The San Francisco call., 1898-12-10
BRADsTREErs ON TRADE CONDITIONS.

NEW YORK. Dec. 9.-Bradstreet's to-mor- row will say: Business conditions continue of a most encouraging character. A very satis- factory feature. and full of encourage ment to all wholesale lines of trade is the activity shown in .retail trade in nearly all markets. Reports received as to the holiday trade proper, too, point to the present year constituting record maker in this respect The importance of the early arrival of real winter weather to the retail distribution of heavy clothing and similar seasonabIe goods can hardly be overestimated In the wider domain of general trade and industry perhaps the most notable feature has been the con- tlnued activity at advancing prices shown for most classes of iron and steel, but particularly pigiron and steel billets. So pronounced has this demand become since the placing of the first large rail orders that what is ordinarily regarded as dull period of this industry has given place to exceptional activity ana the stimulating effect already imparted to values seems likely to be added to, rather than di- minished- so far the outlook for the com ing year can at present be foreshadowed Fea- lures or the week have been immense sales of Bessemer pigiron, large sales of steel bill lets and heavy orders for ship plates the lat ter at Western points. Car builders too nave placed large orders. impelled thereto by the enlarged demand from railroads which find their present facilities for handling goods overtaxed. Export trade continues encourage ing and of favorable nature in this respect Increased supplies consequent upon the heay- fest movement from farmers hands ever known have constituted bearish feature in wheat prices this week, notwithstanding continued heavy shipments abroad, and the coarser grains have sympathized with this important cereal. Activity in the lumber trade has been a feature calling for comment in many mar kets, the placing of large Government or ders for yellow pine lumber, most of which is for export to Cuba, having insured plenty of work for a number of Southern mills until far into the new year. From other branches of the trade reports are of sustained demand Of proportions sufficient to take care of season. ably small receipts, and prices retain firm ness.
 Rather more is hoing in raw wool at slight. ly lower quotationS but reports from the goods trade show little improvement.
 Wheat Qncluding four) shipments for the week aggregate 6,752, ,952 bushels, against [ 4S3- 959 bushels last week, 6266 159 bushels in the corresponding week of 1897, 4,222 714 bushels in lS96 2,45S, 323 bushels in 1895 and 536 2S0 bush els in 1894. Since July 1, this year. the exports of wheat aggregate 102, 967. .093 bushels against 114, GOA S9S bushels last year.
 Steadiness of prices has been a notable fea- ture of business this fall. though the natural Of 107 staples, forty-nine. or little less than one-half, are unchanged as the result of the months work while thirty-two staples ad- vanced and only twenty six declined while as compared with December 1 a year ago fifty four staples are higher. forty-two are lower and eleven are unchanged
 Business failures in the United States this week number 237, against PIP last week. 292 in this week year ago, 3S1 in 1S96 313 in 1895 and 3S3 in 1894.
 Business failures in Canada for the week number 2s, as compared with 25 last week 23 in this week a year ago, 42 in 1896, 39 in 1895 and in 1904