New-York tribune., 1896-01-23
CLOSING PRICES OF BOSTON STOCKS.
Wednesday. January 22-p. m.

The constantly improving outlook lor
friendly settlement Of the Nenezutla lhcluch' =
offsetting In a measure the uncertainties OF 'he
financial situation so far as the security mar
kets are concerned. There was an increase II
activity in the stock market to-day; prices were
substantially higher. and London was h"i-
crate buyer Of it's favorites. Probably dls-
match in leading London newspaper asserting
that President Cleveland was anxious Tor an
early settlement Of the Venezuela dispute IN d"
way which would involve no discredit 10 c'hcr
nation. was responsible for the better feeling
abroad and the Willingness Of foreigners T. buy
American securities. London quotations came
in higher this morning. and arbtrage brokers
urobabv bought over 10000 shares IN inns Hf -
i,a, Prices were generally their best in the irsi
hour of business. but there were no slgnlncaht
declines from the highest figures. except IN
American Tobacco and Chicago Gas, the 'OS.Hb
being strong at advances ranging in the actlN"
shares from u TO ~ per cent. ~. iaul' I'''h
Island and burlington were up over per Gem l..
as were Manhattan, Sugar Refining, Reading ana
United States Leather. while General hle, ,ul'
Lake Shore and Louisville and NashNIlle Closed
| per cent higher than last night. Among III
active shares and those in which rahsacuoii'
,rere email net gains were generally scored,
which in the case Of New-York, Chicago ana ~.
Louis first preferred amounted to b9s per cent
Missouri Pacific and American l"paDco anu
Chicago were the only weak features, IN" last-
named closing slightly above yesterdays last
nrices however Shorts Wer" active buyers.
BANKERS report an easier tendency in IN" money
market and the foreign exchange market Is
distinctly easier The premium Of i2N@4 per
cent in gold and legal tenders continues, but the
business I'm both is reported smaller
The strength in Reading was attributed To a
reuort that the coal presidents. at their meeting
tomorrow would form strong combination 10
control all the anthracite trade In this country.
1t was said that an agreement would be made
nv which the present anthracite cOal-producing
ard carrying companies would be united for
the control Of the business for It's readjustment,
and for a higher scale of prices. Whether coal
trust will be formed IS a matter OF considerable
doubt despite the generally circulated reports
TO that effect to-day; but there is little, doubt
that an earnest effort Will be made l" briAS
about closer agreement among the companies
as TO prices and the maintaining of them. The
fact that Reading. the chief stumbling block In
the mast Is now under the control OF Mr.. Nor
gan would indicate favorable results from to-
morrows meeting. Ii i9 not to be "Xpect"d
however that anything definite will b. accom-
pllshed at one meeting and most likely there
question Is finally ard satisfactorily scttl 81.
From the coal mems point OF view the situation
Is most dismal. Undoubtedly the trade Ia de-
moralized because the markets have been flooded
with coal at prices ruinous 10 the companies. as
shown in the statements for the year. At pres
ent prices are fully as low as year ago. when
! unsuccessful efforts were made to rehabilitae e
the trade The present mild weather and tho
uncertainty regarding the financial outlook
make the coal situation one OF supreme i'm
portance To the big anthracite railroad com
panies and radical measures Will be necessary
IL worse state Of decentralization than In 1884
and 1895 Is to be prevented.
Closing prices Of the chief active stocks com
pared with their last prices yesterday. were ae
follows: