The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-11
STOCK MARKET is WAITING FOR
SOMETHING DEFINITE TO
TURN UP.
BETTER TONE REFLECTED.
EFFECT ON THE NEW YORK
TRADERS.
MARKET GENERALLY CLOSED FIRM
Slight Net Gains Scored In Spite oil
the StagnatiOn of the Days
Session.

NEW YORK, March 10.-The stock market
occupied position today similar to that Of
Mr.. Micawber in his expectant moods, except
that there was a notable lack of the jaunty
and buoyant confidence which would have
made Micawber a bull in Wall street on the
slightest prevocation. Wall street. on the
contrary, has been determined to take no no.
tice of very many favorable factors in the
general outlook, and to insist on definite
knowledge on one or two subjects before buy
ing stocks with any great amount of enthu-
siasm. One of these subjects is the final de-
cision Of the powers of Europe as to whether
they will agree or disagree on the disposition
OF Crete and its inhabitants. Although a
much better tone was reflected from the Eu-
ropean exchanges today, the dealers here ap-
parently fear that there still is further ma
terial for damage of values in the situation
and the market was even more restricted than
of late. Barely 10000 shares changed hands
on the stock exchange today, and of these
fully two-ffths were Of Sugar and Tobacco
OF the anthracite coal group, there was not
single sale in any stock but New Jersey
Central and Reading. The former declined
but subsequently recovered The interna-
tional shares were slightly higher in sympa-
thy with the London market, but apparently
had no effect on the list The declaration of
tone to the market, passed without notice.
Encouraging reports of the current earnings
Of railroads and the prospects for traffic were
equally without effect the stagnancy of the
market, except in a slight degree on the
grangers. Omaha showed some erratic ten
dency with easier tendency
Tobacco was most largely dealt in, and
rose strongly 25s, to 49, the preferred at the
same time gaining 11a, and the scrip q
There was no explicit information to account
for the rise, but various rumors of a favor
able characters were in circulation. Rubber
developed a marked reactionary tendency in
the late session. receding "a for the common
and 312 for the preferred the former subse-
quently regaining the fraction. Sugar moved
narrowly on lighter transactions than usual.
Manhattan lost slightly, and Western Union
rose Is, partly on the publication of the quar-
terly report and partly on the apparent effort
TO adjust the relative price of these stocks
TO the new per cent basis for Manhattan
ana per cent for Western Union. The
changes in the railway list were insignificant
slight gains being the rule except in Missouri
racine which lost Y on an unfavorable inter
PLe'atI ION OF the annual report. Consolidated
Gas, Pullman and New York CentraA each
gained l. The market gel,S1~iTy closed firm
at slight improvements
Inc BOND market retains considerable firm
ness despite It's extreme dullness, the trans
actions today aggregating only $S71 900. Gov
ernments were dull, with the old fours coupon
stiffening slightly
The total sales OF stocks today were 90 7SO
shares including the following: Tobacco, 19.
700; Manhattan, 600; Missouri Pacific. : 200.
st. Paul, $500; New Jersey Central 5000
Inc following were the fluctuations of the
leading railway and industrial shares. fur
n1shed by c. H. F. Smith & Co., members
of trade.