The San Francisco call., 1898-03-21
CLEARER COMMERCIAL SKIES.


 At that time it marked by pronounced un- certainty, susceptible of development in almost any direction favorable unfavorable But since then the sky has cleared again and 1t is that the immense war preparations all over the country the sole cause of the temporary unsteadiness The wonder is that the disturbance was not greater True, Wall street continues to show varying moods as the Cuban situation clouds clears but the rest of the country has again settled down to business and things are going on as usual
 Commercial reports from New York show that the backbone of the situation is the of merchandise exports, more than $4I, ,ooo ooo in February with increase of $2, 100000 in miscellaneous products, $2Iooooo in provisions, $4, 5oo,ooo in cotton and in breadstus compared with last year, and $I5,ooo,ooo in all products, In two weeks in March exports have been I6 per cent larger than last year and imports have gained but S7 per cent The outgo oi cotton surpasses all expectations though the price stronger last week, and the export demand ap parently paid attention to market fluctuations.
 In the last issue of Bradstreets appears table Of comparative prices of Io8 staple articles and manufactured, showing fluctuations from April I, 1895, to March 4, 1898 From this showing 1t is learned more than half the articles mentioned ad- vanced February and only fifteen actually declined Compared with low water mark in July last 24 out of the IoS lower in prices but the decreases unimpOrtant and in some cases due to climatic in fluence.
 In fact the aspect of affairs is decidedly buish all the country. As trade authority tersey puts it, neither peace nor war reports have changed the onward of business The financial situa- ton is distinguished by orders for more than $25,- 5oo,ooo from Europe, which effectually check any tendency toward monetary strngency while treasury receipts of over Soooooo per day keep the currency supply fully up to all probable needs. Wheat also moves in spite of all speculation Atlantic exports, flour included have been I824,56o bushels against I253,3oo last year. and from Pacific ports 1871 826 bushels against 2685o5 last year, making for three weeks from both coasts Io65o,I25 bushels, against 4538,44I last year.
 The usual barometers of trade show continued high pressure all along the line. The bank clearngs of the country last week 354 per cent larger than for the week last year. Failures about the same in number. Favorable weather has increased the distribution of goods everywhere the West and Northwest sending in the best reports in this respect Navigation has practically opened the great lakes and by the first of April this important branch of tiona trade which has been closed during the winter will be in full current again. The staples remain about they have been for the past few weeks, iron being active and firm, wool flat and dry goods gro ceres and other lines of business being satisfactory movement everywhere.
 On this the weather continues to engross at tenton. Light scattering showers in the San Joaquin Valley have kept the grain crop growing fairly though present indications point to only moderate yield. Hay and minor cereals continue to advance and the socknen in districts are worried about the slim outlook for feed
 Heavy frosts have almost wiped out the apricot rrop and damaged the peaches more or less here and here but all other fruits have thus far escaped and promise good crops San Francisco Is still under cloud as to the Alaskan business owing the rail- road war in the north, but local bank clearngs still show that we doing considerably more trade
 than at this time last year things must be in pretty good shape after all. There is nothing now in sight to indicate that we will not have irst-cass year :aking 1t whole