The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS IMPROVING


 / curious fact that the country is disposed to regard the war as an incident and to go along with business If nothing of the way hap pening. The Eastern papers, too, comment ing this strange condition which IS admirable illustration of the complete confidence of the Ameri- people in their Government and their ability to cope with any power in the world. This confidence is said by the commercial agencies to be the base of the present fine condition of business throughout the country They tell that Western prosperity has greatly overbalanced the tmidity of Eastern capital that business IS actually increasing; that rail- road earnings promise better for May than they did for April; that the nations bank clearngs show gain of 30 per cent the time last year. and that the failures for the past week exhibit decrease of 34, being 211 against 245 for the corresponding week in 1897 In addition, the immense balance of trade already piled up in this country's favor stitutes element of strength, which in its effect the money market cannot be exaggerated"
 The Great West continues to lead n prosperity and trade activity It reports unprecedented marketing of breadstuffs, with fine backing in the form of good crop prospects, and also sharp de mand for rails, cars and materials, boots and shoes, agricultural implements and textile goods. But the iron districts of the East and South not far behind the West in this exhibit of prosperity In spite of the enormous production which is the great
 
 descriptions have advanced slightly. The wooen trade, too has been stimulated by the war, and numerous mills being pushed to their fullest capacity to supply Government orders.
 Wall street has been rather slow of late purely be- the public have persisted i'll waiting for more decisive before re-entering that market, which they summary abandoned at the outbreak of hostilities It may be all right in the estimation of some great money powers, pued up with an over weening sense of their own importance to say "The public be d-d," but when that public with draws from Wall street the professionals find them selves with nothing to do but twiddle their thumbs and wait for that despsed public to come back again and trade A good victory of the American arms will send them back fast enough
 California too, is well up in front of the process sion her dry year to the contrary notwithstanding. During the past few days various markets have been showing signs of increased activity. For years The Call has pointed that all transitions from trade dulness activity have been preceded by rise in provisions, accompanied by pronounced increase in the demand for goods. Thus by watching the provision market, may tell with reasonable defniteness how the commercial cat is going to jump If hams, bacon and lard suddenly quiet down a gen. eral relaxation in trade throughout the country may be expected, and vice Provisions, therefore, have become the barometer of business. In this necton II is interesting 10 note that Qur1g the past fortnight there has been sudden boom in the three products mentioned above, and that following closely upon the heels of this the markets for dried fruit, hides and leather and minor articles have undergone decided change for the better. Indeed, as far the first named is concerned, local dealers calculate that if the present steady call for dried fruit keeps up little longer there will be left the market by the time the crop comes forward They expect fine dried fruit market this fall.
 The tendency in grain and feedstuffs has been downward during the past week. the decline in wheat being sharp and continuous and the dependent grains falling in sympathy. Hay keeps up, though the new crop Is arriving badly cured and wet owing to the late rain and has to go lower in consequence. The showers have materially improved the standing plant and much that was intended for hay will be al- lowed to grow for grain This is especially true of the Sacramento Valley. Barring apricots, which are an admitted failure this year, the fruit crop bids fair to be ample though the fruit in districts will be small in size owing to the dry weather in the spring Good large fruit will probably sell well this year