The San Francisco call., 1899-04-13

that the gates of the Orient would be
opened to the exports of this coast is
about to be realized. Steamers are being
built as fast as mechanics can put them
together. For months past the wharves
have been congested with freight, for
which no room could be found on the reg
ular steamers. All the available tonnage
has been pressed into service, but to no
effect, the freight offered being still
greatly in excess of the capacity of all
the steamers now leaving this port. AL
though the freight is slowed in every
available nook and Granny, the steamers
must leave almost entire cargoes behind
them.
To keep pace with the pressure of busi-
ness modern methods must be adopted,
which means that the young, progressive
firms are securing the business from the
old style dealers. Times change and peo-
pie change with them. Inc methodS
which would attract and mold trade ten
years since are not the vogue to-day.
The energy and the dash are lacking
which are associated with the methods OF
the present time. The old business dis
trict seems to have caught the injection
of the forthcoming boom. Buildings are
being oVerhauled; new ones are Planned
or under way while desirable property
is rapidly changing ownership. Last
week three separate sales were recorded;
each for over 800 600 Warehouses and
wholesale houses will be built on them to
accommodate the increased trade with
the Orient.
The North End Improvement Associa-
ton is doing much for the section lying
east of Kearny street and north of Mar
ket. The chief demand OF its members
is for the betterment of the paVements.
There is a unanimous desire that the
cobbestone pavement, which was model
in its way when originally put down forty
years ago, be replaced with bitumen or
other modern material. The members of
the association have asked the Supervis-
ors to bear half the cost of improving
the streets The balance would be pald
by the property owners. They hold that
the Supervisors owe a debt to the busi-
ness interests. of the city in the matter
of these repairs. Property values and
rents have decreased enormously, all OF
which means direct loss to the city in
taxation.
President Charles Nelson of the Cham
Der of Commerce is one of the merchants
having an abiding faith in the future OF
this city. ut is evident the Government
will send all supplies to its possessions in
the far East from this city, he said yes
terday. This will increase in volume
gradually and should in time reach enor-
nous proportions. 1t is the shorter route
by this way and will be the one used by
effect here. Already fifteen vessels have
left here for Vladivostok, where formerly
but three or four were required TO handle
the material shipped from this port. Eng
land and Australia are using q great deal
of our redwood now. The English are
using it for furniture, having learned or
the beauty of the wood when polished. All
these signs point but one way. They indi-
cate that this city will regain the pres
tige it enjoyed quarter of century
ago."
+ H. Rosseter, manager for the house
of W. r. Grace & Co., shares with other
merchants the confidence in the future Of
this port. I'VE are on the eve of great
commercial awakening" he said. The
trade from this port has been gradually
increasing until it should soon assume
large proportions. The merchants have
long watched the Orient as a great field
for their operations. All their hopes seem
destined to be realized now. Trade with
South America has developed gradually
although this coast is under a disadvan-
tage in handling it when compared with
the East. We transship at Panama, while
their steamers go direct.
According to Brainerd n. Rowley, editor
of California Fruit Grower, the fruit in
terests of the State are safe. He says,
"The outlook for good crops of fruit were
never better than they are at present. The
fruit is fifteen days farther advanced than
ii was at this time last year. The trees
are strong and hardy and there is little
Cherries and apricots will not yield full
crop. but all others will yield In abun-
dance II is hard to tell what the foreign
demand will be, as 1t is governed almost
entirely by the price at which the fruit
is marketed. In this country, if the peo-
pie want anything, they get 1t, giving no
heed to the price. In other countries if
they find an article costs more than they
had set aside for it they go without or
substitute something that can be had at
the price they intended to pay originally"
The infection of better times coming is
in the air, and prosperity, which comes
of trade, should soon be felt by the peo-
pie in all walks of life. whether they he
in the ranks of the laborer or the fner-
chant.