New-York tribune., 1896-11-18
CLOSING PRICES OF CHICAGO STOCKS
Tuesday. November 17-p. IN.

There were no news developments affecting
the course Of prices on the Stock Exchange to-
day and with the exception Of the last fifteen
minutes of trading, the tendency toward
higher prices. Just before the close bear raid
ers did some active work. which resulted in
leaving final prices in tn. majority Of active
issues at small net losses. There was less ac-
tivity than yesterday and continued absence
Of outside support, the professional element
showing extreme caution, however. until just
before the close and exhibiting In its hesitancy
q fear of making decided changes in its position
during the absence Of the public The public
may return at any moment with an increased
vgor and appetite for securities. and operators
for a decline. who. In the absence Of heavy in
terests and outside buyers. persist In
noeuvrng for lower prices. may suddenly he
caught in their own nimsy and dangerous
trap. Such a consideration has doubtless in
spired caution among Stock Exchange traders.
In the last two days the security market has
furnished considerable disappointment to those
who calculated upon a rapid upward move
ment with great activity for n long time to
come; but as matter OF fact. this somewhat
sudden pause is no; unfavorabie feature.
and thos. who expected a different movement
may rest assured that the buying power Of the
public has not been exhausted. and tina: prices
have got to go considerably higher before they
will reflect values corresponding To the in
trinsic value Of the securities as based upon
the conditions and prospects OF the companies
which they represent.
Market movements to-day presented no feat
ures of Importance, merely rejecting manirula-
ton in the leading Industrial speculative spc-
cialties. and small trading on fractional changes
in the rest OF the list. American Spirits Manu-
featuring Company stock has taken place
among the Industrial favoritcs. and. If judg
based movements
is reason to doubt its ability to succeed the
VIGOROUSLY manipulated ana now defunct DIS
tilling and Cattle Feeding Company stock. a
clique bought the bonds and stock of American
Spirits and small operators joined the process
sion. advancing the price ~ per cent Hang
ers-on in brokers' Offices and incOrsequential
traders think that the price Of this stock Is
now at an extremely low figure. they can trade
In II with some profits ahead; but they would
better remember that 1t Is successor to a
highly manipulated and very Questionable stock,
and that small traders interests in such stocks
are swallowed up without fail by those who
make II their business to fleece the lambs. who
never grow old In judgment corlnon-scrsc
Sugar manipulate tors forced the price down near
the close ard the whole list weakened under
the aggressive attack on this stock ReadinE
was stron, the greater part OF the day on the
announcement Of the organization Of the sue
cessor company. while other strong features
among the active stocks were Missouri Pacihc
Northern Pacific, Pacific Mail and Southern
Railway. Metropolitan Traction was strong on
the expectation OF declaration Of n scrip divi-
dend Total sales were ISL shares. against
20J.314 yesterday. American securities In Lon
don were fiat, and there was little foreign in
terest In the market.
In connection with yesterdays noteworthy re-
port Of foreign commerce in November. II Is
Interesting to call attention to the statement
OF merchandise exports for the week ending to-
day. which In measure reflect results OF the
activity In general business For the week. the
value Of merchandise exports from this port
was S11 .O9l. 400. an increase OF S3,ll6301 over
the preceding week. an increase OF S4.257 .0J3