The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-22
BUSINESS, HERE and ELSEWHERE

= ONSIDERING the country as a whole there
| are no striking features in trade at the moment.
- There is increased activity in two or three sta
pies the wheat trade getting interesting, and
this is about all. The bank cearings gained 43S per
cent last week over the corresponding week last year.
and the failures were 100 against thus showing
healthy condition OF business. The furry over the
Flower stocks in Wall has passed into the local
history OF that mart and the street Is once more
quet-that is as quiet as it ever gets.
The course OF the wheat market is beginning to at
tract more attention Crop prospects are by no means
as brilliant as they were month ago. only in the
United States and Europe, but right here at home.
The weather everywhere has been unavorabie to the
growing grain The crops in the Russian. Roumanian
and Danubian districts have suffered severely from
drought if we can believe the persistent reports, the
American crop has fallen back rapidly during the
past ten days and the yield OF American winter wheat
will not is thought. exceed 275oooooo bushels In
the Central West immense areas OF land sown to
wheat have been powed up in consequence OF the
February. freeze. North winds have diminished the
Californian yield though average crop is expected
The Government reports from Oregon draw an UNI
favorable picture OF the crops there both gram and
fruits being sadly deficient owing to continued cold
weather. Wheat operators, however, decline to be
scared by these CONTINUAL reports and prices show lit
the Atlantic ports shows marked decrease from last
year In the local market the other cereals firm
and prices for barley, oats and have advanced
materially during the past few days.
The other leading staples OF the country not as
sluggish as wheat and showing considerable
strength. Hides and leather very firm and the
shipments Of boots and shoes from the East p
per cent larger than for the time in 1893 Wool
spectators are doing lively business and have
bought some 100000 pounds OF foreign and 100000
pounds OF domestic WOOL the latter Tor export Mean
while orders Tor wooden goods decidedly larger
and the whole wool trade seems to be at last sat
isiactory footing The iron trade continues to boom
\ further advance in quotations is reported but this.
with the starting up OF plants, does not deter
consumers from sending in orders for far ahead
next year The worlds demand for iron and steel is
quoted as immense. The lumber business continues
in fine shape widespread building activity being re-
ported and prices only sustained bun further
advance is considered not improbable. Cotton lags
in spite OF favorable advices from home and abroad
and less promising crop reports.
In our local business streets no complaints are
heard. Trade seems to be good in ali lines. Pro
visions still active and very firm, and the tendency
in quotations is rather upward than otherwise Wool
is selling right along at steady prices, and the sagna
ton OF last year has disappeared. Cattle sheep and
NoSS are bringing better hgureS thai Tor some years
and the stocnen have certainly nothing to complain
OF in quotations. The high and rising prices
Tor barley and oats extend generous encouragement
to the farmers and il the persistent bull news regard
ing wheat proves true this cereal is likely to do some
rising before long. AS for fruit is simply boom
ing There will be a great deal OF it this year
and what is raised will bring fine prices Already the
Gamers contracting Tor apricots at $50 per ton
and $40 is reported for Bartlett pears. though the
latter is not fully confirmed Prunes and grapes are
not mentioned thus far. The former will be short
crop both here and in Oregon while the grapes are
not YET sufficiently advanced for definite estimate
Hay is opening al low prices, and this is the only
drawback TO a situation which could hardly be i'm
proved upon for the farmers.
General merchandise is meeting with good and
steady demand, without excitement Money CON
nues in ample supply the usual rates, collections
average and failures few and generally min
porant The season bids fair to be OF the best in
tie history OF the State