The New York herald., 1876-03-04
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
Stocks Irregular, but at the Close Firm
The Market Without Feature.
GOLD ia ga A 115 A ia 5-S
Government Bonds Strong Investment Secu-
rites Steady-Money 1-2 and 3 l-2
Per Cent-FOreign Exchange Dull.
WALL STREET,


The ingredients of to-day market were quite ex
traordinary the composition OF the "curious old
Port" which finds advertised IN London vintnors
window. There mixture Of high, low and me-
dunn prices and there a burned offerings,
Is bulls and bears roasted alternately barbe-
of bulls and braist of bears and few OF these
mammals escaped scorching in the eccentric market
Stimulated by the result OF the railroad conference
held yesterday, Lake Shore at the opening took
bound upward from 90 10 GO, with large dealings and
amid great excitement while Pacific Mail aud Western
Union followed close at its heels less marked In ad-
Of value, but In the Of the former
voluminous in extent OF dealings
As has been the story for time past, the stocks
above quoted the stars in the days drama Tho
Western shares and the tissue paper fimnies caught
some reflected light but like supers the STAGE took
their from their superiors, and dragged through
their parts after The usual ragtag and bobail fashion.
But the market like tho battle field of Linden,
quickly ''saw another sight," when, as by the wave OF
magcian's wand pess than an hour after tho open
ing the active stocks turned complete summersault
plunged down nearly per cent the lowest prices
of the day
Both bulls and bears came badly crippled out Of this
fray, which had proved so sharp, sudden and unex-
pected. Nothing daunted, however, after breathing
spell the contestants went at 1t again tooth and nail
and by little after midday the avores selling at
higher figures than they had obtained the opening
upward surge After this Lake Shore held its own at
about 63 63H for several hours although Western
Union went another rampage after lower prices and
Pacific Mail sulked at 25A a26.
The day finally closed under tremendous head o.,
steam, with safety valve screwed down and patent
brakes at discount The whole market hungered for
stocks, and there was an ostrich like appetite still
clamoring to be appeased when the Chinese tocsin
sounded the hour OF three In this abracadabra OF
sudden turns and startling fluctuations, for which
could be assigned, and in which the finger Of
no particular operator clearly visible 1t is difficult
TO get at the why and the wherefore Whom brokers
fall into dilemma and unable to guess at move
mcnt they wag their heads and utter the cabastic
word ''Gould" So to Gould was attributed the chang
ing hues OF to-day's market-to Gould, who, like
engine on the Elevated Railroad, considered
equally good at pushing and pulling.
Beyond sheer manipulation there little to affect
the of prices although the handsome showing
the way Of earnings helped the st. Paul stocks and
conddont feeling OF dividend lent strength
10 Western Union. In view however OF the fact that
the Atlantic and Pacific Company have made another
reduction of rates-this time Canada ward-it would
not appear the dividend any more assured than
before.
The desperate struggle OF the shorts to their
contracts IN Lake Shore closed up the market with
whir but whetner the top IS still 10 go on spinning TO-
morrow, whether 1t will speedily weaken and die
out, is opinion which be readily obtained from
the cheap prophets who hang about the doors of the
Stock Exchange and infest the drinking dives OF the
vicinity.
SALES TODAY
amounted to 245,o00 shares, which were distributed
among active stocks as foows:-New York Central
and Huason, 600; Ere, 1875; Lake Shore 73,7OO
Northwestern 70O do preferred, 400; Rock Island,
$500; Pacific Mall So 7SO; St Paul, 10 $50; do. pre-
Ierred, 2,l0O Ohios 3,9OOi Western Union, 7S,9l4
Wabash, $50; Panama, 1907 Michigan Central. l,4oo
Kansas and Texas 200.
OPENING, HIGHEST AND LOWEST PRICES
The following table shows the opening, highest and