The Saint Paul globe., 1897-02-19
NARROW IN LIMITS
STOCK MARKET CHARACTERIZED
BY NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING,
BUT DULLNESS.
SWAYED BY ROOM TRADERS.
OUTLOOK REFLECTED IN THE
DEALINGS.
SWAYED BY ROOM TRADERS
RAILWAY LIST MODERATELY FIRM.
Unable to Resist the General AP-
athy OF the Market, But Only
Yielded Fractions.

NEW YORK, Feb. 18.-Todays market for
securities on the stock exchange was notable
for nothing but its excessive dullness, absence
of feature and the narrow limits of the trad
ing and the range Of prices. The market
reflected no condition in the general out
look for business in the country and was
simply swayed by the manipulative efforts
Of room traders. The inference is that hold
ers OF securities are determined to wait for
the chance Of a more satisfactory market be-
fore parting with their holdings The re-
v1val OF feeling Of uneasiness over the
enigma of the ultimate attitude Of the great
powers toward the Greeks in Crete reflect
ed from the foreign exchanges served to de-
press the market from the opening, and there
was selling Of some international securities
on foreign account. The anthracite coal
group declined sharply on apprehensions over
the conditions in the trade and in sympathy
with the raid on Lehigh Valley in the Phila-
delphia market. New Jersey Central de-
cllned Ia, but recovered the fraction. The
industrials 1uctuated irregularly, showing
fractional net gains, however. Tobacco and
Leather were also firm, was Sugar, on
buying, said to be for inside accounts and
on an advance in the price Of the product.
All the advance was not retained Manhattan
was active though erratic, and after frac-
tention of it's officials to adopt electricity as
a motive power. The gain was lost later on
revived rumors Of reduction in the dividend
rate.
Practically all the railway reports received
show an encouraging increase in earnings,
but the railway list was unable to withstand
the general apathy of the market and declined
fractionally for the most part. The market
developed a somewhat better tone in the
late dealings and the closing mainly
steady
The bond market displayed decided flrmness
generally on wider volume of trading, which
embraced a number of the hitherto neglected
issues. Improvements of a substantial char
acter were recorded in some Of the high grade
securities. Oregon Short Line issues were
heavily dealt in and rose 1 per cent for the
SKIES and 2 per cent for skies trust receipts.
There was news to account for the re-
vival OF strength and animation in these Sc
curties other than expected benefits to accrue
from the industrial activity chronicied in the
Northwest. and efforts pending to rehabili-
tate various railway properties traversing that
region The total sa.es were 81 $4,000. The
government bond market continues to main
tain firm tone on good inquiry by finan-
cial institutions. The new fours as a rule
absorb the bulk of the transactions but a
disposition is noted to take considerable
blocks of the other issues. The sales were
1854 ,0G0.
The total sales of stocks today were 120 1913
shares, including: Sugar, 28, 400; Burlington,
1900; Manhattan, $500; Missouri Pacific, 1900;
Reading, 1900; st. Paul, 5000; New Jersey
Central, 7100.
The following were ii fluctuations of the
leading railway and in 1ustral shares, fur
nished by c. H. F. Smith Co., members
New York stock exchange and Chicago board
of trade: