The herald., 1897-07-01

recently sent from Palestine is more than
usually provocative of that emotion be-
cause it deals with the Holy Land from
strictly commercial point of view, and
shows, says the st. Louis Globe-Democrat
mot only that business goes on there
much as in other parts of the world but
that it is business of no inconsiderabe
proportions. Last year the total exports
and imports amounted to $3.24S000, a de-
crease of $35O,OO from the year before.
when trade had not been hampered by the
Sultan's proselyting efforts in Armenia
or his raising of huge armies for the in
vasiou of Europe. Palestines chief article
of export is soap. for which. of course,
Orientals have little or no other use. Next
in order of importance are oranges sesame
(Which really exists elsewhere than in
robber caves), beans, hides and maize. OF
imports, cotton goods come first-being
about a quarter of the whole--then come
sugar, petroleum, timber, flour, coffee
fine cloth and rice. Great Britain took
E55, 800 of exports, and sent G27, 900 in i'm
ports. British imports to Palestine show
tendency toward diminution, but the
figures may fnislead, because it is difficult
to say what portions of the imports from
Egypt and other Turkish ports are really
of British origin. French imports are like
wise declining, while those from Germany
show an increase. This last is due to the
German system of sending out commercial
| travellers to exhibit samples of manufac-
lures as well as to study the prices and
wants of the localities. Last year Ger
many sent twenty-nine commercial trav-
elers to Palestine, Austria eighteen.
France thirteen and Great Britain four.
The goods mostly in demand in Palestine
are those sold in the more important sea-
ports and towns in Turkey. Cotton goods,
rice coal, iron, timed provisions, hard
ware and fancy goods are the chief i'm
ports. The production of wine by the
German and Jewish colonies in Palestine
is growing both in quantity and quality.
The railway between Jaffa and Jerusalem
is in good working order, and the trains
run with great regularity"
The sales at the San Francisco Stock and
Bond Exchange for the week ending on
the 26th ult. were as follows:
Range. Shrs.
Spring Valley Water ....99% @10O 1852
Contra Costa Water ....301s Is
Oakland Gas ..........541a 65
S. F. Gas and Electric ......951s 432
S. F. Gaslight ........ ........ 80
Hawaiian Commercial ......14k@15H 1000
Hutchinson Plantation .....25A@26 n3O
Market st Ry ....... ........451a Ito
| V1gorit Powder.... .......... Us 400
| Total. .......... .................3 1884
Previous week ........... .............7 1894
| Bond sales for the week were $4,000 Mar
ket Street Gable 6s at 1875. $4,000 Market St.
Ry. 5s at 1914 $1,000 Omnibus Cable 6s at
1884, $1,000 S. F. and N. P. Ry. IS at 103% to
! 104 $52, 900 S. P. Branch Ry. IS at 991a and
$4,000 Spring Valley Water As at 1O0% to
1OO9s
| +
| Because of reduced rates of interest in
| first-class loans. the savings banks and
the State Loan and Trust Co.. of this
city have found it advisable to reduce
rates of interest on term accounts, begin
ming July 1, 1897, to rate not exceeding
| AZ per cent, the ordinary deposits re-
naming as at present at a rate not to
exceed per cent. This agreement was
arrived at yesterday at a conference of
representatives of the various financial
n c titI1tiopS