Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-04
STOCKS LISTLESS.
MARKET DRIFTS ON ACCOUNT OF
CUBAN UNCERTAINTY.
The EXCHANGE CONTINUES DULL.
Money Unchangcd-TOnd Prices
Pretty Well Maintained-Wheat
Irreguior-COrn Dull, But Strong
Provisions Advapce-CottonD Dull.

| NEW YORK, March 3.-Some of the
bull traders bid up the prices of Speciali-
ties this morning, and carried the general
| list with them, in an effort to renew the
| bull campaign. but there was no Outside
| interest, and the efforts of the leaders
were not seconded. The market drifted
| listlessly for the rest of the day. some
times up and some times down, and had
some part Of the early gains remaining
for most stocks at the close. Buying OF
New York Central in the last hour, on
the receipt of the news from Albany that
the Assembly had passed a measure as
surfing the legality of the bond issue
necessary for the consolidation with the
Lake Shore. caused a stiffening OF the
market in the closing deals
There were long periods during the day
when business was almost stagnant, and
prices moved very sluggishly. The market
was in the hands of small traders, and
reflected no condition of general business
beyond the feeling of uncertainty regard
ing the Cuban situation. Large opera
tors and the general public are evidently
out of the market, by reason of this
same uncertainty, ard the room-traders
seek to move prices by all sorts of rumors
and surmises many of which orgi-
nate in the board-room and are denied
before they get beyond the doors. There
was a serene disregard Of attempts to
precipitate a new phase of the Cuban
question in advance of the formal report
of the Maine Board OF Inquiry, which is
looked to to definitely define the status
OF the disaster.
Sugar New York Central, Tobacco, ard
no ~
having some special cause assigned for
its strength. There was talk OF an agree
ment over threatened competition In
sugar OF largely increased earnings In
Tobacco. and of buying for large cor
porate interests in st. Paul. Rock Island
and st. Paul were both helped by the
stated estimates Of the earnings for Feb
ruary.
The exchange market continues duh.
a weakening of the rate on Paris being
the feature OF the day. There was some
talk that more gold may be shipped from
Paris before the end Of the week, but
further immediate shipments from Lon
don are considered unlikely, In view of
the small supply to be had in the open
market. and the disinclnation Of the
Bank of England to diminish its supply.
Conditions i'm the money market re-
manned unchanged.
BTlceS were pretty wen HdlHldlHch III
the bond market. but the volume of deal
ings showed a very marked decrease in
the recent average. Total sales, 2,2OO,0O0.
United States new as and SIS were ii
lower, bid. to-day.
The total sales of stocks were 29i 100
shares. including Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy, II, 94S; Manhattan J., 1882; Metro
politan Street Railway, l0.SiO; Minnea-
polls and ST. Louis, 500; Northern
Pacific preferred $3.50; Rock Island, S,9l3;
st. Paul. H.Sn; Union Pacific. 1919;
American Tobacco 1860: Peoples Gas
6.595: Sugar. 73. 40; Western Union. 6,H5.
MONEY AND EXCHANGE.
Money on call steady at 2q2l-2 per
cent; last loan, per cent; prime mer-
camille paper, 3-Sa4l-2 per cent.
Sterling exchange easier, with actual
business in bankers bills at $i.a IL for
demand and $is2G$s2 Is for sixty days;
posted rates. $i8 and A.S l-2; CONNER
cial bills. $4.S1 l-2.
silver certificates. So l-2q56 1-2. Bar sill
YER. 81. Mexican dollars, 10.
Government bonds weak. state bonds
dull Railroad bonds firm.