New-York tribune., 1891-10-14
WHAT WAS DONE IN STOCKS.

Tuesday, October l3-p. N.
The recent dulness Of speculation has encour-
aged operations for the short account The at
taoks bv the bear faction have been persistent, If
they have lacked courage and vigor but they have
resulted in little more than a gradual enlargement
Of the short interest In the evident absence oil
concerted support and public buying, IL Is by no
means certain that an energetic and spirited as
sault might not win more substantial victory.
That it is not made is sure sign OF the extraor-
diparv caution which undoubtedly prevails in the
hear ranks As the most that is hoped for Is
merely a speculative turn in the market the hesl-
tation is. however. a fresh proof of the soundness
and inherent strength of the conditions which at
present surround speculation The course CT
prices to-day clearly indicated that the bear faction
was less confident Of q material reaeton' Inc
favorite theory that. because prices do not aH-
vance, the present dulness can be disturbed only
by a sharp decline was farther than before from
realization The buying TO protect short sales
however, was no less careful than the previous
selling for II was demonstrated In the
early dealings that stocks were scarce
rather than plentiful. While lower prices
failed to excite outside interest," they were equally
lupOtent to induce sales OF long stocks. II pres
enf holders were not eager 70 increase their
lines they were obstinately reluctant 70 reduce
them. The market was at standstlll, there,
professional traders An advance OF nearly per
cent In Chicago, Burlington and Quincy was 10
an extent q measure Of the large short interest,"
in that stock, while the weakness OF LouisNllIe
and Nashville and the Northern Pacific stocks re
fected the languid selling for foreign account,
which was helped by operators for fall AS a
rroup tie anthracite coal stocks were q little
more active ut advancing prices, and Readln.
and Lackawana both recorded gains Of ! per
cent These variations were exceptional, Tor Tho
final advances were not more than Ia per cehh
on an average. The volume OF business was
smaller than on any previous day for long
time but this shrnkage was due in part to In
tnrruptions OF telegraphic communication.
There was no news Of sufficient importance
10 affect in any way the course OF prices. Inc
fortuightly settlement at the London stock EN-
change was made without exposing any financial
v-pa kness and the ease Of money In the open
market was so great that an advance in the Rank
of England rate would seem to he remote Rum0rs
about the new Russian loan, which Is 10 be offered
in Paris filtered through London, and it's success
or failure is yet unknown. The export move
mont of merchandise last week was on a fairly
large scale the value Of the exports amounting
To IS. 347,644, gainst S9,76s,9s9 in the preced-
ing week TIE comparison with The same week
last wear is deceptive, because then the Custom
House returns were swollen by including a large
gum which had not previously been reported
With that exception, the exports last week were
larrer than at the same time for many years.
THE DAY IN THE BOND MARKET.
4 sale Of 900 coupon as at a decline Of Ia
nor cent weakened the Government gold issues,
willie bids for some Of the currency 6s were raised
q small fraction. The closing quotations were
as follows: