The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-03-11

in the tariff. Out-of-town phones will
probably be on a toll basis, the month
ly rental being reduced and long dis
lance charges substituted to bring up
the revenue. This will make it pos
sible for the man living in the country
districts to have a telephone at rea-
sonable rate through which he can talk
with his neighbors without extra
charge, but he will be forced to pay
a small long distance toll when talk
ing with Honolulu.
As soon as the new instruments ar
rive the company will be in a position
to care for all orders and win be able
to install fifty phones a day should
they be called for.
OUTLOOK PROMISING.
Trade reports to Bradstreet's are
rather more cheerful Visible evidence
of expansion in iobbihg trade, in con-
/ sonance with the advance of the sea-
| son, are found in the reports that the
large numbers of buyers in leading mar
kets, especially in the west, southwest
and parts of the south, have taken hold
more freely, although even in the mar
kets of the southwest, whence best re-
ports come, there are evidences of con-
servatism, based largely on the high
prices asked for goods. JoDbing trade
at the east is slower to open up, but
! there is certainly more doing in job
bing at New York, while primary deal
| ings are still classed as quiet. Inquiry
| bv Bradstreet's at leading markets fails
to substantiate the exaggerated reports
of cancellations noted for some time
past, and there are few signs of tho
widely -heralded reaction in distribu-
tive trade. Many points report no can
cellations to speak of, several cities
report countermands no greater than
normal, and only a very few report
that in few lines, notably clothing,
has there been any special effect exer-
csed. Nor does inquiry into the wide
spread reports of damage to winter
wheat, which have induced advances of
two to three cents per bushel in specu-
lative circles, reveal much that is
definitely unfavorable. In the south
west, particularly Kansas and Missouri,
there are reports that wheat on low
living ground has been killed; but on
the other hand, reports from Texas are
that the wheat crop is the best in years,
with good snow covering and soil in
fine shape. The fact needs to be borne
in mind that winter wheat is not a hot
house plant; that some deterioration
always occurs over winter, but that the
crop entered the winter in fine shape
on nearly record area and that snow
covering has been better than for years.
1t may be said also that while the
stock market decline and the fear of
adverse legislation or of unfavorable
, decisions have had possibly some effect
on trade commitments, the quieting
down shown in trade in January an.
early February from the immense ac
J tivity of last November and December
3 was not much more than was to be
t expected. Now that the spring season
9 is close at hand, clearer view viii
shortly be had of the outlook. On the
! one hand large, if not indeed record
: planning of leading crops is to be look
a ed for, while on the other, the effect
e of high prices upon distribution o.
t manufactured goods is to be tested. TIL,
r least favorable feature in the country
o trade at present is the continued sag
ging in export trade in farm products
J. an effect easily traceable to the higl
l. prices ruling for breadstuffs, meats
;. animals and cotton.
e Manufacturers are well supplied witt
It orders. Western shoe men are running
g to capacity. There is rather less pessim
8 ism in the iron and steel trade. Re
n ports from the Pacific Coast lumbe
trade are good Railroad earnings 70
n January (gross) show gain of fifteei
IS per cent over the year before.