The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-15
NATIONS TRADE
SHOWS GROWTH
BradStreet Reports Gains
in Many Lines Over the
Like Period of Last Year
CONFIDENCE EVIDENT
Collections More Satisfac-
tory Than at Any Time
During Past Two Decades


NEW YORK, Oct. 14.-Bradstreets
tomorrow will say: Despite irregu-
larities, due to warm weather condi-
lions of reductions in crop movements,
trade as whole maintains satisfac-
tory volume. Nothing of boom char
acter is to be noted, but many lines
show gains over the corresponding pc
rod of 1903, confirmation of this being
found in the record of September rail-
road earnings. Clearings are greater
than last October's weekly totals. The
underlying confidence is perhaps best
shown by the increased ease in collec-
tions, reports as to which are better
than for nearly twenty years past. The
improvement in the corn and wheat
crops, favored by exceptionally warm
weather for this season of the year, has
produced freer buying from operators
in the Central West and Northwest.
Business is also better on the Pacific
Coast.
This same warm weather, however, is
a drawback to retail business, which
needs the stimulus of sharp, cold
weather. In the Northwest rather less
activity is noted because of this, and at
the South there is a general report that
the warm, dry weather, which is IA
vorable to picking cotton, is holding
the demand back considerably. Eastern
trade also reflects unreasonable wealth
er in its effect upon current demand for
fall and winter wear goods, but there
is in addition a backwardness in de-
mand for dry goods. Hides and wool
are strong.
Our foreign trade returns are irregu-
lar in that while showing record cotton
shipments for the season our wheat ex-
port trade has practically disappeared,
our export flour trade has shrunk
greatly and corn shipments are likewise
very small. Provisions exports show
shrinkage, but cattle, oil, copper, iron
and steel and general manufactured
exports show gains. Exports of leading
agricultural products, despite the rec
ord shipments of cotton, are the small
est for nine months reported since 1897.
The reports from leading industrial
centers are fully as good as recently
made Lumber is active at the West,
but quiet at the East. Copper is rather
easier on reported withdrawal of ex-
port demand.
Wheat, including -four, exports for
the week ending October 13 aggregate
l. 337. 175 bushels. Corn exports for the
week aggregate S57, 716 bushels.
Business failures in the United States
for the week ending october 10 num-
Der 1876, against 1875 last week; 20S in
the like week in 1908, 203 in 1902. 1913 in
1901, and 223 in 1900. In Canada fail
ures for the week NUMBER Is as against
10 last week and II in this week year
ago.
Dun's Weekly Review of Trade will
say tomorrow: Progress is slow but
sure in the leading branches of manu-
facture, contracts being more readily
placed for distant delivery, while the
percentage of idle machinery steadily
decreases. Satisfactory news from lead
ing iron and steel centers tends to
strengthen confidence elsewhere, as the
consumption of iron has been found
good barometer of business conditions.
Jobbing and wholesale trade in fall and
winter wearing apparel expands grad
ually and such spring lines as are
opened meet with a fairly satisfactory
reception considering the recent indis-
position to provide for future require
ments. At many points the return of
warm weather checked the revival of
retail trade in heavy business, but as
that movement had begun much earlier
than usual the net result thus far is
better than last year"
Building operations have expanded at
some cities, being a noteworthy record
for the month of September and the
permits recently issued promise we'll
for the future. Labor is fairly well
employed according to the latest Off
cial trades union reports, although the
Fall River strike has lasted longer than
expected.
Railway earnings in the first week
in September were sos per cent lower
than in 1903 Raw wool is in good de-
mand at fall prices. Recent large pur
chases of hides established prices in
firm position but are followed by less
activity.
Failures this week were 206 in the
United States against POS last year and
i'm Canada "a, compared with 26 a year
ago.