The San Francisco call., 1899-11-27
AUCTION SALES.
TRHDE APPARENTLY STILL EX-
PANDlNG.


AST week was noteworthy in the history Of
the clearing house OF the eighty-four cities
- and towns reporting bank clearings only two
showed a decrease in business from the same week
in 1898 Galveston fell Of zs per cent and Macon,
Ga Ioz per cent This is a remarkable exhibit, for
j. shows a gain in trade all over the United States
with its immense territory and great variety Of in
dus;ries The gain OF the whole country was al
per cent the largest being one OF 1888 per cent al
Pittsburg, the latter being interesting showing
continued activity IN the iron trade. The gain al
New York was $50 per cent at Boston al. at Chi
cago $40 and at san Francisco s74
In the face oi these brilliant returns, however,
falling of in the ds,rbutve trade OF the country is
reported, due 20 unseasonably mild weather, which
restricts the sale OF winter goods Prices for most
commodities are firm. however, and textile goods
particularly cotton and wool. especially firm,
with prospects o higher prices and sales OF wool
exceed all records footing up 6I.6o4o 900 pounds for
the first three weeks IN November while in only one
iu month heretofore have the sales ever amounted
TO 100000 pounds The demand for goods IS so
large thar the mills are encouraged TO keep on buying
in spite OF the advancing quotations
Trade IN boots and shoes continues remarkably
heavy and considerably in excess OF former years
though is mostly on back orders as new orders are
checked by the steep prices Tor hides and leather
the former being scarce up to the famine point Not
for years has there been such hide market as to-day
The iron trade is marked by irregularity. some de-
soriptions being higher and others lower. and the
same condition applies TO the minor metals For the
first time in months the failures show an increase
beng '91 Tor the week. against 1SS for the same
week LAST year. Scarcity in cars continues to worry
shippers all over the country. and some shipments
oi dried iruit from San Francisco TO New York have
consumed thirty DAYS in the Journey This is not
without It's compensation however, for it keeps a
good-szed army Of employed at the different car
works 10 say nothing OF the adjunctive demand for
wood and iron
The New York money market continues to improve
and IS now easy. The proposition OF the Government
TO buy back SIS 100000 in bonds has had its effect
but the amusing part OF il is that nobody wants to
part with Government bonds. and no large blocks
have been turned into the Treasury So much for III.
recent wall for Government assistance to ease tight
money. Indeed. il turns that there has been no
strngency except in Wall street, and fnanciers now
say that in spite of the enormous expansion in trade
the volume OF currency has been sufficient at all
times 10 accommodate the increased demands
Wheat Is the single disappointing feature in the
situation. In spite OF the decrease in the worlds
supply persstenty pointed by the statistcians Of
America and Europe the market is quiet all over the
world and prices have been steadily declining Wheat
IS now down 10 cent pound and al the close Of
the week II trembling the verge OF a further
decline Everybody has been deceived in this cereal
this year and even the most pronounced bulls are
now losing heart Thus far the decline in the worlds
principal staple has affected other lines OF trade
bui II soon viii II IT continues.
These points about cover the commercial and IN,
dustrial situation OF the country.