The San Francisco call., 1898-05-16
WE ARE STILL DOING BUSINESS.

to the surprise of good many worthy but
 timid and over-conservative people who pre- dicted all of mshaps trade coincident with the embarkation of the country in foreign war. Everybody has met these cautious folk, and every body remembers their doleul predictions The war going to cost a deal of money; foreign compli- eators would probably ensue; taxes would be tre- nendously increased; money would get tight, business would be paralyzed, and the poor would suffer The country would not get 1t for generation, and things generally would go to the bowwows These tmid people always with us; they always see the lion in the path, but alas for their apprehensons! the war has been under full steam for some little time large fleet has been destroyed Notifications have been battered down in the Occident and Orient the map of the world is undergoing important changes and yet a stranger could travel from New York to San Francisco and see no signs of foreign war provided he could be kept away from the news papers On all sides, wherever he went, he would see great nation plodding along peacefully in the universal occupation of making money
 Of course there have been changes but thus far they insignificant As remarked several weeks ago, those articles directly affected by foreign have advanced, but nine of ten of the common lines of trade remain absolutely unaffected. As far as business is concerned, the is incident not half as serious important the dry season.
 Generally speaking, trade is quiet and devoid of feature Iron which was abnorrnally active for a year, has quieted down. owing largely the immense production, which IS placed at a million tons a month. Wool, per contra which has been stagnant for many months is showing increased activity Groceries and food products have again advanced as rule, in consequence of the remarkable rise in wheat, which is in light supply all over the world The bank clearings last week again showed marked gain, being 376 per cent over those for the same week in ISo7 which indicates that business is just that percentage better this year than last the horrible to the contrary notwithstanding The failures too, make good exhibit showing liabilities of S2- o78o8o against $3oo5,8o4 last year and $4I3827I in I8o6 Money IS easier, with increased loans at lower of interest and the Government is actually pay- ing out gold over its Treasury counter because it needs notes more than coin. As an effect of this dreadful this latter condition is positively refresh: ing. The truth is, the nation has lately been rather surfeed with gold from foreign countries, and there is still more to come-somethng like ST ooo 900 in actual coin. Nor must be forgotten that we have recently been loanng money to Europe All this is respectfully submitted to the consideration of the aforesaid good folk who predicted hard times
 Locally there IS little to report in the con dition of trade. The farmer continues on top, as his products are commanding better prices than he has enjoyed for number of years. Some districts have suffered more or less from lack of rain and few severely; but the northern half of the State, at least, will go through the year with flying coors. Even here crops of all kinds will be short but the sharp advance in prices will offset the deficiency in the yield At the eleventh hour we are favored with gentle rain which may catch some hay out mapping and split few cherries here and there but which will enormously benefit all grain and hay still uncut so 1t is of blessing than otherwise The fruit interest from present indications, will make money this year the crop will not be large except in one or two varieties, such prunes for instance. and buyers are already in the field bidding fancy prices for cling peaches and prieots-$6o per ton being named for both kinds These figures pretty steep and it is doubtful whether the heavy buyers will pay them