The San Francisco call., 1904-12-31
HOLIDAY WEEK
BRINGS QUIET
Reports Indicate That the
Year Has Made a Showing
Better Than Was Expected
| OUTLOOK is FAVORABLE
Belief Prevails That There
Will Be Still Further
improvement During 1905
OUTLOOK is FAVORABLE


review of trade tomorrow will say:
Holiday week brought the customary
quiet conditions in the business world,
inventories and preparations for annual
settlements monopolizing attention ex-
cept in some branches of manufacture
where immediate deliveries were re-
ouired Severe snowstorms also inter- I
rupted communication and transporta-
ton. particularly at the West. but on j
the whole the elements were helpful, 1
as the drought was broken in the Pitts 4
burg region. Annual reviews indicate .
that the year has made a much better 1
showing than seemed possible at the
outset, the second half comparing very
favorably with the first six months, +
and the amount of business on the
books in the leading industries prom
ises still further Improvement in 1905.
Traffic returns of December indicate j
that the gross earnings of the railways I
were ~ per cent larger than in the
previous year, and foreign commerce Z
for the last week at this port shows
an increase of 1,543, 1853 in exports and
a very large gain of s3.S1s.245 in imports
as compared with 1903
BUO4ANT SIN
Buoyant sentiments prevail in the
iron and steel industry.
Supplies of native hides are accumu- ]
lating owing to the liberal movement
of cattle, and the tone is easy, but
small stocks Of branded hides maintain
that department.
Wooden goods are advancing because
of the upward tendency Of raw wool
and purchasers are more willing to
place contracts at prevailing rates.
Failures this week number 252 in the
United States. against 232 last year,
and IL in Canada, compared with II
year ago.
Bradstreet's tomorrow will say: Dis
tributive trade generally is marking
time while past results and future
prospects are subjects of consideration.
"A period of marked, even unexpected,
activity in holiday goods of higher than
usual quality has brought to close
year which, because of marked i'm
provement in the last quarter, has
ended better than it began, and certain
ly in far better shape than seemed pos
sible at the turn of the year. Whole
sale trade is naturally of the lightest
at this season Of stock taking and In
ventory, and stormy weather and the
furry in raw cotton have been addi-
tional chilling influences. Rather less
than the usual annual clearing sales
! have occurred because of the notable
absence of stocks Of finished goods
pressing for sale. Collections show
some effect from the recent heavy cir
culation of money in all lines in en-
larged receipts.
Industry is Of notably large volume
for this season OF the year, especially in
iron and steel and kindred lines Of
manufacture.
PRICES OF METALS HARDEN.
Railway returns are favorable in that
increased earnings are quite general,
and the only drawback is the country
wide reports of car shortage.
At the West an important feature has
been the breaking up Of the winter
wheat drought.
Prices of metals have hardened this
week, copper on good demand advanc-
ing to the highest point yet reached.
Wool is strong, and stocks in dealers
hands are the lightest in years. This
makes for strength in the finished prod
uct. business in which, however, is
/ light.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending December 29 num-
Der 21S, against 249 last week, 209 in
the like week in 1903, POP in 1902, 26S in
1901 and 229 in 1900. In Canada failures
for the week number 20 against 81 last
week and IS this week year ago.
Wheat, including flour, exports for
the week ending December % aggregate
9S1, ,14O bushels against 1.0S0,70S last /
week, 2,915,360 this week last year and |
4,S1S,471 in 1901.
From July to date the exports ag-
gregate 34.74s,327 bushels against s6,- I
$50, 1856 last year. 12s, ,O56. .225 in 1s02 and /
145, ,221,1S5 in 1901.
Corn exports for the week aggregate /
1,5s2,s42 bushels against 1,es1,ss3 last I
week. e2s.os5 year ago 2.Ss5.s42 in /
1902. From july 70 date the exports 4
of cora aggregate 15,5Oc.sS4 bushels. I
against Is, ,e2s, ,93s In 1908. 1o.e69,SS7 In 1
1902 and 1S.2SS.5l2 IN 1901. :'.'s.s...... II