The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-19
DROP DAMAGE STORIES OFFSET
BY THE SLUMP IN WALL
STREET.
COARSE GRAINS SLUGGISH.
WHEAT THE ONLY ARTICLE ON
THE LIST THAT SHOWED
ACTIVITY.
aAY DROPPED sEvEN-EuGHTHs.
Weakness of Foreign Markets One
Cause for the Decline at Chicago
Provisions Heavy

CHICAGO, Dec. 18.-Wheat was the only
article on the speculative list that showed
any activity today. 1t closed with a &c de-
cline partly caused by weak foreign mar
kets and partly through sympathy with the
slump in Wall street. Corn and oats de-
clined about 1sc each. Provisions closed un-
changed to &c lower. Early Liverpool news
received bearish Interpretation. There was
no change in prices noted in the first cable
from that point, which was distinctly disap-
pointing to the bulls although why it should
be was a mystery, as this market was weak
on the curb last night on the correction of
the Newport News exports, which were found
to be only 10000 pounds or about 700 bar
rels, instead of 140 600 barrels, as reported.
This disappointment was shown in the open
Ing quotations for May, which ranged from
797sc to S11sc as compared with yesterdays
closing price Of S0$sc. After lowering around
the soc mark for time, the price began
to advance, and in the first As minutes of
trading had reached S05sc. The Northwest re-
ceipts were smaller than ever, and reports
from that territory were to the effect that
arrivals were about down to their average
during the winter. Minneapolis and Duluth
reported 1863 cars, as compared with 537 cars
last week, and 729 on the corresponding day
last year. Chicago's showing equally
low, 43 cars against As last week. and 1S1
encouraged by better tone to later cables,
and a belief that was quite prevalent that
Liverpool opening had been manipulated on
this SIDE The price had many fluctuations
between 792zc and 80%c during the fore
noon, report that 5000, 600 bu had been
engaged for export at New York was the
cause Of the rise to the last named figure.
The market came completely under the spell
Of the New York financial news, and the weak
stock market during the last hour. 1t had
Advanced to 80Ac, but went down again
with clatter to 1880 near the close Crop
damage reports were more numerous than be-
fore. The crowd, however, refused to let
next years crop enter so early into this sea-
sons campaign, and felt and acted like de-
Corn was extremely dull all day, the little
business doing being in small lots and chief
ly Of a scalping nature. Symapthy with wheat
and the colder weather, with expectations of
increased receipts initiated against higher
prices and caused the weak undertone which
characterized the market. May opened 1Bc
lower at 253sc sold at 251ac and declined to
25A AG252sc, where it closed. Oats opened
lower and after a momentary display of
strength, sold off still further under free Of
terings. Later, under heavy buying princ-
pally by one broker, the market recovered
May opened ct zoe, 1sc lower, advanced to
20lsc, then declined to 19%a G20c, closing easy
ness in grain and a general disposition to
postpone the business until after the holidays.
The offerings and orders to buy were both
light. Pork, however, was the only staple
showing any appreciable change at the close
May pork closed &C lower at $7.S7Ia May
lard unchanged at $4d4.02 May ribs un-
changed at $464. .021a Estimated receipts Sat
urday: Wheat, 81 cars; corn, 319 cars; oats
ESQ cars; hogs, q, 900 head.
The leading futures ranged as follows: