The San Francisco call., 1897-02-26
THE OUTLOOK FRIGHTENING

No change in Dried Fruit.
Provis quiet.
Trade improving in the East.
THE OUTLOOK FRIGHTENING.
All Branches of Trade Improving in
the East.
The circular of Henry Clews, under date of New
York. February 20, draws the following rosy pic
ture of trade conditions there:
Domestic conditions retain the symptoms OF re-
covery which lately noted as having set In, and
there be question that the general
business OF the country is at least steadily drifting
into healthy activity. The tonnage returns of
the railroads, eastward and ives ward, showa very
satisfactory increase, and the same tendency ap-
pears in current reports of railroad earnings
which contrast favorably with those OF January.
With triing exceptions rates of freight are stable
which together with the extremely low prices of
railroad supplies, should be favorable to the net
earnings
The merchandise markets show a very marked
improvement, The commercial hotels full of
buyers from all sections of the country and ii is
doubtful i the interior trade was ever before so
fully represented in this city. Within the last nine
days no less than 1890 dry-goods buyers arrived
here. he wooden goods trade shows distinct
recovery and mills that have Deen closed for
months are resumIng work. 4 similar recovery is
apparent nearly all other kinds of merchandise.
The interior buyers are discriminating and care
full but the aggregate of their purchases is making
n satisfactory impression upon stocks of goods
There are nowhere any indications of a specu ative
demand for rchandise, but a fair conservative
business is realized in the trades generally and
prices steady.
The break king up of the Steel Rails Association
has resulted in sales variously estimated at from
100000 10 J. 100000 TONS the price having
Tied down TO $lS TO S2U, according TO location of
market The elease Of the rail market will set in
operation q large amount of business which has
Been stagnant for manF months. From the win
ht sections the accounts still favorable,
the thick blanket having preserved the
plant in good condition and the prospects being
aim ost uniformly hopeful for the crop
The foreign trade movement still runs largely in
our favor. The gain exports is naturally begin.
ming 10 aba.e and the figures for January show an
increase over last year OF $7,l0O,000 while for
the previous quarter he gain had averaged over
50 =, O000U0 per month But the imports for jan
uary show much larger rate of decrease than
previously, the fall il being $780, 600, while
Tor the mon hs OF December, y November and Octo-
Der the decrease averaged only SIS 100000. The
merchandise imuorts for last month amounted TO
$4,000, 600. which shows balance in our favor,
on the merchandise account amounting TO S45.-
100000. For the same month in 1896. the credi-
tor balance was S22, 100000.
These figures show that we can safely postpone
expectations of gold exports; TOR in addition to
this GA a. ce of 45.S millions for January must
reckon the large sum of export bills still held
. here, but which will now soon mature. These
balances Will much more than cover the interest
payable abroad at the beginning OF March. We
evidently entering on a period In which
and exports Will be modified and we NAV expect
TO see increases in the imports ana decreases in
the exports; bur, in the meantime, il would seem
that Europe mus be owing la gely 10 the United
states on the balance of past transactions includ-
Ing financial as well as commercial.