The age-herald., 1899-02-22
STOCK CHANGES
 RATHER MIXED
Peculiar Condition of Affairs in
 Wall Street.
RESULT OF DAYS TRADING
Was That the Standard Shares Were Generally Of Fractionaliy, While the Coolers Improved Materially-In-
 dustries Strong, Then Feverish.

New York, February 2l-As result of to- days trading on the stock exchange the standard shares were generally off frac- tiopally, while the coalers improved ma terially, the advance in Jersey Central be- ing about 4 points, while changes in the tndustrials are mixed.
 The specialties and the industrials showed pronounced strength in the early dealings. then became feverish with alternate dis plays of weakness and strength. The con- tinental and London markets showed some hrmness after the early dealings, partly influenced by the Bank of Germany's re- duction in it's rate of discount. Commits sion houses buying was larger in the early dealings, but excepting industrial changes were not notable. Tobacco continued its upward movement until @ rumor was dis siminated that short interest had received intimations that a private settlement of their short commitments could be arranged without recourse to the open|market.
 Tobacco on the circulation of these re- ports dropped over il points from It's high figure, I79, ending with net loss of frac- ton. The punishment which apparently had been meted out to the shorts in To- bacco caused an uneasy feeling among those with short commitments in Sugar, which was reflected in covering from time to time with a resultant rise at one time of points. the greater part of which was sub sequently lost. The declaration of the reg uar dividend on Leather preferred lifted the price over points, most of which was lost.
 Limitations that the steamship mail sub- sidy bill might become a law benefited Pa- cifc Mail IF. Consolidated Gas, Metropoa- tan Street Railway and General Electric showed strength at times but fell off with the rest of the market during the profit talk ing period In the afternoon.
 The strength of the anthracite coalers was attributable to expectation in some quarters of an announcement presently of combination among the companies for re- striction In the production and mainten- ance. Great Northern preferred made an extreme gain of 3A, and Third Avenue 5A. The large speculations in the industrials was in way responsible for this, the eve of holiday, for some profit taking during which most railways fell off considerably with slight recovery in some shares, but then closed rather heavy. London was moderate purchaser on balance and the to- tai dealings in the local market were small CT than yesterday although they were In excess of 100000
 The demand for railway mortgages was less urgent today, but prices in the main showed considerable firmness. Total sales, s, 900, 900.
 United States bonds advanced is in the bid price,
 New York, February N.-The Commercial Advertisers London financial cablegram says:
 'HThe markets here had healthy tone to- day, but they were not active, although the settlement was less of an impeachment this time than last week, the reduction by the Bank of Berlin of it's rate of discount from 5 to AZ per cent helped all around Ameri- cans opened excellent and were very ac- tive for an hour. They slackened in the af- ternoon, recovered on New York prices and eagged at the close despite New York buy ing of the coalers Central Pacific was the week spot. Tintos 3sB, Bostons 2s Utahs 9h The last mentioned two were found difficult to carry.
 'sMoney was good on the settlement de- mand The African gold just received here has been taken for the continental 77s 9A
 New York, February 21.-Money on call steady at 2621a per cent; last loan 2k. Prime mercantile paper 2AG3A per cent. Sterling exchange strong with actual bus- mess in bankers bills at s4S6A G4S6h for demand and at $4S4G4S4A for sixty days; posted rates $4.s41s@4-S5 and 4S6hd4s7; certificate nominal at 591s@601s; bar silver 59%; Mexican dollars, 47A. Government bonds firmer; state bonds inactive; rail- road bonds firm.