The age-herald., 1897-09-18

near months was again pronounced. The crop accounts contiaued unfavorable.
 RIORDAN & co. .
 Tn Wall Street.
 New York, Sept 17.-Today's markst was strong and the average of prices was considerably raised as a result of today's trading. It was noticeable fact, however. that the greatest activity was confined to spots. The gains also were spasmodlo in character and it could not be said that there was any simulta neous advances through the whole list. During the periods while an individual stock or group of stocks was being advanced the general list showed a disposition to fall into neglect and to halt the advance. It must be said, how ever that the spasms Of activity today went the round of pretty much the whole market. The Changers, the trunk lines, the Vanderbifts and ths southwesterrs, all of which d1ave recently been checked on realization sales resulting from previ- ous sharp gains, showed recoveries to- day. The most conspicuous feature of the market, however, was the lively de- nand for the Coalers. New Jersey Gen. tral was carried up an extreme 3% to 101%, closing at par for the first time since Feb. 3 of this year. The dscire which pneceeded one reduction of the dividend dated from that time and cul- minated on May 24, when ths stock touched 68A. It was ore of the last stocks to feel the impulse of the recovery of prices. The Reading stocks all ad- vanoed a point or over during the day, but fell back sfarpy just at the close. Lackawanna rose 24 and Delaware and Hudson 134. There was some stirring up of the dead cats and dogs on the list also, and soms sharp advances were rs- corded in stocks so low in price that it is only little way to go to double up. The southern railroads seemed to have the incubus of the yellow fever scare lifted, and Louisville, Southern preferred and Mobide and Ohio all gained consid- erably over point The increase in gross earnings in Missouri Pacific of $129,00O for the second week in Septem- Der and for Wabash of $2S,715 turned at tention to the southwesterners, and Mis- souri Pacific Atchison preferred and Wabash preferred all gained a point or over net. The solution of the troubles of the soft coal industry, which is being worked out, was reflected in sharp ad- vances in Toledo and Ohio Central and Hooking Valley preferred.
 Union Pacific was another conspicu- ous figure in the trading, being heavily bought by London and closing with a net gain of nearly two points. Manhattan, which sold today ex dividend of l per cent, recovered rhe otvidend- and other point besides. The grangers were less active than of late, but maintained strength, Chicago Great Western lead ing. In this industrial list the Spirits stocks, which have advanced much less than others in the current movement, showed sharp gadns, the preferred rising a point. The other leading industr1ais, including Sugar, Tobacco, Leather pre- ferred, Lead and Rubber, showed somewh hat heavy Gone and closed at a smaH net change, except Tobacco, which lost over point. Western Union gained over pcdnE, and the common and pre- ferred stock of Pittsburg, c. c. c. & St. L. over points, The exchange mar ket was weak and dull, especially that for continental exchange, and it is evi- dent that any material hardening of the imports of gold.
 The total sales of stocks today were 6O1 ,30S shares, including Atchison, 8, 400; do preferred, 27,750; c. B. & O., g, 2,23S; and Nashville, 16,350; Manhattan, $500; New Jersey Central. 6,250; Northern Pa cfhc, 8,6l5; do preferred, 16120; Onta flo and Western 11,160; Reading. 27,12O: utoch iSdiiu, ll,41O, St. Paul, 25, 165: St. Paul and Omaha, 5,235; Southern Rail- way, 5,2s5; do preferred. s,6S5; Texas and Pacific, 5,5S5; Union Pacific, 32,98O; U F. D. & G., 15,310: Bay S,ate Gas, 1O.- $50; American Spiitts, S,735; Wabash pre- ferned, 16,250; Chicago Gas, 9,9S0. Consolidated Gas, SITS; Sugar. 6'430: Western Union, 1o.66S; Chicago Great Western, 24,2S0.
 Today's market for railway bonds wa. sales, $2, ,000, ,0o0.
 Unied States 5's coupons sold at 114Z
 Money on call steady at 1A@21l per cent: last loan per cent; closing at 1a@2 per cent.
 Prime mercantile paper 4@4h per c=nt
 Sterling exchange weak with actual business in bankers bills at s4.S4%M 4.S5 for demand and at $4.S2A 4.S2N for sixty days.
 Posted rates s4s3@4.s4 and s4s5@ 4.86 ~
 Commercial bills, s4.S1k@4S2.
 Silver certificates, 57@5Sc.
 Bar silver, 56%c.
 M xicon dollars, 43Ac.
 Government bonds firm.
 State bonds dull.
 Railroad bonds steady.
 Petroleum. PennSvlyania crude po