The age-herald., 1898-03-26

noon The weeks movement of supplies was on a moderate scale. August opened at 5.s4, declined to 5.SS, advanced to 5.91 and closed at that figure with the tone of the market steady. Operators on both sides have eased up to a gerat extent of late. RIORDAN & co.
 Tn Wall Street.
 New York March 25.-Today's closing prices were the lowest in most cases since the Cuban question became a prominent factor in the situation. Twenty active shares averaged lower than at any time this year and government new fours cou- pon were down to 11s% bid. This was on the assumption that new issues were pos sible if expenditures for war purposes con- tinued long. Before the battleship Maine was blown up they were quoted above 1S
 It was freely predicted that the Maine report would be extremely unfavorable The market opened at slightly below yes- terday's final figures. The bears, how ever, were determined to bring about sub- stantially lower level and hammered many of the leading stocks vigorously in an en- deavor to precipitate liquidation. The lo- cal transportation shares and sugar were the most vulnerable of attack and the ex- treme weakness in those specialtieS was soon communicated elsewhere. Numerous stop loss orders were executed and the market for time took on very animated
 
 and 3 points during the first half hours operations. Purchases for London account and an effort on the part of some traders to rally prices gave Steadier tone, which, however, accompanied by extreme stagna- tion. As the day progressed the market dipped frequently, but there was an ab- sence of feature in the general speculation until the final hour, when extensive liqui- dation set in which depressed the bulk of the high priced specialties to the lowest figures of the day. The efforts of the bears to depress prices were laid by judi ciously distributed tips that there would be an attack on the list in trading late. Washington houses were sellers and it was inferred that they might have some inti- nation of the nature of the Maine report. The local speeialties were conspicuously weak, Third Avenue losing 10 per cent. Metropolitan lost Az, Manhattan 23s and Consolidated Gas 5ss. Sugar was down 31s partly on fear of the proximity of in- creased competition in the trade.
 The steady decline in this stock tended to color recent reports that inside support had been withdrawn for the time being The break in Northern Pacific preferred of 1R accompanied as 1t was by weakness in Canadian Pacific, was taken to indicate something unfavorable as forthcoming In regard to the rate war. There was a further engagement for import of a modern amount of gold, making the total of the present
  near sS5 ,OOO, ,0OO The foreign exchange mar ket exhibited heaviness today and some concessions were noticed in rates, posted figures in one instance being lowered 1zc. This incident is regarded in a measure as presaging further influx of gold.
 Railway bonds continued to sag on light offerings, which, for the most part, con sisted of usually active speculative liens. The total transactions were $1, 100 900. s
 Government bonds displayed extreme weakness the new fours coupon and reg istered and old fours coupon yielding 1 per cent. in the bid price; old fours registered lost 1a and the lives coupon and registered lost A each.
 New York, March 25.-Total sales of stocks today 546.000 shares, including Bur- lingon 32,427; Louisville and Nashville, G. 135 Manhattan, 20,5S5; Metropolitan, 15 030; Missouri Pacific, 9,6s0; Jersey Central, 6,655; New York Central, 8,012; Northern Pacific, preferred, 1S2S5; Rock Island, 12,264; St. Paul, 37 900; Union Pacific, preferred, Il .490; Tobacco, 11,1So; Peoples Gas. 9,465; Sugar, S1 S90; Western Union, 4,978.
 Money on call steady, 124q2 per cent, last loan per cent.
 Prime mercantile paper, 41k451s per cent. Sterling exchange weak with actual busi- ness in bankers bills at $4.S31a$4. SEA for demand and at $4. .SoN@$4.S1 for sixty days. Posted rates, $4S1k@$Is2k and $4S41s0 $4.S5h.
 Commercial bills, sIS0A.
 Silver certificates, 554sQ56.
 Bar silver, 55.
 Mexican dollars, A%.
 Government bonds eak.
 State bonds quiet.
 Railroad bonds weak.