The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-13
SMOOTH, BUT TAME.

/ ASl week was almost fedtureeSS as lar as trade
| was concerned. The conditions noted the pre-
- ceding week continued to rule, and from one
end Of the country to the other it was monotonous
story. The subsistence of speculation reduced the
volume of bank clearings materially from the
nous totals of the past fortnight but they still showed
gain of ~ per cent the week last year
The failures for the week 27 against 2o5 for the
same week in 1893 hence business. indicated by
these two baroneters, good
Thus far there have been evil effects from the
wliirl of speculation mentioned two weeks ago. The
regular trade Of the country is going on usual
Stocks are slightly lower, and that is about all Dur
ing the first half Of the week there quite de-
cline in Wall street, but the closing three days
stronger and the tendency to rally became marked
The extreme cold weather OF the past week is hav
ing some effect on the general markets. 1t has in
terfered with transportation all over the West, but
has also stimulated the demand for winter goods. 1t
has likewise created apprehensions of damage the
winter wheat as the usual mantle of which pro-
tects the plant from excessive cold was wanting in
many sections. In spite of the Indictment weather
however trade reports from all the country in
Dictated extraordinary activity in the principal
branches and general business much better than at
the same time last year.
The staples show nothing Iron continues to
boom, hides and leather firm wool is dull and
cotton is active and hrmer owing to heavy foreign
purchases and prospects for smaller crop. Other
wise the foreign and domestic trade of the United
States are without especial feature
1t is pretty much the same here in California Our
finances are undisturbed and business is proceeding
satisfactory lines without excitement The feature
OF the week the sharp advance in meats due to
the increasing scarcity of beef, mutton and pork The
rise in live stock has affected retail prices and house
A.
expenses. Butchers and provision packers predict
still higher prices SO the outlook in this respect is
not good except for the who owns the stock and
he is complaining of the scarcity of feed in many
sections Strangely enough, hay, which should go
up under these conditions, has actually been going
down for a week and the market has been depressed
for little time. The farmer has thus far made
no complaint of dry weather. though we have had no
rain since the 10Th of January, the rainfall during
the first half of that month heavy enough to carry
the State for thirty days. But while the crops are
looking fairly rule pasturage deficient and most
stock men are feeding hay, which is unusual at this
time of the year.
The leading staples OF the State show no particular
change Wheat goes up and down in a mild sort OF
way and the other cereals follow suit The fruit men
encouraged by slow but steady improvement
in the dried fruit market, which bids fair to com
pletely clean up before the crop comes forward
There has been no further advance in wine but the
market is firm. The other staples reported fairly
active in general, with no marked changes in quota
tons.
Speculation in stocks and bonds in the local mar
ket continues brisk. The increase in this business
during the past year is pronounced San Francisco
now has legitimate stock and bond market BETTING
its position the metropolis of the coast, and the
volume of transactions is good indication of the
millions OF dollars lying in vaults ready for in
vestment whenever chance to make money is in
sight Whatever San Francisco lacks it certainly is
not ready money.