The San Francisco call., 1899-10-14
BtadStreetS S on Trade.

NEW YORK Oct 13-Bradstreets to-mor-
row will say: Trade activity is widespread, all
measures OF volume and value testifying to
prevailing prosperous conditions. Only good
reports received from distributive trade
centers and some markets report fall demand
as holding out longer than expected. Rail
way earnings bank clearings returns and
quotations of staple prices are all encouraging,
pointing as they do TO a maximum volume Of
business for this period of the year. Crop
returns for October bear out earlier impress
sions of shortened yields of most leading agri-
cultural products. Expectation Of more mod
crate yields of leading cereals is not confined
TO this country. The worlds wheat crop will
admittedly be smaller and the yields OF rye,
barley and oats are not expected TO be large
Il year ago. The higher range OF prices
of all staples and particularly OF agricultural
products, however Will furnish a profitable
price of cotton has been a notable one and
though some reaction is naturally noted the
effects upon general Southern trade and in
dustry following the advance are particularly
beneficial, this section alone has appeared
to lag somewhat behind the process Of pros
perity.
In the manufacturing branch of trade
strength is well nigh universal. Advances
have been numerous and a scarcity of goods
rather than of demand is the main subject OF
complaint While a source of depression to
cotton the Transvaal situation has proved
rather favorable to wheat and other cereals
offsetting heavy Increases in the visible sup
plies.
best known in the September report Of ex-
ports of leading products. Shipments of bread
stuffs were as large as those of August and
there was naturally a heavy gain IN cotton
exports, which double those of the same
month a year ago. Totals of leading exports
show an increase of g per cent over Septem-
ber a year ago and over September 1896, but
a decrease of SIS per cent from September, 1897
which witnessed very heavy shipments Of
breadstutfs.
The general manufacturing industry is run
ming full and activity Is so widespread
other in this respect. Coal production is par
ticularly heavy, but scarcity OF cars is COM
with the strength of lake freights constitut-
ing a disturbing element as regards the sup
ply of anthracite in the West Iron and steel
active as to production but new business
is limited by the small quantities available
for by delivery Liberal orders are still
reported for the first half Of next year and
steel rails are reported tending upward at the
West
Paper is in specially active demand at pres
ent
Sugar refining furnishes one exception to the
reports of general prosperity and production
is decreasing. partly, of course, owing to the
season. but also to the Generalization growing
Wool is very firm, though quieter at some
markets while the manufactured product IS
selling well on next springs account.
Tobacco is reported very generally active at
manufacturers are busy and leather and sides
are sympathctcally strong in price. Lumber
is in urgent demand at many markets In spite
firm.
Wheat including -four, shipments for the
week aggregate 5.265. 634 bushels, against 5,1S3.
39S bushels last week, 4729,99 bushels in the
corresponding week of 1898, 1854. l2O bushels in
1897, 4,156. .S17 bushels in 1896 and 1904 in
1885 Since July l, this season, the exports
of wheat aggregated 60, 965 047 bushels against
22S 116 bushels last year and &C. 920 1872 bushels
in 1S97-9S.
Business failures number 1854 in the United
States as compared with 146 last week, rs in
this week a year ago. 1856 in 1897, 219 in 1896
and 2S9 in 1895.
Business failures in Canada numbeF 49, as
comnared with "a last week, % in this week
a year ago, "A in 1887 80 in 1896 and 81 in
1895.