The San Francisco call., 1910-04-10
CeneraI Trade CondItfon.

-.
Business Throughout the country is IN q
peculiar state. 1t is large in volume, but es-
pecially in the east, lacking in spirit and hope
fulness- The ordinary daily wants are large and
are attended 10 perfmctOrily in a hand to
mouth manner. Manufacturers are making up as
much as is needed and no more All this is
more essentially true of the east than OF the
west In fact. business west OF Chicago on to
the Pacific coast is in state of great activity
years The soil in the northwestern portion OF
the continent is loaded with moisture due to
heavy SHOWS during the winter. and the crop
planting is beginning three weeks earlier than
usuaI the acreage planted being mnch larger
than ever before Modern methods are being
used in western farming. In one valley in Mon
tana last week 20 steam plows were az work
turning up the land for planting.
The business Of the transcontinentsl lines.
Great Northern. Northern Pacific and ST. Paul.
Fhis is true also Of the Southern Pseide and
Atchison. The western people are not borrow
ing any money to speak Of. except in the lumber
business. where large modern concrete and iron
mills being erected. the plants costing
81, 100000 each. The farmers are almost uni
'sThe banks in the west are full Of money.
many OF them carrying 10 to 90 per cent
serve Much Of this reserve Is being carried in
Henry Clews says:
IF there is thing more than another
which the country requires il Is a much larger
product Of all agricultural necessities This
would insure continued prosperity 70 the farmer
and afford much needed relief 70 the masses
by lowering the cost OF living and bringing IL
nearer TO the level which prevails abroad It
Is, or course. Yet TOO early 10 form anv opinions
regarding the crops most Of the reports Of dam
age 10 early wheat and cotton having proved 10
be exaggerated IL is quite certain. however.
that there will be a larger acreage OF cotton,
wheat and corn. The outlook for meats how
ever. is not so favorable, since II takes more
than a single year TO raise a larger crop oe
beef mutton pork. So high prices for meats
may be expected for some time to come, unless
some relief could be obtained by abOlishing the
duties on cattle and satisfying a portion OF our
needs through impOrtations. The iron trade.
which is stin chief industry, is in good
condition. There activity prevails and prices
are not unreasOnably high. Moreover. many
orders held back partly because OF the
difficulty which the railroads are having in
adequately financing their requirements. and
partly because some buyers holding OF
in the hope OF obtaining concessions SO far
this branch OF industry is concerned there ls
every prospect Of continued activity for months
TO come. especially soon easier money
ables railroads TO buy more freely Ths textile
trades suffering somewhat from high prices.
which has checked consumption and made buyers
timid, causing more or less difficulty in the
adjustment between high prices for raw material
and selling prices for the finished product.
There has been considerable curtailment among
both cotton and wooden mills. the effects OF
which win eventually serve TO steady these
markets. The dry goods trade. moreover. an
ticipates some improvement resulting from the
advances in wages which have occurred in many
industries and which win increase the purchas-
ing power of labor