.
meEce with Australian coal Tor shipment at a cost
landed here, duty paid of 81 1912, English Goals
at say 81 20; but for what period these prices
Will be maintained depends so much on our new
wheat crop, the demand for tonnage IN other
countries. the condition Of European grain mar
kets and other contingencies that an attempt TO
prophes would be The mereSt guesswOrk. The
imports Oh coke were 35,l50 tons. The deliv-
cries OF coal at San Pedro aud San Diego were
about $4,000 tons, 10 600 tons at San Pedro
and 10000 ions at San Diego.
The range OF prizes last year was as follows:
British, sc 30a7 8712.
The lumber trade is still In an unsatisfac-
tory condition. Exports from the northern
mills have greatly diminished OF late, and
rates in the local market are weak and NOM
inal, the buyer often fixing tine price. The
receipts at this port last year. compared
with 1890, were as follows: Pine, 26S. 3l7,-
600 feet, against 237 1877, 600 feet; redwood,
1852, 100000 feet, against 166, 274,000 feet;
shingles, 1873, 521 800 against 156, 069, coo;
railroad ties, 814, $50, against !, $4,000.
Quicksilver is held at SAT per flask. The
receipts at this port in 1891 were 1882
TASKS, against 12,9i7 in 1890 and 16, 264 in
1889. The exports were 1851 TASKS, against
1920 in 1890, and II, Sol IN 1889.
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Electric Signaling at Sea.
Mr.. Kelway has introduced an exceed