The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-25

FRIDAY. Sept. "a.
The railway traffic returns and the trade re-
ports and statistics for tho week that came to
hand to-day show that the business OF the coun-
try is steadily forging ahead. Railway gross
earnings for the first half of September are
fully up to those for the corresponding period
Of 1892 and l2.3 y cent. greater than
for the corresponding period OF last year.
Tho volume Of payments through the prin-
cipal clearing houses this week Is G5.7 D
cent. larger than during tho corresponding
week Of last year and 1873 y cent. larger than In
1892. During the first three weeks Of this
month exports OF merchandise from this port
have been 1913 u cent. larger than last year and
imports have been 1877 u cent. less. These
changes indicate. according to Dun's Ierieu. an
excess of $53. 900, 600 Of exports over imports for
the United States for the current month. Prices
OF commodities are well maintained, with the
most noteworthy advance for the week in iron
and steel and manufactured products OF tho same.
Another favorable development is tho increase
In the number OF persons employed, which il
duo in part 10 The termination of the strikes of
the bituminous and anthracite coal miners.
Within the week Si,OO0,O 600 of gold has been
received at San Francisco from Australia, and
s.. 100000 will by to morrow BIO on the
wav from Europe. Among the railway
traffic returns reported to-day were those
OF tho Northern Pacific Company for the
third week in tho current month. showing
an increase Of $126, 755, or Bile q cent, as com.
pared with the corresponding period of last
year; the Missouri Pacific Company showing an
increase OF III 900, or about o7la y cent. and
the Chicago Great Western showing an increase
of nearly 2 $4,000. or 25ia . cent. The state
ment OF the Central Railroad OF New Jersey for
August, printed further on in this column.
shows that the anthracite industry Is improv.
Ing and confirms the prevailing impression that
the statement of tho Reading Company for the
same month will be even moro favorable than
that for July.
In the face OF these favorable developments
the stock market, after a fairly firm opening.
became heavy, and In tho final dealings was
weak. Practically every trader of Importance
on the floor OF tho Exchange was an aggressive
seller or stocks, a circumstance that created the
impression that tho movement against prices
was an organized one. Substantial interests
apparently acquieSced in 1t, for in no quarter
was there evidence OF m effort to support
prices. There was unq uestionably n good deal
of liquidation by the class Of spectators who
are frightened by a moderate decline or arc
compelled to throw over their holdings because
OF the slimness of their margins. Selling of that
character always encourages tho creation OF q
short interest, and tho indications are that a
good deal of the selling to-day was of a kind
that Will necessitato subsequent purchases.
Tho dealings were. as usual Of late,
in excess of half a million Bharcs. The
heaviest transactions were In Sugar Refining,
ut a net decline OF 2a points; In the
Granger stocks, Union Pacific. Western Union,
Louisville and Nashville, Northern Pacific pre-.
ferred, Manhattan Railway. Bay State Gas and
Atehison preferred At an average net loss of
about liz y cent. The only really important
net losses were in some OF the comparatively in
active stocks, like Consolidated Gas, nlinoIs