The evening times., 1899-03-03

The stock market this morning was sug
gestive of nothing in particular. Prices
opened generally lower than the close yes
terday and in many cases had slight rallies
during the first hour which were after
ward lost There is nothing in the situa
ton on which 10 base any prediction. The
traders market may continue, and On the
other hand prices may have reached their
low ebb as some good authorities seem to
believe. There was large buying OF Atchf-
son preferred and Brooklyn and II was said
that some of the leaders had determined
to buy these stocks and others on scale
down from this point on the belief that
they would go little, if any, further. This
was the most significant bull news" and
against II was the fact that the traders
generally were undisguisedly bearish in
their operations. II seems probable that af-
ter a decline for three days with very little
hesitation, some rally will come, simply as
a technical matter, but even this need not
be considered by any means a certainty.
Brooklyn Rapid Transit was the fea
| ture of the first hours business, showing
| considerable buoyancy. An advance OF
over point was made in the first few quo
tations, which was partly lost later, how
| ever. One of the early tips was that Mr.
| Flower is buying the stock. The news
came out that a party has been formed 10
take the remaining new stock OF the syndl-
| cate recently issued to pay for the Nassau,
| and that none of 1t will come on the mar
| ket. This was construed as favorable
development by traders. 1t was soon seen,
| however that there were plenty of selling
orders in the stock as well as the buying.
Rock Island, the Federal Steels, and At
| Gibson preferred were the other stocks to
| which Mr.. Flower was supposed to be de-
| Hints given ont
| that these stocks will be the first to move
| when the advance begins. Little evidence
| of Mr.. Flowers operations in them could
| be detected this morning, however, except
large buying orders in Atchson preferred
which prevented the stock going below 81
during the early part of the day.
ST. Paul's earnings for the fourth weel
of February increased $4,000 for the
month the increase was $179, 1856, and fo
the year since July !, S2,667, AIS. Th'
showing is an excellent one but St. Pau
with the other granger stocks was veal
this morning. A rally of a point or NOR
may be made in the stock, but if the mar
ket does not change considerably in it
tone it is not to be supposed that any gail
, can be held. 1t would not surprise tn
Street If ST. Paul reached the low level O
the early part of February during this de
cline, as only a point or two further re
cession would carry it to that figure.
! Ontario and Western was of tn
strong stocks this morning on rumor
that the road has purchased more collier
les that will increase its business mate
rally. The other coal stocks acted in har
t mony with the remainder of the list.
1t is said that there is as yet no Ger
tainty of a 2 per cent dividend on North
: : ern Pacific preferred. The stock Shove
little activity this morning.
e Little doubt now exists that the full
n dividend will be paid on Sugar. Governo
Flower has expressed his belief that i
will be declared, and other authoritie
whose word is listened to with deferenc
say the same thing.
The immediate future of the Fedora
Steel stocks undoubtedly depends on th
! action Of the directors as to the dlviden
: on the preferred stock and despite som
doubt expressed by the bears it seems rea