The San Francisco call., 1898-02-21
A CLoUDLEss COMMERCIAL SKY.

1 that favorable conditions dominate trade at the O moment Not even the Maine disaster has checked the upward of business except on the New York Stock Exchange where, of course, 1t un- settled speculation, to have been anticipated. All the prominent staples show hardening tendency and 1t Is mentioned as a noteworthy fact that com pared with a week ago not a single one shows de- cline, while some have advanced. Conspicuous ip this latter exhibit IS the iron and steel trade of which it reported that in the Central West 90 per cent of the pigron furnaces are in full blast All over the country there Is marked increase in the demand for drygoods and groceries which indicates the arrival of the spring call for goods In the South the de mand for cotton sugar and rice is steadily growing, and collections in this section are becoming easier in consequence The failures last week were 26o against 325 for the week last year. The bank cearings of the country increased 52,3 per 1897, and important city showed decrease of any consequence. Wheat and its dependent cereals, metals notably steel blets, copper lead and tin, and a long line of merchandise articles higher in price than week ago. and the prospects for further advance are good Exports of cereals continue to increase. The shipments of wheat, including four for the week 3o32744 bushels, against 2,I2o bushels last year, 3,I4oooo bushels in ISo6 and I8o8,ooo bushels in 1895. The bulk of this increase is chargeable to large flour exports
 It IS interesting to note the utter failure of the Maine incident to affect internal foreign trade We go right on buying and selling and manufactur- ing as if it had never occurred. On Change, well the street but little Is heard about 1t from the business point of view The lesson conveyed by this apparent indifference IS in the highest degree lauda tory of the temper of the American people, the per manence and stability of their form of Government and their unshakabe confidence in the nation to take of itself all times and under all circumstances against the whole world if necessary In almost any other country similar occurrence would produce an immediate depression of business; in the United States 1t has not yet caused even ripple on the smooth commercial stream. A people of such tenn per and such confidence in their power and readiness to uphold their national honor unconquerable. Of such mettle made the nations which endure when others decay and pass into oblivion.
 The local markets characterized by strength as a rule. Wheat rules firm. Barley is steadily ad- vancng, owing to the deficiency in rainfall and hay has again gone up. Beans being bought up narge quantities by specuators and prices gradually advancing Provisions are still more active than before at this time of the year, and whenever change occurs it is in the direction of higher prices. Hogs are getting scarce, and there was marked ad- vance on Saturday. Mutton is also tending upward. Beef is steady at the good prices. Hides and leather are firm ever and every few days further small rise in quotations is noted Dried fruits and rasins still neglected at unchanged prices. In merchan- disc there IS less call for coal owing to the weather, more activity in coffee sharp demand for mining machinery and hardware, weaker feeling in quicksilver owing to its diminished in the differ cnt industries, and advance in coal oil, gasoline and naphtha- Merchandise dealers report first rate movement in almost all lines. Collections are average and credits easier than for several years there being less disposition cura accommodation to customers. The latter condition is one of the re- suits of better times.
 The above points cover the main features of trade at present It will be that there no decrease in the tide of prosperity in full flow all over the country nor from current indications is there any particular to fear that the tide will ebb in the near future.