The San Francisco call., 1898-01-31
MoNoToNoUS PROSPERITY.

I there be such a condition monotonous pros
 perity, 1t prevails in the United States to-day With better business than ever before known this time of the year. the different markets, except on the Pacific Coast, are almost devoid of feature Every week we hear the same story of fewer fail ures, increased bank clearngs larger railroad ings and heavier movement of merchandise There a time and not many months ago. when gen. eral increase in business the talk of the whole country; 1t IS commonplace and attracts at tenton outside of financial circles, where the pulse of trade IS always closely watched
 The record of the past week, briefly summarized Is gain of 33o per cent in the bank clearings over 1897, increase Of per cent in railroad 1ngs as compared with the highest previous record, heavy exports of cereals, improvement in the ton trade and 268 failures against 326 for the responding week last year. The failures were the smallest for five years and of the eighty cities and towns reporting bank clearings only two-Lowell and Kalamazoo-reported decrease The heaviest in- creases were 3335 per cent at Seattle, I3I per Tacoma 28o per at Sioux Falls, 3o.o per cent at New York, 4I per cent at Pttsburg, etc, to mention number of extremely large gains among the less important towns. This phenomenal in in the bank clearngs tells the story of the trade revival in the United States The increase at San Francisco 37.3 per cent
 The great staples showed particular change dur ing the week The iron trade Is still overcrowded with orders, and many furnaces turning away work The woolen trade is repo41ed very active with advance in some manufactured descriptions Cotton, said before is looking up though slight ly. Boots and shoes hold the recent advance and manufacturers will take orders for fall delivery at present prices. The canned goods trade is en- toying irst-cass demand for Alaska and stocks are running low. Collections generally satisfactory, in he bocl, ward, account of the late depression in the cot ton trade.
 Trade in the local market Is than good. Deal in provisions estimate that their trade from 25 per cent to per cent better than this time last year, and prices very firm, with prospects for an advance at early day. The feature of the week general advance in cereals which included wheat, barley, oats corn rye hay, feedstus of all descriptions and several lines of mIstufs. A small corner in beans adds to this interesting ex- hibit The grain and hay farmers are in clover this year. and bid fair to remain there for some time to come. As for hay 1t is likely to soar out of sight if the present dry weather continues much longer It is already worth from SIS to SIS so per ton and is much more apt to go up than down, for the sup ply is short all the State. The other important staples, such dried fruits, raisns wool hops and hides, are quiet, but most of them are firm and need but slight cause to advance them
 The commercial situation in California never was better. All it needs is few showers to clnch it. r we get them will raise crop that will sell away up into the millions and give us money to burn If we do not get them there are enough moist localities in the State furnish all the supplies we need to carry through, thanks to our wonder fully diversified climate. So nobody need worry.
 The merchants report collections good and money plentiful at reasonable rates of interest Capital is investing freely in local enterprises, ns evidenced by the large transactions in local stocks and bonds on the Bond Exchange The coal trade is being put to its trumps to supply the demand for this fuel and prices for several coast descriptions have advanced As for the demand for merchandise TOT Alaskan ac- count, everybody knows how active that is glance at crowded streets tells the story of the state of trade in San Francisco
 Prosperity extends throughout the United States, from Maine to California