The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-04
FINANCIAL And COMMERCIAL.
Review of the Week-An Exceedingly
Dull Stock Speculation.
THE GOLD AND MONEY MARKETS.
, Investment SecuritieS-The Course Of COvrrI-
mrnt, State and Railroad Bonds.
WALL STRExr, I
SUyDAY. Fob. Z. 1873.

The condition OF the stock market at the present
moment may be likencd that of '.burnt district"
which the flames have swept swallowing up
everything consumable. In word, The Ores OF spec
uation burned and there is nothing pres
existing upon which TO start con nagration.
So long they lasted there plenty of fuel In tho
Silver bill, in the coal and railroad combinations, IN
the probable disposition of the crops, affected by
war or peace abroad, but these subjects have
harpcd on to extent that would bavo disguised
roionus himself and have lost all preseut influence
upon tho market. Spectators of influence have
covered this tact, and. being unable to move prices
except in purely mechanical way, they
have left tho daily manipulation Of tho
market to the understrappcrs OF tho Board
room, who. in the exercise Of their
functions have passed Improbable precarious
week. 1t goes without saying that matters have
beon consequently as duh as dull could be- that luc.
tuatcns were as inirequcnt swallows In early
mer and TRANSACTIONS slim as Barnum's living
skec,on. Business In the early days OF the week
was small enough in all conscience, but 1t became
beautifully ess'' the days passed. and finally cu-
minated In n dissoving view, which strongly sug-
gcstcd ''the small end oil nothing" AT one timo
little spirit was Infused into the market through
Tho favorable adjustment OF railway difficulties, the
better prices obtained at the Delaware and Lacka-
coal sale and the Unprecedented receipts Of
breadstulls at Western ports; but 1t failed TO
continue and phsin lapsed back into the chronic
state Of dnlness. Although tho Silver bill has been
scanned from every point OF view and turned inside
out in tho examination of It's merits and dement's,
its effect should II become law, is, Notwithstanding
mooted question. That 1t is believed DO saturated
with dcmoraizing and damaging tendencies is already
clearly manifested in the checking OF trade and tho
upset,ng plans tho future, aud in this respect
its balolul influence Is already visible upon the stock
market Upon the gold market 1t was still more de-
cidedly marked by tho advance OF the price from 1O1
TO 1929 within thiTty-six hours though the latter
fraction was lost the close OF business Some evil
der ce was had, too, that the Western farmers were
inclined hold back their grain in hopes Of nla-
ton OF PRICES follow thesassage o the bill, and tho
utmost certainty OF peace in Europe came in
additional check to railway earnings, SO between
tue Two Spectators wero led TO regard less
iavorabiy tho future valuo of tho great
roads aud were content to hold what shares they had
without vcnurlns further upon the bull SIDE Being
unable sell and unwilling TO buy, and with public
to take their holdings off their hands, the large capital
lists are at present content to hold that good
time which, like tomorrow. is always coming and IN
the opinion OF most operators, Is already long past
due OF course VIC shall work out of this apathy Tor
stock gamblers afford TO stand idle but upon
what grounds the departure will be taken is not
at Tho moment clear 10 anybody.
TRANSACTIONS WEEK.
The following table represents the opening highest
ana lowest Sales regular way oil the principal stocks
during the past week, together with the number OF
shares dealt IN