The San Francisco call., 1898-08-20

vances in many grades of iron. notably Besse- and Southern pig, are features or the 1e Wseh, as are also higher quotations for steel billets at nearly all markets, wire rods ana sIed' many classes of finishing iron and steel par ticularly structural material. Advances Tn cop per on the strong statistical position, and lead are also among the interesting features ln the particularly active and the large number of or ders already booked make manufacturers 1alrly vance on future business. The situation in cereals shows but little change. The balance ibie supplies. active milling demand at home and fair export inquiry on the one nano nan anu anu hand tends to steadiness in prices, and other cereals sympathize with wheat.
 Reports to collections the country over are very encouraging. From winter wheat sec tions especially reports are very good. some slowness is noted in payments at the North tino west, but this Is expected to disappear when the spring wheat crop moves.
 Business failures larger in number than week, as compared with 2s1 in this week so, a year ago. 264 in 1S96 192 in 1895 and 251 in 1894. at leading Western markets. Chicago reports increased activity in distributive trade on country demand, with dry goods shipments es- stricted by inability to deliver. The short pack of canned salmon has advanced prices. South ern and Western buyers are arriving at St. Louis, and dry goods boots and shoes, hats and caps are all active. Advances in struc, sheet mills are behind on orders. Kansas City, St. Paul Omaha and Minneapolis report ac-
  of the Ohio rivers in the West reports of trade not fattering, but @ steady business is reported doing, with some slight improvement at a number of markets.
 At Memphis the outlook Is for the heaviest business in the history of the city. but dam age by cotton worms in Texas affects trade at Galveston. In the South Atlantic cities re- ports are of a perceptible improvement in trade. On the Pacific Coast, while business IS quiet In California, large crops In Oregon and Washington expected to make fall trade lively. Oregon fruitnen doing good busi- ness and shipping to California points buyers are increasing in number and stocks are reported heavily reduced. Business Is active at Pittsburg, iron and steel being es- pecially At Boston and New York a moderate improvement Is noted. In wool and wooen goods business Is only moderate, and manufacturers buy for present requirements. Orders for mems goods for the spring trade are coming in better.
 Wheat shipments for the week, including four aggregate 3,795, ,93S bushels. against 3.S2S. COG bushels last week. and compared with 53l6. S03 bushels in this week last year. 2991.- 693 bushels in the corresponding week in 1896. SS9 140 bushels in 1895 and S1S2 100 bushels in 1894. Since July this year the experts of wheat aggregate 21, ,950, 666 bushels, against 21,- 432. 240 bushels last year.
 Canadian trade is quiet but the tone Is one of care. based primarily upon expected wheat yield larger than ever before in the Dominions history In British Columbia a normal trade Is doing. but the salmon pack a whole Is disappointing and prices tend upward. Business failures in the Dominion of Canada number 26 against 35 last week. 4l in this week year ago. 30 in 1896 and 37 in 1895.