The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-16

CHICAGO, April 15.-Reports Of ruined crops
came in from every direction today and
were of such doleful character that May
wheat rose 1ssc per blu. Corn and oats had
checkered existence but were firm In the
end closing about 5sc higher each. Pro-
visions were strong, without much activity
closing with advances from 212 to 1212c. To-
morrow, Good Friday will be observed as
holiday on the board.
There was but one speculative market at
the opening on change today. That was
wheat, and bull spectators had it all their
own way for a time. Nothing could with
draw the attention of the spectators from the
marshalled phalanx of bullish market con-
ditions. Higher foreign markets, moderate
Northwest receipts and confirmation Of
heavy days export business at the seaboard
were good grounds in themselves for brisk
Jump in prices at the start, and with the
calamitous report from Springfield, Ill, re-
garding the winter wheat crop of the state
which made the rather starting statement that
not more than enough wheat for seed would
be harvested in Illinois this season, the only
surprise is that the first transaction did not
show an advance of 2 or Sc instead of from
u to &c. Opening sales for May from
685s G6S%c, against yesterdays closing price
of 68Ac, and the scramble to cover which
set in from every quarter had sent the
price, by II o'clock to 697sc, with but one
or two trifing hals. Chicago received 10
cars, Minneapolis and Duluth I'll. A week
ago the two latter got 264 and a year ago
295. The amount Of export business reported
done at New York yesterday was AGA, 900 blu.
Liverpool quoted an advance of Id per GENITAL
at the opening. The clearances of wheat
and -four from the principal Atlantic seaports
were equal to $4,000 blu. The small present
shipments to foreign countries was about the
only development of the situation which could
be considered other than bullish. Later in
the session the market became very unset
tied. Such advance recorded was nat
urally very tempting, and there was enough
realizing and short selling to force the price
back to 69c, but only for a short time. Re
ports Of crop damage continued to come ill.,
even far-off California joining in the general
complaint. A rally to 695s@69a4c ensued, and
after two or three nervous fluctuations the
market was bringing $3.50 at the close.
Corn was subject to several bear raids en-
couraged by the improving weather, and by
reports of the knee-high corn in Texas. The
strength Of wheat, however, made shorts ner-
vOus and their covering was sufficient to
hold prices tseady on what would otherwise
have been a weak market. Seaboard clear
ances were $4,000 Blu. May opened at 23Bc,
eased to 231aQ233sc and recovered to 237ec
where it closed. In oats the covering of one
large line was about the only feature. That
with a generally good demand, created
strong feeling and caused an advance early
in the day. Selling become freer as prices
scared upward. and the early advance was
eventually lost. Seaboard cIearances $50 600
bu. May opened at 1880, advanced to 1890,
declined to 1914 Gi63sc. and rested at 1870
1890 asked Provisions were strong without
leading to much activity in the trading. Offer
ings were light The opening advance, due
principally to sympathy with the grain mar
kets, was followed by some reaction, but
closing prices were at the best figures of
the day. At the close May pork was $40
May lard S4.20, May ribs $4.7O Estimates:
Wheat cars; corn, 95 cars; oats, 14O cars;
hogs, 20 900 head.
The leading futures ranged as follows: