New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-21
WHAT WAS DONE IN STOCKS.


As an evidence OF the methods employed to de-
press values at the Stock Exchange. we quote one
Of the choice morsels sent out early to-day by
Wall Street news agency: The Wall Street
people. who know just what is going on, say that
the Boston folks have a very unpleasant surprise
in store and it will be sprung on the Street in
very few days" On personal application at tho
news agency to learn something Of the purport of
this mind narrowing information. we learned that
the agency had no knowledge of its purport that
they would investigate it. and that they refused
TO give any authority for the special information
sent out During the day no explanation OF the
important expected developments was published,
and the Boston stock market exhibited buoyancy
that il has not developed in many months. Those
wise Wall Street people, a greedy person would
suppose, would use their special information for
their own benefit instead of giving 1t away
gratutously p TO dissemination OF news
The feature of the days stock market was the
coal stocks the properties which only few days
ago were said TO be In bad way. because OF the
usual seasonabe) dulness in the coal trade Deia.
ware Lackawanna and Western sold up TO l4l 3-o
and closed at lao 81, and Delaware and Hudson
sold up 10 1874 and closed al 80 1-2. Central or
New-Jersey ruled strong up to "a 3-Sa93 IS, ana
Philadelphia and Reading ruled firm az above 40,
closing at As Ia. Erie. which people have NOT
yet learned to class as one OF the coal ROADS, was
only strong at 2e 1-sa26 3-s.
The general market was, subject to bear
manipustion. st. Paul closes at 81 l-2-b-s
lower than last evening, after the employment OF
the peculiar tactics of scattering orders broad
cast throughout a list of brokers never known
to deal in that stock 70 sell 200 or 300 shares
The Rock Island directors met and declared
dividend OF l per cent for the quarter TO end
December 81, with the unofficial statement that
that amount was earned This makes per cent
for nine months. with Improvement in sight;
Yet the price OF the stock. after beng ~ ana
9G closed the same as last evening at 96 l-2,
while Burlington and Quincy. which has been
paying only / per cent quart rly and not earn
ing lis fixed charges in the last year was firm
at lO7 l-2 CONSIDERING the relations existing
between the managers of the Two companies we
see nothing in the relative market values OF
OF the Rock Island end of the stick.
The Vanderbilt Eastern trunk lines ruled strong
but they were dull There is little question that
the semi-annusl dividend on Lake Shore and
Michigan Central will be increased at the meet
ings of directors next week The dividend on
Lake Shore may be set down as certain ID
and possible per cent, for the SIX months
The dealings in Union Pacihc which c,osed at
prise for Boston before referred To, because II
is supposed that Boston Is particularly long OF
that stock. and for the same reason oregon Snort
Line after selling at A l-2a44 3-S closed only
a bid.
The mornings stock loan market developed
only small reduction in the outstanding short
interest. There was some returning of borrowed
stocks, but in most instances the new borrowing
demand was equal to the apparent liquidation
The market closed dull and strong.
TIE DAY IN THE BOND MARKET.
The Government bond market was dull At thu
prces current there seems be less than the usual
demand for purchases to evade taxation The
chance for loss on the temporary investment
seems TO be too great TO invite the usual December
purchasing. Nominal quotations are steady as
follows: