The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-21
A GREAT DEMAND FOR GOODS

HILE the commercial agencies report. trade
SAj fully up to its high pressure pitch OF the past
few months the weekly bank clearings lnd1-
cate relaxation the gain last week falling to about
D per cent over the same week last year This is the
smallest increase for long time. Still, when the
farmers OF Kansas and Nebraska buy 1000 bugges
and wagons in three months business must be good,
and when the feature OF trade in the latter State IS
the active purchasing OF pianos by the same farm
crs. times certainly cannot be called hard For the
rest all reports from the East and West unite in
saying that the demand for goods of all descriptions
was never better That for iron and steel is so enor-
nous that orders for manufactured products have to
be delayed owing to difficulty in getting the steel
The Cramps have laid off many hundred hands and
asked Russia for an extension OF time the two
warshps for this reason In the iron trade this is
curious case of too much activity for the good OF
the trade Wheat, as indicated in this column last
week, has advanced the quotations have been
found too low considering the conditions OF the
worlds crops, and the export demand has
spondingly increased The wool trade shows
pause worthy OF note, the sales for three weeks be-
ing 100000 pounds, against I3o96,5 500 pounds for
the same time last year while number Of lines Of
the manufactured product have again advanced. The
advance in boots and shoes has not checked the de-
mand. and a further rise in lumber is reported at
several Western markets In fact prices for the vari
Gus merchandise staples are advancing with such con-
tnuity that business men are beginning to ask how
long the advance can keep up without diminishing
the consumption This they say, must come sooner
later, but it is in sight yet Cotton is the only
staple to show any weakness, and this in the face OF
more uniavorabe crop reports.
The situation is unique. There is no boom in any
thing far be seen, yet from all quarters Of
the country come the same reports OF unprecedented
trade activity week after week 1t seems to be legit
innate inquiry for merchandise for actual consump-
ton, for speculation occupies a minor place in this
remarkable activity Neither is it the usual reaction
after long period OF duness, for the reaction oc-
CURED last year It appears to be widespread and
continuous demand for goods, based upon an ex-
ceptonal condition OF general prosperity.
A gratifying feature in this connection is the cas-
ing off of the London money market which, several
weeks ago, exhibited indications OF serious strn-
gency, not to say panic. The passing of this cloud
is another sign of the healthy expansion in trade and
cannot fail to increase confidence in the future
Locally there is nothing new The great staples
of the coast still maintain their strong position and
there is no decline OF any consequence in ANYTHING
The export trade is still active that it is question
OF vessels, orders The domestic trade never was
better at this time of the year. Money is in liberal
supply and easily procurable by sound borrowers
collections are up to the and there have been
no large failures for some time. Complaints are still
heard OF the scarcity OF farming hands but this is
not bad sign, it indicates lively condition Of
trade We lack nothing except moderate increase
in the price Of wheat and its attendant cereals and
il get it we will break all records this wear Il
indeed we are not doing it even now