The San Francisco call., 1901-10-28
ADJUSTMENTS.
SLIGHT DECREASE IN GENERAL
TRADE
TRADE.

The bank clearings OF the country only
~ L4.8 per cent larger than for the correspond
ing week 1900, which is the smallest gain for
time But every city of size showed an increase,
though the gains in all smaller than has been
the rule of late. The failures 24o against 2o5
last year.
No particular line is responsible for this slight de-
In the volume of business last week. 1t seemed
to be general rather than special but it was sui
iciently pronounced 10 cause unfavorable comment
In fact the business OF the country was so brisk that
there not enough to handle the freight Of
fered. This condition has prevailed for year or
and is hampering trade from Maine to Califor-
MIA. The railroads are ordering new cars fast
enough but the iron and steel trade has been so
rushed for several years that the different works have
been unable to supply the demand Nor is there any
immediate prospect of a slackening up in the iron
trade. The Pennsylvania Railroad last week placed
order for 100000 tons of steel rails, the largest
order of the year. and this with other orders for rails
has the total amount booked for 1902 delivery up
to 10000 tons. This does indicate any lack of
activity in the iron and steel business.
The other staples also sending in good reports
Shoe shipments largely in excess of year ago.
and leather is from to 10 per cent higher than in
September while hides strong and active all over
the country Woolen mills are fully occupied and
cotton crop has begun to move more freely which
has led prompter Southern collections The move
ment in coal is retarded by lack of cars Provisions
are unsettled at Chicago and other Western centers
and the general tendency in both hogs and cured
meats is downward as the recent high prices checked
consumption Wheat has taken upward turn
chiefly account of serious damage to the Argen-
tine crop by drought, and quotations have been
slowly advancing for days Flour has synpa-
thized with wheat and the output is heavy the Min
neapos mills breaking all records last week The
general wholesale and jobbing trade of the country
is reported good, though hardly lively as has
been for some time. Sales of fancy goods for the
Christmas holidays unusually early, indicating an
expected heavy business in this direction.
good sign is the liberal ordering by railroads of
steel to replace wooden work. This shows that the
railroads are on good basis and are now in a DO
ston to build with view to soidity and permanence
Coupled with the general shortage in cars just
toned this looks as if the railroads were doing
rushing business.
Conditions in the local market remain about as be-
fore. All lines, except several farm products such
hops dried fruits and the minor cereals including
barley, reported active and generally at good
prices The outward movement of wheat has i'm
proved materially owing largely to sarked decline
in ocean freights and simultaneous Improvement
IN the price OF wheat abroad Merchants who handle
general merchandise report the demand steady and
large Passengers on the ferry-boats see many more
vessels in the bay than recent years. and they are all
moving about Collections in all lines are reported
good and there failures large enough to at
tract attention The present year. taken all in all is
Of the best that the farmers have had for some
time and the city trade reflects this prosperity in
brisk commerce, both local and foreign We are do
ing about as well as we ever did, which is saving
good deal, and there indications of any fall
ing off in business.