New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-29
CLOSING PRICES OF CHICAGO STOCKS.
ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE.
FrilaY. February 9

Friday, February 2S-p. m.
Operators for decline took advantage Of the
Cuban discussion In Washington to-day and sue
ceeded in making some people believe that this
country was about TO begin an active war with
Spain. War talk is about the only card the bears
have to play. for lower prices are not warranted
by actual conditions. The Venezuelan incident
succeeded In shaking out stock without reserve
and tO-day's Washington dispatches t. the bear
rumor-shop resulted In considerable liquidation
in the last hour Of business. Traders In stocks
and petty operators RS we'll as sensitive large
holders. are always ready 10 accept every rumor
which IS put out. AS in the case OF the Venez-
uelan message. when the rumor Trust had inside
information that war was - DE- declared 30 again
to-day there was not a shadow OF doubt that
some one In the Street Connected with the runor
trust had postiye information that this country
would become Involved In d.'serious' dispute with
Spain because popular sentiment favorS the
Cuban cause. There Is reason for a demorali-
zation In values based upon the talk OF recogniz-
ing the Cubans The passage Of the proposed
Cuban resolution Will in no way affect the busi-
ness interests Of this country. 1t viii not bring
on war with Spain. 1t will injure those who
are willing TO be drawn into the nets Of the
cunning bears Of Wall Street. and the domestic
and foreign investors who sacrifice their securi-
ties In silly rumors and suggestions deserve 10
pity: should any excuses be offered or &C
ceptcd for their weakness. few minutes before
the close Of to-days market some frightened
traders who sold regained their equilibrium and
bought back what they had thrown over and
this, with buying by others who had taken ad-
vantage Of the slump. caused a rally. carrying
prices in all stocks above the lowest and in some
stocks as much as per cont was recovered
The opening prices were higher on better
London quotations and foreign buying and the
early strength would doubtless have been main
tanned had II not been for the Cuban scare.
Outside Of this the effect Of the poor showing by
the United States Leather Company on the
Industrial shares, and talk OF an early resump-
ton Of gold exports were minor elements OF
weakness, but not OF sufficient influence TO
cause the Generalization induced by talk.
The declines from the opening ranged from
to per cent. but the rally at the close made
the average loss in the active shares about
per cent Sugar Refining on large sales closed
at a loss Of 24 per cent. Burlington per cent.
while Chicago Gas. Rock Islard. st Paul. Cen
eral Electric Louisville and Nashville Kansas
and Texas preferred. Pacific Mail and Ten
nessee Coal were down 1kQlB per cent. else
where among the active shares losses being
fractional American Tobacco Baltimore ana
Ohio. Manhattan and Northern Pacific preferred
showed small net gains. Dealings in American
Tobacco, Sugar Refining. Chicago Gas Rock
Island. Burlington. ST. Paul. Louisville and
Nashville and Leather preferred contributed
about 100000 shares out of total In all shares
OF 42l 043 , .,,
Closing prices OF the principal active stocks.
compared with last prices yesterday, were as