The San Francisco call., 1897-02-27

ports over imports would continue as large in
January as 1t ha1 been in previous months. and
yet IL was surprisingly large. he February re-
turns have naturally beenless favorable. cotton
exports fall of a; this season and yet net in
crease compared with last ear is trifiing, while
increase In imports 10 be expected at this season
m united during the past three weeks to only
$629,U40, compared with last year or about
per cent Nothing in the state of foreign ex-
change indicates that the heavy credits In favor
OF this country have been liquidated or seriously
diminished.
Nothing is yet settled about the price OF Lake
ore for the coming season, but some expe Tor
Mesaba the prize of 1895. while othrrs expect
lower price, either being at least 20 per cent
lower than the prices OF last year.
The rapid increase in the coke ou put IN the
ConneilsvIlle region. which is now over 100000
TONS gives prospect of moderate cost for fuel ana
the addition of important furnace TO the produc-
ing capacity preventing large rise in B-ssemer
pig. which has nevertheless advanced 10 cents at
Tits Curg. with increasing demand Purchases of
rails estimated at l030,00O ions within two
weeks, whereas the production last year was
1,102, ,S92 tons and the sale, said TO be only S00.
00U, insures employment for the works lar ahead,
anu Eastern works are taking desirable contracts
at SlS per ton.
Bars are unchanged but orders for 900 cars by
one railway, with numerous orders, increase the
demand, and plates required Tor TWO great ele-
VAtors at Chic. go. important contra Is for e9-
port continue, and American makers underSeli
foreign makers by 70 cents and are selling coto on
ties below T5 cents, icr which 81 10 was charged
by importers year ago.
with less rapidity but ye. steadily other indus,
sheetln, are an eighth lower and print cloths a
sixteenth lower II is found that several cotton
nlllS bre started, not covered Dy the reActlOn rs
TO prnt-coth works which is carried out In
creasng demand has also started quite number
or woolen-mills, including many making dress
goods and hosiery. The demand for mems WOOL
ems is also somew hat better, especially for heavy
wei hts, and there are improving sales OF better
qualities.
In boots and shoes growing belief that
prices will not give way has star. ed many more
shops, although many jobbers will shrink from
the prices asked.
Wheat enjoyed brief rise. then dropped over
&c and closed 25sc lower for the week While
Western receipts were 40 per cent smaller than
last year for the past four weeks, atlantic ex-
ports, flour included, in the same weeks have
Ueen 644O,415 Lushels, against I,I4S,5T last
year, and the exports of corn have been g. 455,SS5
bushes. againsl 4,195 1872 last year. The in
crease in corn more than makes up In foreign
consumption for the decrease in wheat.
Couou rose 3-l6, though without material
change in movement.
Stocks have not been demoralized, as some ex-
pected in view of Investigations, but closed at So
cents higher trusts and "a points for railroads
Railroad earnings IN three weeks of + Lruary
have been So per cent larger than last year, but
per mt smaler than IN 1892. Chicago EaSi-
round tonnage in three weeks Qf February has
been g., 500 against 20s,S4O last year and 220.-
oil in lS9 xchanges through princpa clear
ing-hOuses have averaged for february 7.6 per
cent less han las year, but these returns by no
means fairly represent The volume OF new busi-
Failures for the week have been 296 in the
United states against 2iS last year, and so in
Canada agai st bS last year.