Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-15
FINANCE AND TRADE
Speculation Nearly Confined to
Sugar and Chicago Gas.
VOLUME OF BUSINESS INSIGNIFICANT
What is Thought Of the Senate
Developments.
GENERAL MARKET REPORTS

Special Dispatch to The Evening star
NEW YORK, December l5.-Speculation
this morning was confined almost exclu-
sively to Sugar and Chicago Gas, the vol
ume OF business In the railway list having
dwindled into insignihcance The dividend
on Chicago Gas vas the enc important
topic Of discussion. runner, as usual, taking
the place OF more substantial information.
Yesterday the decline was attributed to
the natural consequences of a steady ad-
vance and the evening up Of traders con-
tracts at the close Of the week; today evil
dences Of inside liquidation were decidedly
pronounced. The recent heavy purchasers
Of the stock sold at every opportunity this
morning without offering any explanation
Of their fckleness. Rumor assigned the
reason to be a probable reduction In the
dividend rate or its entire omission for the
current quarter. 1t was also stated that
the retention Of the old rate would neces.
state its payment In scrip, as the COM
pany has not sufficient funds available to
pay cash. In view Of the recent senai-of-
fetal publication of the company's earn
ings and the revenue derived from an in
tersst In profitable natural gas business,
this announcement that there ls considera-
able and apparently well founded doubt
as to the company's ability to make Its
usual Q per cent disbursement occasioned
The postponenent Of the meeting to take
action on this important subject Is general
iy regarded as significant. but such o
movement bears the ear-marks Of manipu-
latfon, which may or may not be mislead-
ing in the present instance. The short
interest In the property IL now quite large,
and q rally would surely follow any i'm.
portant effort to cover
Sugars Illustrations were more extensive
than those Of the above stock, selling for
both accounts being both conspicuous ana
liberal
What has come to be known az thu
STANDARD Oil party were credited with
| extensive sales on the decline The prevail
Ing opinion leans strongly In favor Of the
| long side Of this stock, however, and pur-
chases on all concessions are regarded as
| less hazardous than trading for the short
| account. The weeks developments In the
| Senate have been encouraging to the man.
| agement and all interested In the future
welfare OF this company. Improved trade
| conditions alone are lacking to give i'm
petus to a decidedly profitable upward
| movement Unfortunately, the reports for
| the week from the trade are not reassur-
| ing so far as the immediate outlook is cons
cerned.
The bank statement reflects a gain In
specie trihe in excess Of the loss in legal
tenders. The changes In these items re-
| suit from the Withdrawals on account of
gold shipments and the return of gold in
! excess of the amount required in pay
! ment for bonds recently purchased. This
! latter action explains in some degree the
| ieported decrease in loans. The falling of
/ In deposits Is responsible for the slight
| increase in surplus. The statement In de-
tail follows: Reserve, increased, s44S, 175:
loans, decreased, $S62, 200; specie increased.
$6,315,900; legals. decreased, S624i, 800; de-
posits, decreased, S1,2463O0, and circula.
ton, decreased, $3.50