New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-13
CLOSING PRICES OF BOSTON STOCKS.
ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE.

Thursday. March Up.
There was little change in the character Of
dealings to-day transactions again representing
operations OF the professional element. The
manipulation in American Tobacco was not so
violent yesterday. and the volume Of business
In this stock amounted to a little over one-quar-
ter of yesterdays total at prices ranging from 49,
the opening. to S0h. the highest Of the day. the
last price being at gain OF over per cent.
Vague rumOrs heard OF dividends in con-
nection with Tobacco. but there appears no rea-
son to believe that the company will not repeat
its February performance on the dividend ques-
ton. The stock has enjoyed marked degree OF
activity all the week under the careful nursing
Of inside interests. and the well-directed reports
alleging an end Of the tobacco and Of favor
able financial symptoms In the company have
served the purpose Of the manipulators better
than they calculated while the drubbng given
to the shorts has materially raised the prestige
OF the stock as a gamblers favorite. There is
still some short interest In the stock. The same
sort Of popularity Is enjoyed by General Electric
at present. but when the shorts have been roundly
whipped there may be a drop In the stock which
Is unpleasant to calculate. 1t must be remern-
bered that dividends on the preferred stock have
been accommodating since November 1893. and that
no dividends have been paid on the common
stock since August. 1899. The preferred stock is
entitled. In preference over the common stock. to
semi annual dividends at the rate OF per cent
year. Such dividends are cumulative. Gen
eral Electric at It's present value Is not an at
tractive stock for investors and while the future
for the electrical industry Is bright and promis-
ing. the fact must not be overlooked that the
future OF the industry Is open to wide and rigid
competition. The Westinghouse and General
Electric directors both held meetings to-day. and
the question OF making protective agreement
between the two companies was again under con-
sideration. After the close Of business II was
announced that agreement with respect to
Joint ~ the patents Of the two companies on
terms mutually satisfactory had been entered
into. Further details Of this arrangement are
given in the news columns.
An encouraging Sign OF the improvement In
traffic earnings reflected to-day in the
ton Of the directors of the Chicago. Milwaukee
and st. Paul In raising the semi-annua divi
dend on the common stock to per cent. The
earnings Of the company In this fiscal year show
per cent earned Last year the dividend due
on April was reduced from to per cent.
which was against per cent (annuaD paid In
1894 and 1893 and per cent In 1892 The div
idend announcement practically restores the
company to a per cent basis. The action Of
the directors served to strengthen the general
railway list. particularly the Granger shares
Rock Island. s.. Paul. Burlington and North
Western gaining A@1 per cent. Burlington
closed fractionay above st. Paul While the
volume Of business smaller than yesterday
It was better distributed. although six stocks
contributed 1454G3 shares out OF a total In all
stocks OF 204.C72 With few exceptions. last
prices were at an advance. the market closingv
with little activity.
Last prices Of the chief active stocks COM
pare with Yesterdays as follows: