The San Francisco call., 1905-02-04
TRADE SHOWS
STEADY. GAIN.
Reports for the Week Tell
of Prosperous Conditions
and Promising Outlook
ALL LINES ARE ACTIVE
Railway Earnings increase
and Failures Decline in
Amount Of Money Involved
ALL LINES ARE ACTIVE

NEW YORK, Feb. 3.-Dun's weekly
review of trade tomorrow will say:
Business progresses steadily, all spec
ulative excesses having been avoided
thus far, and the numerous negotia-
tions now pending indicate that the
maximum Of activity is yet to come.
Some irregularity is reported for the
first month and was undoubtedly oue
to the exceptionally cold weather.
Taken as a whole the record for JAN
nary was very much better than In
The same month last year, particularly
as to failures.
Distribution of merchandise Is once
more on a liberal scale, traffic DOCK
ades having disappeared, and in many
cases large clearance sales have been
disposed Of Few labor disputes are In
terrupting work, although several new
controversies are threatened. Iron fur-
naces and steel mills operate close to
their full capacity and the quarterly
report of the leading concern showed
an enormous tonnage of business on
the books at the end of the year, de-
spite the fact that the closing months
of 1904 made very good exhibits. Rail-
way earnings for January were IL per
cent larger than a year ago, and for
eign commerce at this port for the last
week showed an increase Of $970,980 in
exports and a gain of $52S,067 in I'M
ports.
Failures this week in the United
States are 259, against 305 last week
and 246 last year. Failures in Canada
number 80, against 33 last week and "a
the preceding week and 20 last year.
BRADSTREETS REPORT.
Bradstreet's tomorrow will say:
yTyidacNrood hammers
trade in nearly all lines, thus retarding,
but not entirely checking the opening
of spring distribution. Except in few
cases, however, notably transportation
and mining, industry displays rather
less than seasonable interference and
the feeling is strong that milder wealth
er will usher in widespread activity in
all lines. The late freeze in Florida did
much damage to fruit and truck crops.
January clearings are the largest ever
recorded in that month. Failures re-
fleet the annual stock takings and bal
ancing of books, but the liabilities are
greatly reduced, compared with a year
ago. The South in this carries the
chief burden, in that the increase for
the year reported by that section
shows. the largest liabilities of any
group of States. Signs of improve
ment noted here will be very closely
watched.
Railroad earnings for January will
show a moderate increase in gross re-
ceipts.
METALS AND GRAIN.
Copper and, lead are. higher on the
week. Weolsjss qaiet-but firm here.
London wool sales prices were good,
except that some low grade crossbreds
weakened slightly.
Building activity has been lessened
by recent cold weather, and lumber and
building material for immediate use
are affected thereby. Lumber, how
ever is strong at primary points and
large demand at high prices is looked
for.
Business failures for the week ending
February in the United States num-
ber 239, against 22S last week and ZIG
in the like week in 1904. In Canada
failures for the week number 80,
against 43 last week and 25 in this
week a year ago.
Wheat, including flour, exports for
the week are s45,358 bushels, against
1,101,587 last week and 2,6O42 last
year. From July to date exports are
40,o57,133 bushels, against 1O1, ,s51 ,344
last year.