The age-herald., 1899-04-20
STOCK PRICES WE'RE IRREGULAR
Opening Was AuSpiciOus But
 Weakness Developed.
TENNESSEE COAL AND IRON
Yielded to the Pressure and Went Con- siderably Below Tuesdays Close Substantial Gains Noted in
 the Bond Market.

New York, April 19.-There is certain contingent of stock exchange spectators who base their ventures for the day on the tendency of prices displayed at the imme- diate opening of the market. Today's ini- tial trading was the promise of an acuVe and strong market and these symptoms ac- cordingly induced some outside orders, but there was development of weakness in the afternoon.
 The early demand was stimulated by the decided strength displayed by the Granger group, which was helped by reputed more favorable climatic conditions in the wheat belt and an encouraging statement by the government of the general crop conditions. These circumstances caused relapse in wheat prices, which were also influenced by heavness in Liverpool.
 Interest ran mainly to railway stocks and some of the inactive issues became prom inent, particularly Great Northern pfd.. St. Paul and Duluth and Wheeling and Lake Erie. It must not be inferred that there was an entire abandonment of pro- fessional operations in the specialties, as these products were utilized at times as a lever to enhance or depress value of other shares. In fact, the afternoons weakness could be directly traceable to a brisk selling movement in the high-priced specalties, which received momentum sub sequently through liberal offerings of the Changers on late reports of crop damage.
 The statement was colored to some ex tent by 8 sharp rise in wheat, with shorts covering heavily. The late break entirely eradicated gains in the railways and put many of the specialtes considerably below last nights close. Brooklyn Transit Man haitian and Tennessee Coal and Iron yield ed most readily. Pronounced strength was displayed in Colorado Fuel and Iron shares, which retained advances of over poir ts in the common and preferred on rumors of pending favorable developments
 Efforts to harmonize the conflicting inter- ests in the Anthracite coal trade and the adoption of a schedule of prices for the spring caused sharp advances in these stocks, which moved counter to the gen. eral market at the close. The market end ed irregular, with the railway. but little changed.
 Good support was extended to the bond market and some substantial gains oc- cured on an active demand.
 Total sales, A,140,000.
 United States 3s coupon and old 4s regis tered advanced 1sc in the bid price,
 Total sales of stocks today were 5S3,0S1 shares, including Sugar, 12600; Atchison, 1G,70O; Brooklyn Transit. 42 400; Burlington, 51 LOO; Chicago Cont, 1O,4OO; C. F. & l., 13- 600; Continental Tobacco, 1S,00o; Federal Steel, assoc; Louisville and Nashville, 232o0; Manhattan, 23,20O Metropolitan, 42,20O; Ma tional Steel, 9,1O0; St. Paul. 22,SOO; South ern Railway, 4,4OO; do preferred, 12000; Tennessee Coal and Iron, TACO.
 Money on call steady at 3@5 per cent; last loan at 3.
 Prime mercantile paper, 3156l4 per cent.
 Sterling exchange strong with actual business in bankers bills at s4.S6&4M4.S7 for demand, and al $4.S4aId4S5 for sixty days. Posted rates, $4.S5@4 S514 and $4.S04.S7l2.
 Commercial bills $1S4Ad4S4A.
 Silver certificates, 60G604c.
 Bar silver 59hc.
 Mexican dollars, 47&c.
 Government bonds strong.
 State bonds inactive.
 Railroad bonds strong.
 (By Private Wire to Paine, Murphy & Co.)